Does a higher salary or a lower spending level get me to FIRE faster?

Cutting spending is usually more powerful, because it works on both sides of the equation. A dollar of reduced spending frees up a dollar to invest and simultaneously lowers your FIRE number by 25 dollars (at a 4% rate). A raise only helps if you actually invest it rather than inflate your lifestyle.

That said, income and frugality are not either/or. High earners who keep spending flat can post enormous savings rates and reach FI remarkably fast, while big earners who let lifestyle creep swallow every raise may never get there. The ideal is to grow income and hold the line on spending so your savings rate climbs. WealthSerene's Budget Analyzer at wealthserene.com/tools/budget-analyzer helps you find and lock in that gap.