No sense in burying the lede: A few days before my 36th birthday, our lender cleared our mortgage payoff check!
The longer post recapping the why and the how will happen at some point, but for now, I simply want to celebrate. Not just what we did, but how far we’ve come.
How Far We’ve Come
They say change happens slowly. Sometimes, it happens so slowly, it’s barely noticeable. That was certainly the case with my mortgage payoff journey.
In the time that I’ve been blogging, I transformed from someone who didn’t even realize a mortgage was debt to someone who paid off a mortgage 20 years ahead of schedule.
I’m not sure 26 year-old me would recognize herself 10 years later. But 26-year-old me is certainly equal parts proud of and grateful for everything my younger self did to get us started on this path–even if I didn’t have a clue where the path would lead or the tempo I would eventually decide to take!
If you’ve been on this journey with me for any length of time, you’ve probably seen me do everything from make triple mortgage payments to put an extra $39 there toward it. It’s not anything I’ve been quiet about, and yet it still felt like this day would never get here.
Celebrate We Will
But it did, and I am oh so thrilled.
While I’d love to share grand plans to celebrate, know that I’m sticking with my plan from years ago: sushi and a nap! Someone get my kids on board with this plan, OK?
So Tell Me…What are you excited about lately? How have you surprised yourself?
AHHHHHHHH Congratulations Penny! I’m so happy for you! We paid ours off last year and the amount of peace it brings on a regular basis is amazing. (So stick that in your pipe and smoke it optimize-bros).
Right now everything that excites me in life is non-finance. I’m excited about my knitting skills getting exponentially better. I’m excited about it finally being garden season after a winter that felt like it would never end. And I’m excited about other people’s big wins… like yours!
Congrats Penny! This is so exciting! This might be lame but Iām excited that most of the snow in my town has FINALLY melted. Which means we might actually get some springtime this year!
Friend, you are amazing! You’ve accomplished something at 35 years old that most people never will.
I am soooooo happy for you; you completed your number one financial goal! I promise to come by and visit you (and that paid off house!) this summer š
Congrats! I also need to get my kiddos on the sushi + nap plan
Actually I would settle for just naps for the baby ha š š š
Ahhhh!!!! Congratulations!!!
Hot mama!!!
Work it..
We are excited about building a cabin on 25 wilderness acres we purchased. We are doing the whole thing with cash as we don’t borrow money since paying off our primary residence so long ago I can’t remember. Congratulations on truly owning your house, its a nice feeling. It doesn’t eliminate housing costs but it certainly reduces them. There is a measure of peace and contentment that stays with you after you have no house payment, no car payments, no credit card balance carry over and plenty of money in your checking account at the end of the month. You’ve worked hard and should celebrate, can’t help you with keeping the kids quiet, because…kids.
Congratulations!!!
?? so very thrilled for you, Penny!
I’m just happy for your big win, I’ve got nothing going on right now ?
Congratulations! Financially I was told that paying off the mortgage debt was a dumb move when I could make more money in the market, but I slept SO much better after the mortgage was discharged. Hope you get that nap in so that you can experience that quality sleep too.
Great accomplishment….and peace of mind!
This is epic!!!!! Sooo happy for you! How does this affect your plans from here on in?
How and earth did Sushi and a nap become the promised celebration? That sounds like a whole other story.
Congratulations.. I’m with the other poster as I have become more financially secure I really enjoy not having to deal with money and simply enjoying experiences be it near home or far away.
Congratulations! It must feel absolutely wonderful. I paid off my mortgage around the same age and I firmly belief that it’s the main reason why I was able to weather financial storms so well. Nothing feels as good as having a secure roof over your head.