(This is a diary account of the weeks leading up to paying off our mortgage.)
Day 1
While doing a routine check of the bank accounts, I scrolled down to the accounts total.
“Damn. That’s a lot of money. How much of that is savings?’
I’d convinced my wife years ago that the stock market is rigged to the profit of the people in charge. That was during the crash of 2008. The only way we could save ourselves, financially, was to start saving it the old-fashioned way – put it in the bank (I know you were thinking under the mattress, but we aren’t that old fashioned). Seeing the accounts total and knowing only a small portion of that was in checking and savings for the kids, I added up our actual savings.
“Huh…I wonder how much we owe on our house?”
I found the “recent” statement in a pile of documents and…”Holy China! I think we can pay this thing off!”
Day 4
I called the mortgage company to get a payoff statement today. She told me over the phone, but I need it in writing. It should be here within a week. If this amount is right, we are almost there. I think we might be able to pull this off on the 1st. Maybe I should talk to my wife about all of this? Hmmm.
Day 7
I can’t wait for these dummies. Since when has a mortgage company ever followed through on anything other than a bill or a foreclosure. Let me see if I can find anything out on their website.
(impatient typing)
“At least 1 upper case, 1 lower case, 1 number, AND a special character?!? Geez!”
(annoyed typing)
“Ahhh. Order a payoff statement.” Click.
Day 10
I talked to Christy on our walk tonight. For possibly the first time in over a decade she didn’t say one of my large scale, seemingly outlandish ideas was the dumbest thing she’s ever heard come out of my mouth. She said, “That’s not a horrible idea”, but that’s really the best I could have hoped for. We don’t think we’ll have enough money by the 1st though. I’ll get a pay off statement for the month after. I’ll get a bonus check by then and that should safely push us over the top.
Day 11
I logged on to the damn site tonight and played around with the options. When I went to order my REAL payoff statement, the one I originally went on there to get, that piece of crap site said I can only order one payoff statement within 24 hours. Freakin’ website.
Day 12
Why the hell is Dave Ramsey showing up as every 4th video in my YouTube feed? Freakin’ Google, tracking my online activity. Let me check that stupid website.
“Son of a BEEEEEP! It still hasn’t been 24 hours? Freakin’ website”
Day 13
Ahhh. The payoff statement. We CAN do this. Just a month more.
Day 14
Just 30 more days.
Day 15
Just 29 more days.
Day 16
Just 28 more days.
Day 17
How long is this freakin’ month?
Day 43 – The day before the payoff date…
I went to the bank a day early to wire the money. I don’t want something stupid happening like the mortgage company saying it takes 2 days to process and since I didn’t get it to them in time I still owe 11 cents in interest that accumulated over 24 hours. I want to end this relationship with a clean break. And not a “It’s not you, it’s me” break. It’s definitely them. We’ve paid those bastards over $50,000 in interest out of our hard-earned money and we want out.
As much as we want out of this relationship, I still have butterflies from what’s about to go down. $93,366.32…(gulp).
Day 48
I checked the website and it shows the balance paid in full. Now we just have to wait for the check for the escrow balance and the release documentation from the county. It is a GREAT feeling and a huge relief to be COMPLETELY DEBT FREE!…but now begins the long journey of rebuilding. There was a lot of security knowing we had tens of thousands of dollars in the bank, but we had to put all of our savings, minus the $1000 minimum in the two savings accounts toward this unbelievable goal, so we are a little nervous right now.