That “sleep at night” test is honestly underrated. I was all gung-ho about throwing every spare dollar at my mortgage, but the first time my water heater started making weird noises, I realized having a little cushion is worth way more than shaving off a few months of payments. Now I keep a “disaster stash” for when appliances decide to conspire against me... which seems to be their favorite hobby.
Totally get where you’re coming from. I used to be in the “kill the mortgage ASAP” camp too, but after my fridge and dryer died within a month of each other, I realized being house-poor isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Having that emergency fund just takes the edge off when stuff goes sideways.
I still make extra payments here and there, but only after I’ve topped up my “disaster stash”—love that term, by the way. Appliances really do have a sixth sense for when you’re feeling comfortable, huh?
Honestly, I think there’s a balance. Paying off your mortgage faster feels great, but not if you’re sweating every time something creaks or clunks. Peace of mind is worth a lot. If I could go back, I’d probably split my extra cash more evenly between the mortgage and savings from the start. Live and learn...