this post was submitted on 11 Feb 2025
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[–] deegeese@sopuli.xyz 33 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Slow your roll buddy. I didn’t say it’s meaningless to everyone, only that it wouldn’t change my life.

To your example, I already own a house but $93k won’t pay off my mortgage, or let me retire early, or cover my kids’ college costs.

[–] Banana@sh.itjust.works 14 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Paying that large of a chunk of a mortgage would absolutely reduce your future interest costs though.

[–] wewbull@feddit.uk 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

...but wouldn't change your life.

[–] Banana@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 week ago

That's completely relative. Literally anything will change your life, or nothing, it depends on your perspective.

Saying "it wouldn't change my life" means literally fuck all to the people whose lives it would change.

Like good for you, I guess?

[–] deegeese@sopuli.xyz 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

Prepaying a mortgage is almost always a worse investment than anything else because mortgage interest is tax deductible.

[–] Banana@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Not always, but often, yes. It depends on what your alternative potential uses for the money are.

[–] deegeese@sopuli.xyz 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Not always but often. You could even say almost always. 😉

[–] yo_scottie_oh@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Isn't mortgage interest deductible only if you itemize your deductions?

[–] hedgehog@ttrpg.network 3 points 1 week ago

Sure, but mortgage interest can easily be enough to make that worth it without any other deductions. With $300K principal and a 5% loan, that’s $15K - about the same as a single taxpayer’s standard deduction and roughly half of a married couple’s standard deduction.