If you had to come up with a marquee match-up of personal
financial question heavyweights, "paying off mortgage vs. investing more” would
be a pretty good one to start with. It’s an old dilemma, and a tough one. Your
mortgage is one of the biggest debt you’re likely to ever have, and almost
certainly represents the single biggest monthly expense draining your bank
account. Paying off a mortgage early is the dream of every homeowner. However,
considering how big most mortgages are, it’s unlikely to take just a few years
to get rid of it, so maybe it would be better to let it ride for the
amortization period and focus more on investing to grow your personal savings
right now. There are proponents and supporters in both camps, and both options
have their benefits and drawbacks. One thing is for sure though: if you’re in a
position to be having this dilemma, you must have done something right with
your personal budget.
Taking Control and
Setting Goals
In fact, getting to the stage where you have to decide
between investing more and getting rid of your mortgage early is a great
personal financial goal to set for yourself. But how do you get there? Most
people with a mortgage find themselves stressing about money more than almost
anything else, and between that and all the other monthly expenses, it can feel
hopeless to try anything other than just making ends meet. The best way to take
control of your personal finances is to understand them, and the best way to do
that is with personal financial planning software. Simply inputting your
monthly income, expenses and a few other pertinent details, a robust personal
accounting program will be able to show you exactly where you could be saving
more money, and how to plan for a future that is both debt-free and
savings-focused.
Run the Numbers, Make
a Plan, Follow Through
Feature-rich family budget planning software will allow you
to ask hypothetical questions like "how much can I save by skipping my second
morning cup of coffee” or "how long will it take me to be able to pay off my
credit cards if I pack a lunch each day?” By putting all the numbers in front
of you, your personal finance program will let you discover more than you ever
thought possible about your own financial situation and future. Once you see
how easy it can be to save significant amounts of money, you’ll be on track and
motivated to get where you need to be.
If deciding a winner in the "paying off mortgage vs.
investing more” title match is one of your personal finance goals, one of the
best ways to reach it is with the help of reliable personal account planning
software. Seeing your current situation, planning for your future and staying
motivated and on-track are the keys to success in the personal budget planning
game, and with the right tools, you can make that happen.