To want to celebrate paying off the mortgage

[BodgerLovesMashedPotato]

Not something I can say out loud in RL, as know how insane prices are nowadays and it's hard for people to buy a house, or even pay monthly mortgage payments, but ours has just finished.
Just it's a part of life I feel I need to keep quiet, not sure what to say when talking to others when they're mentioning rent or mortgage payment troubles keeping up etc, and how do I manage it
Just nod and agree it's difficult (as I know how that feels and how shit it feels to scrape by all too well) is what I usually do but it doesn't seem right as by doing this it sounds like I'm paying rent or mortgage payments?
Anyone else rent or mortgage free, as I say can't say in RL and hard to find anyone online who is

So young! Brilliant!

I never told anyone we are mortgage free (not even immediate family). It’s a personal achievement and not something I felt the need to boast about or make a public announcement.

By all means go out and celebrate as a couple. It’s a great feeling knowing you’re mortgage-free.

Now is a good time to update your wills and powers of attorney if you haven’t done so in awhile.

Thank you. Spent a lot of years renting out my spare room to lodgers before I was married to achieve it!

Whilst I 'celebrated' with my son, because of the financial freedom it gave me, I don't consider it to be a great achievement either. Comments about being fortunate or lucky irritate me.
I was 56 when I paid my mortgage off. I'd served my time, done my 30 years. I never chased big houses and over extended myself, stayed in my bog standard Victorian terrace which more than meets my needs.
Most people I know, do know. I didn't stand up in the office and announce it or post it all over social media. Its not that unusual for people in their late 50s to be mortgage free.
I have been talking for several years about a major life change, when people asked how I could afford it, part of the answer was I will have paid the mortgage off.
A year later, I'm leaving work on Wednesday this week and making that life change a reality.

You've paid your dues so! It's very difficult living with other people, we did it a couole of times for family and it really sucked!

You know what. I'm 42 and not even saved the deposit for my first house yet but I feel pleased for you.

It is a big achievement though, it's a moment when you can sit back and let out a huge sigh of relief. It's such a good feeling to know that the roof over your head is your own and nobody can turf you out of it.

Sometimes sharing can be good. We got our first mortgage in our late 20s. Our neighbours (in their 40's at the time and who became good friends) told us they had recently paid off their mortgage. They talked to us about the difference over paying made and how they achieved it by living a bit below their means (choosing not to have a new fancy car etc..) and the positive impact it would have on their life. I am so grateful to them for being open because we are now in early 40s and due to their good advice we will pay off our mortgage this year.

@Chickenkeev

Yes it is a massive relief. But I've just done what countless millions have done- taken out a loan and paid it off.

It's not just 'a loan' though is it, your security depends on it. The prospect of homelessness is horrifying, wouldn't wish it on anyone.

Mortgage free for the last couple of years and retired early with rental property income and large pensions. I do get annoyed at the "oh arent you lucky" comments having worked several jobs when younger then been self employed and not having a holiday for 15 years to enable us to do this. but also understand the pain right now as we have kids at various stages of ownership/renting/uni and the price of property is just horrific.

Saying "oh it's so good to have paid it all off" is something you feel you can't share with anyone.
I don’t understand why not tbh.
I’ve said that to my friends, others have said it to me years before I was in a position to pay mine off.
I'm mortgage free due to a critical illness policy paying out. I've always felt like I cheated a bit (wasn't my hard work that paid it off) or the "poor thing" face I get if I tell someone, so I don't.My friend got hers paid off when she got breast cancer. She hadn’t realised it was going to be paid off and it was only a chance comment with her financial advisor over something else that they realised she was entitled to the payment.
we celebrated well that night!!

i did publicly celebrate mine - think it was most liked FB post ever (more than getting engaged!). that was when i was around 42 or so?

(i actually had in effect paid it off a few years earlier, as it was a very low rate tracker, no point paying it down when savings rates were much higher than my mortage - when that changed i paid the last chunk off)

It was easier for me though - accountant background, always the one people ask about isa's and savings - still in same small flat i bought 20 years ago, always sharing bargains. so i doubt anyone was suprised by it.

Likewise, so no celebration as it took my wife dying to pay it off early - not sure it's a trade that many would choose to make.

But it seems weird to not have been renting into my early forties, then to buy a place in 2017 only for wife to be diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer in 2018. She died in 2021, and with a five year deal coming to an end in 2022 I had enough from various payouts to settle the mortgage so did so about a year ago.

The really smart thing to I guess, as it was just before interest rates really began to climb, would have been to take another 5 year deal and then find an investment with a better return. But I'm very much not a risk taker, and I'm privately pleased in these more difficult financial times to not have £700/month hanging over me. Plus it was very much what my wife would have wanted me to do (although I don't think she ever foresaw that her death in service provisions etc. would have been sufficient to pay it off completely - just to reduce it down a good chunk).

Firstly congratulations!
And yes definitely - my partner and I (26 and 30) have just bought our first home in outer London.
We were cash buyers but only due to inheritance on both parts.
I have had so many people asking about how we got a mortgage etc with the economy as it is and I've found myself making up a mortgage so I dont have to explain we bought cash.
It makes me feel guilty when work colleagues are struggling to keep up with rising repayments when we have it comparatively easy.
I am extremely lucky to be in this situation but so struggle with guilt a lot

We paid ours off in 2019. 10 years early leaving an emergency fund in savings of £25k at the time. Rates were low and we threw everything at it. A few people know but I usually agree how tough it can be and that it will get better with time as inflation reduces the payments. We have had it rough when we started out. We had nothing. We watched friends max out and holiday etc while we scrimped. Each to their own. You cannot win as some will be happy for you and some will begrudge you. But well done you and enjoy it. I compare it to early pregnancy - a well kept secret which is personal to you and wonderful. Enjoy it quietly xx

What a lovely comment. I hope things - whatever they may be - work out for you x

Congratulations!! We will be paying off ours by the end of the year and I only plan on telling my brother - who already paid off his - and my good friend that won’t hold it against me!

I honestly can't imagine the elation you must feel - what a fantastic milestone