How should I Celebrate Debt Payoff?

[lukebuz]

OK, in 4 days, I'll be sending in the final payoff for my final student loan payment.  This will mean I'm debt free (except for the mortgage, which we have 30+% equity in).
I started with $110,000 in debt about 4 years ago.  I sold both my new cars and purchased 2 low-cost reliable vehicles.  Sold my F150, didn't replace it.  $24,000 of that debt was in credit cards, $45,000 in student loans, $30,000+ in car loans, and some other misc things.
Kept up with my 401K contributions, and finished my house remodel, paid off PMI and built equity during that time.  Average gross income was 80K/yr; 55K net.

So, what should I do to celebrate?  I burned the previous loan note as I paid it off, but that was anti-climatic.
I started brewing my own wine/champage - so I was thinking do the "pop a cork" and shake n' spray it everywhere, like when you win a race!  Then proceed to drink the remainder plus a bunch more.  However, my preggo wife (who helped as much as I) can't join in...

Any other thoughts?  Ideas?

[seattlecyclone]

I'd rather drink the wine than spray it all over the place, but to each his own. How you celebrate is really up to you. This does deserve a (reasonably inexpensive) celebration though! Be proud!

[lukebuz]

I have 180 bottles of homemade wine to drink.  I can spare one (that isn't even that tasty).  My variable cost is like $2/bottle. 

But still, that's only a few moments of fun...

[Gone Fishing]

Dang dude, you could have paid it off last month if you hadn't made all that wine;)

Get a couple hundred ones from the bank throw them in the air like confetii (inside, of course) and run through the resulting money storm?

[RunningWithScissors]

Plant a tree in the garden!  That way, as it grows, you'll know your 'stache is growing too!  To extend the metaphor, make it a fruit tree (apple, pear, fig, avocado or whatever grows in your neck of the woods) and the fruit will represent the dividends that are coming back to you as your initial investment continues to mature. I just spent the weekend making apple crisps for the freezer - can you tell?

And I love champagne, so I'd totally do the race car driver celebration thing.  Maybe a bottle of sparkling cranberry/apple juice instead so the Missus can join in?

[trailrated]

That is crazy impressive!!

[Mrs. J]

Wow! Congratulations! I like the idea above of planting a tree. Is there anything you have been putting off until all your debt is paid? Going out to eat? Taking longer car trips? Maybe you could choose something from that list, and combine it with something that might be hard to do in the year after the baby is born. I'm putting off taking any day trips in the car until my debt is paid off. I'd probably pack a picnic and head to the beach with my bike, and take a nice long ride along the coast.

[Cheddar Stacker]

Plant a tree in the garden!  That way, as it grows, you'll know your 'stache is growing too!  To extend the metaphor, make it a fruit tree (apple, pear, fig, avocado or whatever grows in your neck of the woods) and the fruit will represent the dividends that are coming back to you as your initial investment continues to mature. I just spent the weekend making apple crisps for the freezer - can you tell?

And I love champagne, so I'd totally do the race car driver celebration thing.  Maybe a bottle of sparkling cranberry/apple juice instead so the Missus can join in?

+1.

Then run with scissors just for fun. Not your preggo wife though, just you.

I'd get your favorite take out meal, have a picnic, then go for a couples massage. Preggo wife will like that.

[Prepube]

Congratulations!  Without that loan, your credit rating has gone down.  Celebrate by getting a new credit card that will increase your credit rating and give you points toward cash or travel.  Or, get a HELOC and increase that credit line even more. 

Seriously though, is your wine so bad you'd pour it out?  Drink that shit and celebrate the fact that you will never go into that kind of debt again!

[gimp]

Spend thirty thousand dollars on stuff you don't need! It's the american way.

[iris lily]

In addition to the awesomeness of getting rid of this much debt, I celebrate the fact that you and your wife are bringing a little Mustachean into a no-debt-outside- of- the- mortgage household.

Sparkling wine is in order for the both of you.

Look, I completely understand about homemade wine, I find it undrinkable.

[jka468]

OK, in 4 days, I'll be sending in the final payoff for my final student loan payment.  This will mean I'm debt free (except for the mortgage, which we have 30+% equity in).
I started with $110,000 in debt about 4 years ago.  I sold both my new cars and purchased 2 low-cost reliable vehicles.  Sold my F150, didn't replace it.  $24,000 of that debt was in credit cards, $45,000 in student loans, $30,000+ in car loans, and some other misc things.
Kept up with my 401K contributions, and finished my house remodel, paid off PMI and built equity during that time.  Average gross income was 80K/yr; 55K net.

So, what should I do to celebrate?  I burned the previous loan note as I paid it off, but that was anti-climatic.
I started brewing my own wine/champage - so I was thinking do the "pop a cork" and shake n' spray it everywhere, like when you win a race!  Then proceed to drink the remainder plus a bunch more.  However, my preggo wife (who helped as much as I) can't join in...

Any other thoughts?  Ideas?

Congrats! My first inclination was hookers and blow, but the wife may not like that ;). The better idea may be a fancy night out with the wife.

[lukebuz]

Spend thirty thousand dollars on stuff you don't need! It's the american way.

Been there, did that!  :)  It's what put me in this position anyways.
We already kind of celebrated with a 1-week colorado vacation (first in 4 years), so there is that.  But I'm thinking some evening of fun is in order.
Maybe I'll do the champage, toast with the wife (she can have a sip), and then we'll go out to an affordable dinner, and back to watch a DVD.

Thanks for all the kudos - it was a great deal of sacrafice at first, but then, as you all know, it becomes your nature.  I couldn't imagine living how I used too.  What a waste!!

[lukebuz]

Plant a tree in the garden!  That way, as it grows, you'll know your 'stache is growing too!  To extend the metaphor, make it a fruit tree (apple, pear, fig, avocado or whatever grows in your neck of the woods) and the fruit will represent the dividends that are coming back to you as your initial investment continues to mature. I just spent the weekend making apple crisps for the freezer - can you tell?

And I love champagne, so I'd totally do the race car driver celebration thing.  Maybe a bottle of sparkling cranberry/apple juice instead so the Missus can join in?

I'd love to plant a tree, but I might use this oppurtunity to pursue my dreams of other trees!  I love being outside, making cider or wine, harvesting fruit, etc.
There is a local apple orchard with residence on it, run by a very elderly gentleman.  I'm going to approach him and ask if he is ready to sell.
Having no debt and excellent credit puts me in a good position to chase my dreams.  If I had that crushing debt burden, this would never even be on the table!

[Thegoblinchief]

We've got a couple milestones coming up (paying off a rather stupid debt and hitting a NW of zero). I'll probably surprise my wife by taking us all out to dinner for the first time in a long time outside of vacations.

Congrats, but keep in mind that being debt free is just the first leg of the journey :)

[Calvawt]

A simple celebration is best.  Drink some wine and tell stories to each other about the highs and lows of the last 4 years.  Congrats and thanks for helping to motivate others to do the same!