Mortgage/Debt burning party at Muir Beach in July?

[cat48103]

We have been following the MMM lifestyle for a few years - unfortunately we came to it late. We are both in our early 40's.

We are 3 months away from paying off our mortgage in California (not a small feat in Marin County)! My whole family has sacrificed, (both of us working our butts off while we live like college students), so that one day we can retire a early and enjoy our kids. (Goal is 3 more years). We don't even live in that house - too expensive right now! We rent a much cheaper townhouse.

The thing is, we feel like we want to shout it out from the rooftops. We would love to throw an old fashioned mortgage burning party. Problem is, now-a-days that's considered gloating. (Not our intent at all - we want to celebrate!)

It would be great to celebrate with other like minded MMM people who would be motivated and happy for us. I'm sure there are others out there who also have debt they've paid off and want to ceremonially burn their paperwork too. Anyone for a bonfire at Muir Beach July 4th?Maybe a quick speech right before you toss the paid debt onto the fire?

Our family/friends wouldn't get it. They all think we've been barely making it. Why else wouldn't we be driving new cars and taking lavish vacations?

We recently met a guy at an event who was bragging about he and his wife's matching luxury cars. His face dropped when he found out my husband was his bosses', bosses', boss:) Lesson: If you see a guy in a beat-up Ford truck, be nice - you might be asking him for a raise some day.

[DollarBill]

It is a good feeling but it's kind of foreign to most people. I think most would feel jealousy, best to keep it to yourself.

I'm a truck guy but traded up to a car and doubled my gas mileage. I'm saving $80-$120 a month in gas money. With the savings I could pay extra for someone to deliver if needed. I use to laugh at people who could not be self sufficient and now I see different ways...but I do miss driving a truck.

[Rural]

We elected not to have a mortgage-burning party; too few people who would be able to celebrate with/for us and not feel envious or alienated. Basically only my parents. Hasn't always been that way; I do remember my parents' mortgage-burning party 20 or 30 years ago.


I do have one friend who recently paid hers off, but she worked for a couple of decades to do it and we did it in under four years, so the envy problem still applies.

[CanuckExpat]

Might be out of town for the long weekend, but if not we'd be up for a trip to the beach and a good celebration.

BTW, might want to consider cross-posting or moving this to the meetup/social event sub-forum

[Monij87]

I would enjoy that! I don't even have a mortgage so no envy there 😜. Plus I should have a student loan paid off by then. Not to mention I've always dreamed of having a bone fire on the beach. Keep me posted 😁😝.  Celebrating tour independence From debt on Independence Day is a great idea.