That's terrific, Swamp! Good for you. That's the best investment you could have made by far. The "return" youre getting from eliminating all of that interest is a lot more than you'd be getting had you been putting all of that into the stock market. That's for sure.

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Thanks, Dee! But think of the buying opportunities!

__________________

1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

Swamp! You're my hero, man! And an example for those who think they can't get out of that kind of rut without those credit card debt assistance companies!

You said it plain and simple...time, sacrifice, and even taking on additional work!

I'm slowly working on mine as well, (aside from all of those darned projects), and maybe can post the same before my kid goes off to college!

Just in time for you! Who knows? If things get REALLY bad, banks may start calling in their loans!!!

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

Swamp! Old Buddy! Old Pal. Lend me some money then

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

You da man! I make it a point to never have a car payment. Seems to work well.

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99 ML320
94 SL600
92 SL500
95 E320 Cabriolet
87 560SEC
86 300SDL Grease Car
80 380SLC Euro

13 Fiat Abarth
02 Maserati Spyder Cambiocorsa
00 BMW Z3
90 Rolls Royce Silver Spur
80 Ferrari 308 GTSI
88 Jaguar XJS12 H&E Edition
99 Land Rover Discovery

That's the way I look at down markets. I don't put money into equities that I know I'll need anytime soon. When everything goes the way it's been going lately, I buy the stuff that I've been watching for a while at bargain prices. The market always overreacts. When it does, I try to be there with cash in hand. It's like a giant fire sale.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

No small accomplishment for a man with all the cars you have . . . .

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Awesome Swamp, absolutely awesome. I remember about a year ago talking about debt and you weighing in on it. Way to go!

I have payed off 15k in the last 10 months and I have about 19k to go then I will be 100% debt free. My goal is 1 year from now. One credit card and one loan...I can see the light!

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2009 ML320 Bluetec
1985 300CD
1981 300TD

Past Mercedes
1979 300TD
1982 300TD
2000 E320 4Matic Wagon
1998 E430
1984 300SD
1980 300SD

Nice work.

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1984 300TD

Thats sometimes a very good idea, a local bank is doing them for 4.5%. Use the HELOC to pay off all the high interest debt, and now you have just one payment, with less interest, so if you keep paying what you were it eats the principal fast! Just can't go rack up the debt again.

Good to hear Swamp!

I will owe just under $20G's when I get out of school. If I can still sell houses I'll have to sacrifice one deal to kill it.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Well done!

I would pay off the 10% car loan rather than putting extra
payments on the mortgage. Mortgage interest should be lower
plus a tax deduction.

Save emergency money.

401K vs mortgage: I would add more $ to the 401K than mortgage, after
paying off the car and emergency savings.

__________________
cult plus time equals religion

Well done. Nothing like being debt free. It's liberating not to have a lease on your future labor.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Thanks, G! I also came to the realization that I'm "only" 7 years away from kid #1 ostensibly going to college and I'd better get myself out of the hole before I started digging that one. Then #2, don't know what the future holds for #3 but won't rule out anything, then #4. It feels good even if only temporary.

Our house will see some long-delayed attention, too.

__________________

1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

Aklim, you're a sweetheart. No.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

Thanks, pp! That is a short-term goal of mine which I hope to continue indefinitely. I can't promise to execute it to the level, or abundance, that you have.

__________________

1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)