“Paying off my mortgage gives me peace of mind.”

Sounds smart, right?

It’s actually one of the most expensive emotional decisions you can make.

Here’s why paying off your mortgage early makes you poorer (and less free).

A 30-year fixed mortgage isn’t a ball and chain.

It’s one of the best financial tools available:

✅ Fixed terms for decades

✅ Predictable payment

✅ Inflation eats away at its real cost

Time and debasement work in your favor.

Prepaying your mortgage locks up capital in bricks.

That kills:

❌ Growth

❌ Flexibility

❌ Freedom

And for what? A feeling.

Let’s look at the math.

Have $100K?

Option 1: Pay mortgage at 5% “return”

Option 2: S&P 500 (~10% historical)

Option 3: Bitcoin (conservative 20%)

After 10 years:

🏠 $163K

📈 $259K

₿ $619K

“Peace of mind” could cost you $500K!

And it gets worse:

Broad money supply (M2) grew 7% annually over the last decade.

Your “guaranteed” 5% return is actually a -2% real loss after inflation.

“But it makes me feel safe.” Nope.

You’re trading one risk for another:

✅ Less debt

❌ Less liquidity

Need cash? You can’t peel off a piece of siding.

You’ll refinance or sell...often at the worst time.

Smart money = options.

Keep the mortgage.

Invest the difference.

That gives you:

✅ Bigger portfolio that compounds

✅ Liquid reserves to cover mortgage if life happens

More liquid assets = more security.

FIRE + bitcoin is about freedom and optionality.

You don’t get that by locking up cash for your feels.

You get it by keeping your wealth working and outpacing debt.

Poorer isn’t safer.

This week’s FIRE BTC issue breaks down the full math and mindset shift:

👉 Why “peace of mind” is a costly illusion

👉 Why a mortgage is your friend

👉 How to build security without killing flexibility