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Paying bills is viewed negatively, but they aren’t always a bad thing. Learn why I’m happy to pay for my housing costs and medical care for my elderly dog. [[{“value”:”
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Most people don’t think of paying bills as something that’s very fun to do. After all, money coming out of your checking account to send off to necessities means you have less cash left over for fun stuff.
But while there are some bills I don’t love paying (like taxes), there are others that make me really happy, as odd as that sounds. Here are two bills I’m really delighted to pay each month because of the huge benefits the money brings to my life.
1. My monthly mortgage payment
My monthly mortgage payment is one of the bills I’m most glad to pay. I’m happy to spend the money because it means I have my beautiful house that I love, where I’ve set down roots and where my kids are making memories.
I also know that the money I’m sending off is helping me build home equity, which will increase my wealth over time. According to findings from the National Association of Realtors, homeowners have 40 times the wealth of renters. While some of that is because people who are more financially stable in the first place are more likely to buy a house, owning a property may help you build wealth. Your mortgage payment serves as a kind of forced savings and your house will (ideally) go up in value over time.
I’ve also made sure to keep my mortgage payment below 30% of my income, so it doesn’t cause me financial stress. If you’re thinking about buying a house of your own, make sure you stick to this limit, too. Consider practicing making a mortgage payment by putting aside any extra money in savings that your mortgage costs above and beyond your current housing expenses.
If you make certain your loan is affordable, you can also hopefully be happy and grateful each month when you pay your mortgage, since you can easily cover the costs and you get your own home in exchange for your cash.
2. Vet bills for my elderly dog
I’m also extremely happy to pay vet costs for my elderly dog. While I do wish I’d bought a pet insurance policy when she was younger so I wouldn’t have to pay for everything out of pocket, I’m still delighted when I get to give her vet money every few months. Paying her vet bills means she’s still here with me, enjoying life at 17. I’m hoping for many more years of paying these bills!
Now, one of the reasons I’m so happy to cover these costs is because I have a dedicated savings account earmarked for her care. If I had to borrow or worry about whether I could afford her bills, I would be a lot less pleased.
So, if you have a pet, be sure you consider pet insurance and also think about putting aside a set amount of money each month for their care, since pet insurance doesn’t cover everything. Ideally, your pet will live a long and healthy life and you’ll have the money to maximize the chances of that happening.
The bottom line is, bills do not have to be a bad thing for your personal finances — they can buy you important stuff that you value more than money. But even these good expenses could be stressful if you aren’t prepared for them. So before you take on any obligations — like getting a pet or buying a home or committing to a big vacation — be sure you have worked it into your budget and can comfortably afford the bills.
If you do that, you might also be happy when you make those payments each month!
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