you for it. If you're still not convinced consider the following example. A typical day may include a pack of smokes ($10), a coffee and donut ($5), lunch ($12) and a couple of beers after work ($8). That's $35 a day or $175 a week or $750 a month or $9,100 a year. Assuming a mortgage of $300,000 at 7.07 per cent over 25 years, by making $750 in extra repayments each month, you'd save more than $175,000 in interest and be mortgage free 11 and a half years sooner. No one is saying you should live a convict existence but just cutting down a little on your expenses will see you reap huge financial benefits. 13. Stay informed - don't forget about your mortgage With any long-term commitment, there is always the temptation to let your mortgage roll along, make your repayments as they fall due and think as little about it as possible. As long as you keep up the repayments, there's not much else you need to do, right? This attitude can be a big mistake. Keep yourself up to date with what's happening in the marketplace. You might find that there's an opportunity to put yourself well ahead of the game. Rates change, new products and changes in the market itself may allow you to seize an opportunity or negotiate a better deal. Stay informed and stay ahead of the game. 14. Get a cheap rate and invest the difference When interest rates are low, like