years difference over the term of your loan. The reason for this is that there are 26 fortnights in a year, but only 12 months. Paying fortnightly means that you will be effectively making 13 monthly payments every year. And this can make a big difference. Using our example from above, by paying monthly, you will need to repay $640,126 over the term of your loan. By paying fortnightly, you will save $48,534 in interest and 4.5 years off the loan. Zero pain to you, major benefit to your pocket. 5. Hit the principal early Over the first few years of your mortgage, it may seem that you are only paying interest and the principal isn't reducing at all. Unfortunately, you're probably right, as this is one of the unfortunate effects of compound interest. So you need to try everything you can to get some of the principal repaid early and you'll notice the difference. Every dollar you put into your mortgage above your repayment amount attacks the capital, which means down the track you'll be paying interest on a smaller amount. Extra lump sums or regular additional repayments will help you cut many years off the term of your loan. 6. Get a package Speak to your lender about the financial packages they have on offer. Common inclusions are discounted home insurance, fee-free credit cards, a free consultation with a financial adviser or even a fee-free transaction account. While these things may seem small beer compared to what you