Journal 006
The Best Financial Decision Isn't Always About Money
While comparing mortgage overpayments with investing, we discovered that people weren't always trying to maximise wealth. Sometimes they were trying to buy time.
The Mortgage vs Investing calculator started with a familiar question.
Should I overpay my mortgage, or invest the money instead?
It sounded like a calculation.
It turned out to be something much more personal.
What changed
At first, we assumed everyone wanted the same thing.
The highest net worth.
So the calculator compared mortgage interest against investment returns and declared a winner.
But the more scenarios we explored, the less convincing that idea became.
Some people genuinely wanted to maximise wealth.
Others wanted the certainty of owning their home outright.
Neither objective was wrong.
They were simply trying to optimise different things.
The calculator wasn't really comparing numbers.
It was comparing priorities.
Why it mattered
That changed how we thought about financial decisions.
Most calculators quietly assume there is one correct objective.
Usually, it's having the most money.
But people don't all measure success the same way.
Some want freedom from debt.
Some value flexibility.
Some are comfortable with investment risk.
Others sleep better knowing their mortgage is shrinking every month.
The right answer depends on what matters to the person making the decision.
Wayli shouldn't simply declare a winner.
It should explain the trade-offs, so people can choose the outcome that matters most to them.
What I learned
Looking back, money was only ever part of the decision.
Time, freedom and peace of mind matter too.
A decision engine shouldn't decide what success looks like.
It should help people understand the consequences of choosing their own version of it.