I have paid off several cars, been divorced, paid off my current Wife's inherited credit debt after her divorce (Over 14,000!) , paid off another car, ALWAYS make payments higher than the base on my mortgage, currently about to pay off a 6 year car loan in just over 2 and a half years, USUALLY have ZERO on my credit card and it is still not a max credit score. It's pretty good but I thought it'd be better. Debt scares the hell outta me. I DESPISE owing money to ANYONE!