Paid off our mortgage several months ago too!
A nice feeling, especially as our hard-earned nest egg was earning us naff all interest.
There was enough, (just), surplus to treat our tractor to a pair of front coils/legs too, so an even nicer feeling.
Can't be bad eh?
However, I do feel sorry for the genuine workers in this country, whose jobs are under threat, with hefty long-term mortgages.
Please believe me, but, when I was awaiting the payment in my last few weeks of working (Notice Period) I was very mindful not to offend anyone, one of the lads, a really nice guy and a good mate, took out his mortgage on a big house just as it all went tits up on the housing market.
I assured him that in 15 years or so it'll probably even out and reduce the level of negative equity, I was there once

But, it's the stress of knowing that you're in that situation and pretty bl00dy powerless.
I'd just say hang in there, avoid credit like it's the biggest nastiest ba5tard in the world... It IS...

As I stated earlier, I'd never gloat over such a thing (Paying of the mortgage) that is.. As we know a man who's farm was going down the pan, he took his own life

DC