As someone who has always been passionate about personal finance, I never thought I’d be writing a blog post about how I didn’t realize how much of my HECS debt was being paid off until I started earning six-figures. But here we are, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to share my experience with you.
It all began when I first started working after graduating from university. Back then, my income wasn’t anywhere near six-figures, and my HECS debt seemed like an overwhelming mountain that I’d never be able to conquer. I made my compulsory repayments through the tax system, but I wasn’t paying much attention to the progress I was making on reducing the debt.
Fast forward a few years, and I was fortunate enough to land a job that pushed my income into the six-figure range. That’s when I started to notice a significant change in my HECS balance. I was pleasantly surprised to find that my compulsory repayments were actually making a considerable dent in my debt, much more than I’d ever imagined.
This discovery prompted me to look into my HECS debt more closely. I settled on just making the compulsory contributions, given the debt is interest free and only indexation is applied, which at the time were record-lows.
However, this year, I found out that the indexation rate on my HECS loan was 7.1%, which was even higher than the interest rate on my mortgage! After realizing this, I knew I needed to make a change.
So, this year, I made the decision to pay off my HECS debt in full using voluntary contributions. The moment I submitted the final payment was a huge relief, and I could feel the weight of that debt lifting off my shoulders. I never thought I’d say this, but I was genuinely grateful for my HECS debt journey because it taught me valuable lessons about money management and prioritizing my financial goals.
One of the most significant benefits of clearing my HECS debt is the increase in my borrowing capacity. Now that I’m no longer carrying that financial burden, I can explore more opportunities for property investment (more on that in months to come). I’m excited about the potential to grow my wealth and create a more secure financial future for myself and my family.
In conclusion, my journey with HECS has been an eye-opening experience that ultimately led me to a place of financial freedom. If you’re in a similar situation, I encourage you to examine your own debt and consider the benefits of paying it off sooner rather than later. You might be surprised at the doors it opens for you, just like it did for me.
Wishing you all the best on your own financial journeys!
Until next time.