Round It Up – The Barely Noticeable Change That Pays Off Big
What if rounding your mortgage payment up by $12 made a difference worth thousands?
Sometimes, the biggest financial wins come from the smallest changes. Rounding up your mortgage repayments might seem insignificant—but over time, this simple habit can carve years off your loan term.
In The Unofficial ADF & Veterans’ Guide to Paying Your Home Off FAST!, Daimien Patterson explains how this “micro-strategy” works best when it’s automatic and invisible—making a noticeable impact without you ever feeling the pinch.
This blog walks you through exactly how to do it and why it’s a powerful (and easy) way to smash your mortgage faster.
How Rounding Up Works
Let’s say your minimum mortgage repayment is $2,688. Instead of paying that exact amount, you round it up to:
- $2,700
- Or even $2,750 if you can stretch it
That extra $12 or $62 doesn’t feel like much… But over 12 months, that’s:
- $144 extra at $2,700
- $744 extra at $2,750
Apply that consistently, and you’ve got a powerful, passive contribution working against your principal every month. And because it’s above the minimum, 100% of it goes straight to reducing your debt.
Why This Works So Well for ADF Members
As a member of the Defence Force:
- You’re paid fortnightly or monthly, like clockwork.
- You live a disciplined life—you’re used to routines.
- You often earn allowances or bonuses that make rounding up easier to absorb.
This is a strategy that works perfectly in the background while you focus on your career—and grows more powerful with time.
Add It to Fortnightly Payments for Maximum Effect
Let’s say you’ve already switched to fortnightly repayments, great!
Now, just round up each payment:
- Instead of $1,344 every two weeks, pay $1,370.
- That’s $26 more per fortnight—or $676 more per year.
Even better? As your income increases over time, you can keep bumping it higher without even noticing the difference.
The Psychology Behind the Win
What makes this strategy special is that it’s:
- Painless – You don’t miss the small amount.
- Automatic – Set and forget.
- Motivating – Watching your balance drop faster is addictive (in a good way).
It builds momentum—and when you see how fast your loan shrinks, you’re more likely to stick with other strategies too.
Make It Work for You in 3 Simple Steps
- Log into your banking app.
Find your current mortgage repayment. - Set a new amount.
Round it up to the next $50 or $100 increment—or choose a number you’re comfortable with. - Automate it.
Set a recurring payment to match your pay cycle.
Bonus: If your lender lets you make “extra” payments automatically, even better—your principal will melt away quietly and efficiently.
What If Things Get Tight?
That’s the beauty of rounding up: it’s completely flexible.
You can always scale back temporarily or pause during financial pressure—without any penalties or long-term damage. But while it’s on, it’s working harder than you think.
Conclusion: Small Change, Big Results
Rounding up your mortgage repayments is one of the easiest ways to accelerate your debt reduction without changing your lifestyle. It’s a tiny shift that—over time—makes a massive difference.
Whether it’s an extra $12, $25 or $75 per payment, remember: every dollar counts when it’s cutting interest and reducing principal.
Want to Maximise the Impact of Every Dollar?
At Integrity Property Investment, we help ADF members use strategies like this to gain real financial traction—without overhauling their lives.
Book a free consultation with our expert team today:
🔗 https://www.integritypropertyinvestment.com.au/property-investing-for-adf/
Or get our ultimate guide:
📈 Wealth Through Property
🔗 https://www.integritypropertyinvestment.com.au/wealth-through-property/
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- Integrity Property Team