Struggling to be debt free

Ally has raised the rate on its savings account to 2.00%!!! I love Ally because they have consistently raised rates since I opened mine just a few months ago! However, MySavingsDirect.com is currently offering 2.35% on its savings account!  I have had MySavingsDirect account, a division of Emigrant Bank, for  a few years now. Both accounts are fine, but it did take MySavingDirect a while to raise its rates to compete with the other banks. I still need to check out Marcus by Goldman Sachs, I heard they were a good too and had high rates.  But, on the other hand, 2 savings accounts are probably enough.  I read a very sad and sobering story about a couple firmly entrenched in debt.  It is a warning to us all to get our money under control.  You can read it here . 

 I don't know how familiar you all are with the concept of FIRE.  FIRE means= Financial Independence Retire Early.  FIRE is an amazing concept to me.  I would love to become financially independent so that I'm not required to work until I am 65.  My job is stressful and it seems it is the type of work which will always be stressful (litigation, trials, appeals, etc).  FIRE has a wide array of meaning throughout the personal finance community.  Suze Orman was on the Afford Anything podcast and caused quite a stir with her views on FIRE.  I like the idea of FIRE.  To me, FIRE means freedom and the ability to have choices.  For me to achieve FIRE I need to have a paid for house, a solid emergency fund and (depending upon the age at which I attain FIRE) a crap ton of cash/investments/savings/CDs, etc.  My dad served in the air force for 30 years.  He entered when he was 19 years old and retired at 49.  When he retired ...

At the end of October, I made my mortgage payment for November. The total payment was $2,120.  This is the largest payment I have ever made on this mortgage in the 5 plus years that I have had it.  My mortgage payment is normally $1,481, so this payment constituted an extra $639 towards the principal!!!  My goal is to pay off enough of the mortgage so that I can drop the pmi premiums next year.  I should reach 80% LTV in February of next year, but I won't be at 78% until August.  (Based on the original mortgage schedule, I was going to reach 80% LTV in September of 2020).  I'm so excited!! The pmi premium is $115  month, so by August of 2019, I will be able to add an extra $115 towards principal.  This is even more exciting because by August of 2019, I should have about $1,000 a month going towards principal (if I keep the extra $400 principal payments, the 115 additional principal payment and my required principal payment).   A...