In today's Dollars & Sense, I mentioned several ways that you can save thousands of dollars in interest by paying off your mortgage early. Several readers let me know that I left off the obvious.

You can also add an extra amount to the check that you mail in with a payment coupon. You just indicate that it is to be applied to the principal balance.

I neglected to mnetion that option since I no longer mail in my paymnets. They're taken out of a checking account automatically, but I can still make an extra payment any time by going into the bank that holds my mortgage.