A mortgage is the largest debt with the largest payment for most people. So it makes sense that the mortgage Budget Item belongs in Baby Step 2 with the other debts, right?
Not quite.
You don't pay the mortgage off at the same time as student loans and credit cards because it can take 15 to 20 years to finish, sometimes longer. If you spend that much time in Baby Step 2, it keeps you from saving your fully funded emergency fund. And putting money away for retirement. And the kids college. Yikes.
There is already a Mortgage line built into the EveryDollar budget. You can list your payment there and pay it like a regular expense. That allows you to stay focused on your current goal until it's time to attack the mortgage as part of Baby Step 6. Once that's done, you're completely debt free and life is sweet!
Pro Tip: Paying off debts smallest to largest gives you those quicker wins and builds your confidence to keep going.
Next Steps
You can get more information about the Baby Steps, and your overall money picture, by checking out the Financial Roadmap.