I also have no mortgage, but when I did I was very aware a local bank sold it immediately to Countrywide when I did, and I closely monitored it. I also paid extra whenever I could and paid it off early and was hyper-aware of my total accumulated interest as I went along. Just switched from MetLife after 14 years to State Farm as MetLife was sticking it to me on auto insurance. Now paying more for home insurance, but far less for auto so that I am saving $600 plus a year total. Just by coincidence, since my insurance wasn't due for four more months I got an instant refund for about the amount of my annual savings on my credit card which was very nice.
I did do one silly thing last year. I had a house cleaner and she moved my $512 state income tax refund to the bottom shelf of my coffee table. And it sat there. For 7+ months. I finally remembered that I hadn't cashed it, couldn't find it, and applied for a new check. They told me to wait 30 days and then file the paperwork, but in the meantime I found it buried under a stack of books she had moved and cashed it that same day.
And I know...electronic deposit. But bammer charges $20 for that "privilege" and my attitude was
. But you know what? This year I paid the $20.