there is a sense of relief not have a large debt load hanging over your head.

My good friend and ex-VP once said something during my annual bonus/review cycle like “I guess being that you are debt free and more or less financially independent, we have to treat you nicely otherwise you might give us the finger and leave….”

I smiled and said, “yeah, pretty much”…

İ ended up getting the largest RSU stock grant ar my level that in my department that year.