ING Direct forgave $861,513.25 in January mortgage payments — or an average $1,700 per household  for the 500 customers who won the online bank’s essay contest.

Matthew Botos, wrote on his blog that he was a winner and posted his winning contest entry, in which he states: “I personally have lived within my financial means, made savings a priority and accepted the necessary sacrifices. My mortgage is still small; my car is old but paid off, and I’ve eBayed old electronics to …