Hey guys, can anyone please tell me what the word mortgaged means in the following sentence?

They would have mortgaged another precious
portion of the little time left us for individual life.

Question

Hey guys, can anyone please tell me what the word mortgaged means in the following sentence?

They would have mortgaged another precious 
portion of the little time left us for individual life.

Answer

Metaphorically, it means they have sacrificed their freedom to do as they please by accepting some burdensome obligation.

Answer

This is an oddly phrased answer but mortgage is the loan from a bank (or other) to buy a house. So mortgages means saved away/put away/ given to.