How do you manage your points?

[Laurabearz]

I am a newbie to DVC and I am having trouble keeping the whole bank/borrow/use year/everything straight! I have read about spreadsheets??? I have no clue about them but am willing to give one a try.... :D
I really need help doing planning 4 or 5 years out.... Anyone have suggestions??
:bounce: Thanks bunches!!!:bounce:

[MiknMinMouse]

I don't manage my points and have found myself in a pickle because we've used up most of our points for next year. Oyyy. In the original guidebook we received there was a register, like a checkbook registere, where you could record points used and banked and each year's added points. Now I just look at what we need each year and try to work around that.

[POLLY ANN]

I have one that a gentleman here on the boards shared with us. It is on excel and I love it. Very easy to follow.

Let me know if you would like me to send it to you.

[dianeschlicht]

I usually like doing this with paper and pencil since I can tote it around with me and make changes as I have thoughts about the trips.

I make a chart starting with the use year and the number of points. Then I write down the planned trips by month along with the needed points. I also note when the ressie must be made and when the remaining points must be banked. Here is an example:
March '02 380 pts. - 12 borrowed = 368 pts

Jan. '03
2 BR 12 nights OKW
1/4-1/16 -328 pts.= 40 points book 2/16/02, bank by October

March '03 +380=420 pts.

Jan. '04
2 BR 1 week OKW
1/10-1/17 -218 pts= 202 pts. book 2/17/03 bank now

March '04 +380=582 pts

October '04
GV OKW 6 nights
10/17-10/23 -372 pts =210 pts. book 11/23/03

December '04
1 BR OKW 1 week -160 pts=50 pts. book 1/03 bank now

[WDWguru]

My DH is a numbers guy, so he's written up an elaborate Excel spreadsheet that he likes to use. However, my favorite (and what we use when we are looking at future trip planning), is this FABULOUS little program written by one of our very own DISers! Best part - it's FREE!!

Visit http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/dmfredrick/Download.html and download it! Each year, they post the updated points charts for you to download and add to it. It's terrific!

[Laurabearz]

The thing that is really messing me up is that we have a Dec use year.... so that means most of our 2002 use year is in 2003! It is way way too deep for this mom of two, 2 and under! LOL:confused:
I will get the hang of it, I suppose.... I just like everything all nicely planned out! :bounce:
Thanks for all your help!

[WDWLVR]

I just use a simple Excel sheet I set up for myself. Since I usually make the reservations from home I just call it up and have it in front of me when I call. If you know how to use formulas in Excel you can do a pretty easy one, but the tips to the others others have made work well too.

[Chuck S]

I just use a MS Works spreadsheet that I wrote. It is pretty simple (by spreadsheet standards) but it works for me.

[caverill]

I wrote a trip-planning application that also tracks our DVC points. One of these days I post it so others can use it.

[spruce]

I keep track of our points by memory. It's not as sophisticated as a spreadsheet but it works for me. I just verify with MS how many are left before I hang up. Their number has always matched mine. The downside to this is that unless I tell my wife, she has no record to refer to if she needed...spruce

[Mickey_Maniac]

Laurabearz,
I heartily recommend the DVC Point Manager that WDWGuru posted a link to. I have been using it for a while now and it is great for not only tracking the whole use/bank/borrow situation, but it also lets you compare the cost of points for different times, rooms, resorts.

Give it a shot, I think you will like it. Best of all it's free!!!

[ncligs]

Mickey_Maniac,

I second that also, the DVC Point Mgr is very easy and helpfull to use. I have tried others also, but that one is the BEST!!!!!!!;)

[Bennet]

I'm with WDWguru and the others the DVC Point Manager is a very nice little tool.

I think the real artistry is keeping it fairly simple and very effective all in the same program.

[Kick it up a notch!]

I tried a spreadsheet, but since I have two accounts with different use years I came up with a different system. I have a word document that I call "My DVC Journal" and it has been easy and fun to do. I keep track of my points for a three year period so that I can track my points and keep all of the banking and borrowing straight. I do this for each of my accounts and each time I book a trip and/or take a trip I make notes to myself, like a journal, and update my three year points chart. I just started this system this year and it works great. I also think that it will be cool to read back in the journal say five years from now. This also gives me detailed notes about what I do with my points so I don't get confused, and I actually caught a 50 point MS mistake on my account (which I got back, no problem)

Think about what memories you can record and read back in twenty or thirty years. Whatever system you use, try to keep it as simple as possible, or you could lose points with a mistake.