Do you pre pay or pay after your stay?

[i12go2wdw]

We have paid off our cruise and are wondering if we should start paying off our POFQ room or just put the money in the bank.
What do you do?
Christine

 

[BevS97]

I prefer to pay so I am not tempted to spend the money on anything else, and I can sleep easy knowing it is all paid for. But I am terrible about spending money that is 'allocated' to somethign else, so it is better for me to not have that option

 

[beattyfamily]

There are basically two opinions on this issue: Pay it off so you don't have to worry about it. Or put it in the bank and earn interest and pay it when you arrive.

I prefer having as much paid off as possible before I leave. That's just me.

 

[Stitch Inside]

We (and he glances at DW knowingly, yet, unaccusingly) have a hard time not spending what's in our checking account. So, I also like to pay for it as soon as possible(last two years as soon as our Tax refund came in). After spending many years in debt, I like the feeling of having things paid off.

 

[NJDisneymom]

I'm a spender, never seem to have extra money so I would vote for paying it off. Of course you are losing out on some interest but if you feel the money might get spent instead of earning the interest anyway I'd go ahead and pay it off. Depending on how long until your trip the interest may not amount to much anyway since regular checking/savings accounts seem to earn next to nothing these days! JMO.

 

[Julia M]

I used to feel like "put it in the bank to earn interest". But, with interest rates running at like 2%, it's not like you're getting a ton of money. SO I prefer the "psychological benefit" of having it paid off ahead of time.

We have 10 nights in December at Disney hotels, and I am paying it off, an amount every month.

I also do this with spending money. I buy Disney dollars once a month, and if I accumulate some extra money, I'll buy travelers checks.

Another psychological benefit....so many of our vacations are getting pricey (we have three kids, and just airfare alone from CA is a biggie), that it seems like less when I pay it off a little at a time.

Also, then dh doesn't know. He would DIE if he knew how much our vacations cost. I keep a spreadsheet of the exact costs, and I want to die!! Personally, I think he DOESN'T want to know, and that's why our current system works so well for us! He just likes to enjoy our vacations.

Julia

 

[kjs1976]

We pay ahead of time so it's done with and we can just check in and check out with no fuss!

 

[webray]

We like to prepay as much as possible.

 

[zippehsmom]

Also, then dh doesn't know. He would DIE if he knew how much our vacations cost. I keep a spreadsheet of the exact costs, and I want to die!! Personally, I think he DOESN'T want to know, and that's why our current system works so well for us! He just likes to enjoy our vacations

My DH never knows how much our disney trips (or any trip for that matter) costs because I always pay on it each month. If I just let the money stay in the bank and he seen how much it was, OMG we'd have all kinds of car accessories in our garage.

zippehsmom

 

[George_T]

We chose to pre-pay for our trip this September. If I kept the money in the bank, there would probably be instances were I would waste money between now and then, and the financial burden would be greater later on.

 

[ep4244]

I pay for ours a little each month before we go. It's so nice to get that final bill and have a 0 balance due and since we stay onsite I also bring cash to put down for room charging. Sure is a happy feeling not getting the sticker shot credit card bill after the vacation.

Is that countdown clock moving backwards, isn't it time to go yet?!?!

 

[Julia M]

My DH never knows how much our disney trips (or any trip for that matter) costs because I always pay on it each month. If I just let the money stay in the bank and he seen how much it was, OMG we'd have all kinds of car accessories in our garage.

zippehsmom

And if I let it sit in the bank, I would feel guilty for using it, even if it was earmarked for vacations!

Julia

 

[maryliz]

Also, then dh doesn't know. He would DIE if he knew how much our vacations cost. I keep a spreadsheet of the exact costs, and I want to die!! Personally, I think he DOESN'T want to know, and that's why our current system works so well for us! He just likes to enjoy our vacations.

Julia

Yep, I've got myself one of those DH's too! I think he's figured out that "ignorance is bliss".

MaryLiz

 

[Stitch Inside]

Yep, I've got myself one of those DH's too! I think he's figured out that "ignorance is bliss".

MaryLiz

I wish I could be ignorant ...er... I mean, blissful. But then I'd miss out on all the fun of planning, and these boards. Because there's no way she could find a better deal than me. Of course we would have never found these boards without her. I wonder what else she knows that I don't.

 

[ktglads]

I prepay so I can get my reward dollars before my vacation to use when I'm there! (at least I am gettting SOME benefit over keeping the money in the bank). Plus, I don't book super far in advance so I am not gaining that much in interest if I did.

 

[KIMHELMS99]

I save the money until I go. I usually put it on my Disney Visa (this earns points for the next trip) and pay it off as soon as I get my statement. Everyone does something different you should do what's right for you. Have a magical trip.

 

[eeyore0062]

We pay the nights deposit in advance, and pay the remainder at Check in.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I put my money away in a CD ( I work at a bank) that has a one-time no penalty withdrawl that makes 3.5% interest so I know I can only touch the money once and I can add to it. INGdirect also has really good savings account rates and you can have money automatically deposited.

 

[beattyfamily]

I put my money away in a CD ( I work at a bank) that has a one-time no penalty withdrawl that makes 3.5% interest so I know I can only touch the money once and I can add to it. INGdirect also has really good savings account rates and you can have money automatically deposited.

Yep, I have an ING acount for my Disney spending money and what not, which I love BUT I still pay off as much as I can before I leave for my vacation.

 

[shatzjsl]

I prepay so that I have one less thing to worry about saving for.