Do you think it is better to be in banked mode or borrowed mode? (m)

[Sammie]

Originally posted by BillPA
Just wondering if those that borrow points all the time always have a balance on the credit cards too? And those that bank are members that don't carry balances on the credit cards? Just looking to see if it is a personality trait.

I would not consider banking one's points or not, or having a balance on one's credit cards or not a "personality trait". I would consider banking or not personal choice and the use of one's credit card a personal finanical manner.

But then I really do not see where this question has anything to do with the orginial question. Kinda like do people who borrow points carry their garbage to the Trash room or simply set in the hall.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We are usually in banking mode. I think that works especially well if you travel to WDW every year or multiple times a year. I do think that those who travel everyother year may be better off to be in borrowing mode. I have a friend who has 151 points, and plans everyother year. They end up with a few points (6-12) everyother year that have to be banked or rented. It is pretty tough to find a use for that few points.

 

[OurDogCisco]

Wow, thanks for all the GREAT advice! We will only be visiting disney every other year. We only have 175 points. Plus, we'll want our trips to be at least 9 nights since, we are coming from the West Coast. I think, by force we'll always be in a borrowing mode for most of our points except the first year. Thanks a lot for the advice.

 

[dianeschlicht]

In your situation, I think that is the wise thing to do.

 

[disneycrazed139]

My first trip planned and already we are borrowing so we can enjoy a bigger unit. We need it this time and next time might not. Right now, there is no need to worry about banking or losing anything. We know we are getting our money's worth.

I think it requires a little less planning to be in a borrowed state although that wasn't really my intention.

 

[gopherit]

Originally posted by BillPA
Just wondering if those that borrow points all the time always have a balance on the credit cards too? And those that bank are members that don't carry balances on the credit cards? Just looking to see if it is a personality trait.

We are almost ALWAYS in a "borrowed" mode for pts, but we never, ever EVER carry a credit card balance. In fact, every loan we've ever taken, we've paid off in advance to get back some of that interest. Including DVC -- all paid off.

It's somewhat of a chicken/egg choice (bank/borrow), because while you can argue that borrowed points can't be returned to use year, you can state same about a banked pt -- it too must be used that year. In either a banked or a borrowed mode, you can technically bank your current year's pts over, leaving you with only the banked/borrowed pts to deal with.

We always take company with us. In a borrowing mode, at least if our company backed out, the worst case scenario is either banking some current year pts over, or extending the vacation, or just more space for us. (And in a borrowed mode, I can sure make a better argument for add-on, can't I?)

 

[gopherit]

Originally posted by OurDogCisco
Wow, thanks for all the GREAT advice! We will only be visiting disney every other year. We only have 175 points. Plus, we'll want our trips to be at least 9 nights since, we are coming from the West Coast. I think, by force we'll always be in a borrowing mode for most of our points except the first year. Thanks a lot for the advice.

You just described us, to a tee (well, except the west coaster part!) We originally bought 175 and thought we would use it for 1 week per yr trips. We immediately saw how much better a long trip was, however -- and now we rotate every other year with a "big" trip. We are always in a borrow mode. However -- it's easy enough to catch up -- just (a) sit out a year or (b) rent or (c) add-on. (We did (a) when our dd was born, never done (b), and we did (c) this April -- just 30 pts, but it did the trick!) We figure we'll see how this goes!