Is it better to be in banking or borrowing mode?

[jbish]

Thus far, we have been mostly in a banking mode. We plan for a big trip every two years. And with banking, I have the excuse that I *have* to use the points the following year. This past year, I went quite a few times, so I used up a good portion of my points and then I had until April to see if I could squeeze in one more trip but then chose to bank for next year.

If I'm borrowing, one thing I don't like is that now I really DO *have to* use my points in that year. And life happens, so borrowing from next year really does commit me.

Wow - I have no idea if that made any sense. So apologies in advance....

 

[aoconnor]

So far I've been in a slight banking mode but I'm planning to change that. I figure if I "overuse" my points by ~10% each year, which would allow me to stay at the more expensive resorts or in more expensive views more often, that I would only run out of points every 12 years. After 12 years I may be ready for a year off, or worst case I could pay cash for once (gasp!)

 

[crazywig]

I don't think there is a right or wrong either. We have just switched to every other year. So, you have to do both. This summer we had banked points we are using. Since we are not planning to go in 2020, we also had to use all of our 2019 points. So, we went over by a few that we borrowed from 2020. That way, in 2021 I'll have banked and current year points to do it all again.

This is exactly what I do with my BLT points that we use on odd numbered years. I have way less BLT than I would like but don't want to add on and this works for us. With my BWV pts we go on even numbered years and used to just use up the excess by booking a grand villa every once in a while. Lately though we just squeeze a summer trip in on those points to use them up .

 

[gdrj]

I would love to be able to bank points, just never seem to be able to. My use year is August. 2019 balance is already ZERO and I have already borrowed 2020.

The first step to recovery is admitting I have a problem....My problem...is my Wife always wants to go to WDW.

 

[bcwife76]

I would love to be able to bank points, just never seem to be able to. My use year is August. 2019 balance is already ZERO and I have already borrowed 2020.

The first step to recovery is admitting I have a problem....My problem...is my Wife always wants to go to WDW.

Haha this is myself and my husband, too! Our UY is September and we are getting ZERO points this September and come September 2020, we will only get 47 out of our 175 points.....oops

 

[katandmouse]

Thanks for all the great insight everyone!

Right now I have a waitlist for an Oct weekend trip, which if it miraculously goes through will use some 2019 points I was going to bank for our 2020 trip, so then I’ll borrow 2021 points for that... so begins the spiral!

 

[quandrea]

Usually we are in borrowing mode. I’m planning a big trip for next June, and trying to make sure I’ll have enough points going forward for trips we “may” like to take. 2020 is an AP year so we will travel to WDW a few times beginning late December 2019. 2021 will not be an AP year so our only trips might be a couple of run Disney weekends. I find it hard to plan too far out. Hard to say where we will be into 2021, so I’m not overly concerned about using up the points. So long as I’m good for the foreseeable future, I’m pretty free with the points and comfortable with borrowing.