Is the economy affecting your cashouts?

[tar heel]

I've been letting credits build up at two rewards sites, a couple of survey sites and even my debit card rewards program in hopes of funding a big chunk of a Disney trip in 2010. I'm wondering if that is a crazy thing to do in this economy. I love the sites, especially SR, but assume the advertising situation has to affect them just like it is our local newspapers.

My DH's job is in jeopardy after 22 years, and we've really tightened spending in case we end up having to live on less $. I'm thinking about getting an array of giftcards for fun stuff -- eating out, movies, Starbucks, maybe even a digital camera. I know I could get Disney giftcards from SR, but I'm not sure I want to hold them indefinitely.

What is everyone else doing?

 

[Disneefun]

I used to always get disney cards or dollars for our trips. But now I don't want my money to be tied up in those cards since I can't be 100% certain we will go as often as we always have. If we have a job loss, all trips will be off. So I've been cashing out for paypal and stashing it in my savings account. If we can go on a trip, the money is there (and it's getting interest) and if we need it for something else, i have access to it instead of a drawer full of cards I can't use.

I'm also cashing out more often than I used to. I used to let points/cash build up, but now I cash out as soon as I'm eligible. That way, if the sites go under (and in a bad economy, who knows), I don't have a ton of money tied up that I lose.

 

[cglaura]

I was in your position, but last year. I wanted to do alot of house stuff, and didn't have any set plans for Disney, even though I knew I would eventually. So I cashed out for $250 or so in Home Depot & Walmart cards and was able to paint my whole house, get new window treatments and some accessories. I was so happy I did it. I would have done it anyway b/c it really needed it, but was so much more fun to do it "for free".

Now, I have a trip set, and ressies made, so I'm focusing on disney cards.

I think in your case I'd get the cards for fun stuff. While it is always important to plan for the future, you also have to live in the here and now and have fun when you can.

 

[Maybelle]

MY dh is slated to lose his job at the end of this month. I usually always cash out for Disney cards, or Rainforest cafe...but no trips on the horizon. I have been waiting to cashout, because I may need to do cards for other things in order to still be able to eat out occasionally, buy stuff for the house, etc over the next several months depending what happens. I'd love to just cash out for Disney cards, because I know we'll go again eventually, and that is probably the only way we will be able to is to have a lot of it paid for, but I am trying to think more realistically at the moment.