Things I wish I knew BEFORE I bought into The Villas at Disneyland Hotel

[VGCgroupie]

I haven't come across anything other than the regular 5%

There is an opportunity next month and in December to get close to 10% somewhat easily if you have certain credit cards and memberships. Discover card used at BJs wholesale online next month. In December Chase Freedom cards will have PayPal 5% back that you can buy cards at either Sams Club or BJs to get close to 10% These ones are good because you can buy in bulk. When I save a larger % it's collecting smaller amounts here and there at various places.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Ah. Yeah...we don't have BJs here. And I don't shop at Sams Club. Also don't have that kind of Chase card. I don't think I've seen Disney cards on a discount anywhere I shop, unfortunately.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Ah. Yeah...we don't have BJs here. And I don't shop at Sams Club. Also don't have that kind of Chase card. I don't think I've seen Disney cards on a discount anywhere I shop, unfortunately.

I have no BJS where I live I have an online only membership. I use it exclusively to get Disney Gift Cards.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Wow! I'm actually surprised. Good to know. 5% off isn't a lot, but it does add up. I basically buy some Disney gift cards every month. Then in January when dues show up, I use them to pay all my dues. If we do buy at VDH, I think I'd basically do the same throughout the 11-months leading up to our trip so that I could just pay TOT with gift cards. Mentally, I just like spending a small amount on gift cards throughout the year rather than taking a bit "hit" all at once.

The downside is that the money is not earning interest while it sits on the gift card.

You could set up a separate savings account in a high yield money market and then use the balance to purchase gift cards right before dues.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I have yet to find a money market account that keeps a decent interest rate for more than a few months or maybe a year, tops. I opened on with my bank a year or two ago and the interest rate was great....for a while. Now it's .05% Horrible.

So basically the money I'm putting on gift cards isn't going to be earning interest anyway. And we aren't talking tens of thousands here. Remember...I only have a measly 360 DVC points so my dues aren't too crazy.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I have yet to find a money market account that keeps a decent interest rate for more than a few months or maybe a year, tops. I opened on with my bank a year or two ago and the interest rate was great....for a while. Now it's .05% Horrible.

So basically the money I'm putting on gift cards isn't going to be earning interest anyway. And we aren't talking tens of thousands here. Remember...I only have a measly 360 DVC points so my dues aren't too crazy.

https://www.fidelity.com/mutual-funds/mutual-fund-spotlights/money-market-funds

 

[airjay75]

https://www.fidelity.com/mutual-funds/mutual-fund-spotlights/money-market-funds

Those ones are all very good. My personal favorite is https://investor.vanguard.com/investment-products/mutual-funds/profile/vmrxx. Current 7-day SEC yield is 4.09% which looks like it beats each of those Fidelity ones just a little bit.

But, if you can get 10% or more off of a DGC, I'll take that over letting it sit in a MMF, especially since all of that income on the MMF is taxable income (unless you do a muni MMF, but then you get a lower yield).

 

[atthebeachclub]

You can also use a high yield savings account, like Ally or SoFi. Both are over 3%.

 

[VGCgroupie]

You can also use a high yield savings account, like Ally or SoFi. Both are over 3%.

My HYSA sits at 4.02 currently (was more) but I still find buying GC's to be a larger savings and better way to go for me personally.

 

[atthebeachclub]

I just buy the gift cards whenever there’s a good Target bonus.