Back Again, Still Confused About the Point of Points

[TravelTime]

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[OldPantry]

I think everyone understands your point but not everyone thinks of all buckets of their money the same way. I think we all know math and can spin the data many different ways to suit our beliefs. If I only thought the way you do, I would never go on vacations or buy anything expensive except take care of my basic needs. When I do think that way, I kick myself for all my bad investments (not timeshares but other things that really were supposed to be investments). But then I have to remember that everything balances and we have made some extremely great investments that allow us to have a bucket of play money.

However, I do think you have brought up a very good viewpoint for people who have never considered the opportunity cost of money. I have been aware of this concept since I learned economics in college. But many people are not aware so I am sure you are doing a service for many people on Tug who have never considered that they could invest the upfront cost of a timeshare in many other ways. Just like renting a house vs buying a house. Basically all financial decisions have an opportunity cost but you never know what it will be until after the fact because no one can predict the market.

I'd be very sad if folks who "think the way I do" never went out of the house, or never went on vacation. For one thing, I think that way, and we go out of the house on tons of vacations. This year alone, Hawaii (two units, one 2BR, one 1BR for good friends, Maui (2BR), Newport (2BR), a VRBO house near Yosemite, a car trip to drop my son off at Stanford, a car trip to Banff for a 1BR week, New Orleans for a family reunion over Thanksgiving, and finally, a giant blow-off of Marriott points for five nights at the Ritz-Carlton over New Years. I bet that last one will bring a thunderstorm of criticism! Being aware of the true cost of things doesn't mean you don't do them, just perhaps do them better than you used to.

 

[TravelTime]

I'd be very sad if folks who "think the way I do" never went out of the house, or never went on vacation. For one thing, I think that way, and we go out of the house on tons of vacations. This year alone, Hawaii (two units, one 2BR, one 1BR for good friends, Maui (2BR), Newport (2BR), a VRBO house near Yosemite, a car trip to drop my son off at Stanford, a car trip to Banff for a 1BR week, New Orleans for a family reunion over Thanksgiving, and finally, a giant blow-off of Marriott points for five nights at the Ritz-Carlton over New Years. I bet that last one will bring a thunderstorm of criticism! Being aware of the true cost of things doesn't mean you don't do them, just perhaps do them better than you used to.

I am not against knowing the true cost of things. Several of us have agreed that Marriott Points are more expensive than Marriott Weeks and those of us who own Points bought them for different reasons. Many of us own both Weeks and Points.

 

[Steve Fatula]

I'd be very sad if folks who "think the way I do" never went out of the house, or never went on vacation. For one thing, I think that way, and we go out of the house on tons of vacations. This year alone, Hawaii (two units, one 2BR, one 1BR for good friends, Maui (2BR), Newport (2BR), a VRBO house near Yosemite, a car trip to drop my son off at Stanford, a car trip to Banff for a 1BR week, New Orleans for a family reunion over Thanksgiving, and finally, a giant blow-off of Marriott points for five nights at the Ritz-Carlton over New Years. I bet that last one will bring a thunderstorm of criticism! Being aware of the true cost of things doesn't mean you don't do them, just perhaps do them better than you used to.

Well, for some people, knowing the "true value" would stop them from going. I know lots of people who don't vacation because it's too expensive, but can afford it. Myself, I would never criticize you for taking a trip, esp for New Years at a Ritz! If you are like me, older, we worked hard, saved money, did ok, and now we should enjoy it.