Understanding Your Use Year
Every DVC contract has a use year (February, March, April, etc.) when your annual points are deposited. Understanding your use year is crucial for effective point management.
Banking Points
Banking allows you to save unused points from one use year to the next:
- Must bank points at least 8 months before expiration
- Banked points expire at the end of the following use year
- Useful for saving up for larger trips or special accommodations
- One-time banking - cannot bank already-banked points
Borrowing Points
Borrowing lets you use next year's points in advance:
- Can borrow up to 100% of your annual allotment
- Borrowed points must be used before your next use year
- Can borrow until banking deadline of current year
- No borrowing from points that are already banked
Strategic Point Planning
Maximize your points by:
- Planning major trips 11+ months out for best availability
- Using a mix of current, banked, and borrowed points
- Booking during lower-point seasons when possible
- Understanding weekday vs weekend point differences
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don't let points expire unused, over-borrow leaving future years short, or forget to bank before the deadline. Keep a multi-year plan for your points to optimize usage.