Cheaper ways to join the National Trust - from overseas NT?

MsMoon

I have seen a few older posts that suggest joining an overseas National Trust - unfortunately many of the loopholes such as joining the NZ Trust seems to have closed now. Just wondered has anyone joined the Barbados NT recently - the application seems a bit unusual - you don't pay online but have to do a bank transfer. Has anyone actually joined and does it work in the UK - do you receive a card etc in the post?

Update: As stated I would prefer to just hear from anyone who has joined via the Barbadian NT recently as I have had a few off topic replies which are just about finger wagging etc - I will not be replying to any more replies like that as I do not want to get into an extended moral debate. This is a moneysaving site & my question is about money saving! Thank you.

beckstar1975

I think they all have a term about you having to use your home trust more than overseas one. And English Heritage has brought in a clause that there's no reciprocal agreement for your first year of membership.

Equally, it's really not being expensive to pay monthly (we pay under £15 for a family of 5) and they do sterling work, can't you just think of it as a charity education with the perk of free parking and entry. Else you are swizzling a charity for the sake of a few quid. 

Sarahspangles

If you commit your time as a volunteer then you can get a pass for that property. 

They’ve also just brought out an Explorer Pass which is useful for people who don’t have many Trust properties near home but are on holiday near a cluster. Check the exclusions though.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/membership/explorer-pass

MsMoon

beckstar1975 said:

I think they all have a term about you having to use your home trust more than overseas one. And English Heritage has brought in a clause that there's no reciprocal agreement for your first year of membership.

Equally, it's really not being expensive to pay monthly (we pay under £15 for a family of 5) and they do sterling work, can't you just think of it as a charity education with the perk of free parking and entry. Else you are swizzling a charity for the sake of a few quid. 

Disagree - this is a money saving site - I and many others simply do not have the spare cash to join at the full rate.It is better they get a smalller amount of money from me than none at all.

MsMoon

Sarahspangles said:

If you commit your time as a volunteer then you can get a pass for that property. 

They’ve also just brought out an Explorer Pass which is useful for people who don’t have many Trust properties near home but are on holiday near a cluster. Check the exclusions though.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/membership/explorer-pass

Thanks but just one property defeats the object.

Emmia

MsMoon said:

beckstar1975 said:

I think they all have a term about you having to use your home trust more than overseas one. And English Heritage has brought in a clause that there's no reciprocal agreement for your first year of membership.

Equally, it's really not being expensive to pay monthly (we pay under £15 for a family of 5) and they do sterling work, can't you just think of it as a charity education with the perk of free parking and entry. Else you are swizzling a charity for the sake of a few quid. 

Disagree - this is a money saving site - I and many others simply do not have the spare cash to join at the full rate.It is better they get a smalller amount of money from me than none at all.

How often do you visit properties, and how does membership stack up against parking and entry?

Depending on your age (and upfront cash) lifetime membership can be really good value.

beckstar1975

MsMoon said:

beckstar1975 said:

I think they all have a term about you having to use your home trust more than overseas one. And English Heritage has brought in a clause that there's no reciprocal agreement for your first year of membership.

Equally, it's really not being expensive to pay monthly (we pay under £15 for a family of 5) and they do sterling work, can't you just think of it as a charity education with the perk of free parking and entry. Else you are swizzling a charity for the sake of a few quid. 

Disagree - this is a money saving site - I and many others simply do not have the spare cash to join at the full rate.It is better they get a smalller amount of money from me than none at all.

See my sig - I was on a DMP for years and managed to find the cash for NT membership, with children it was far cheaper than paying for other one off days out. If you don't join you are not contributing to wear and tear and properties, if you do  you are least paying your share. Using but not paying your share is the worst of both.

MsMoon

beckstar1975 said:

MsMoon said:

beckstar1975 said:

I think they all have a term about you having to use your home trust more than overseas one. And English Heritage has brought in a clause that there's no reciprocal agreement for your first year of membership.

Equally, it's really not being expensive to pay monthly (we pay under £15 for a family of 5) and they do sterling work, can't you just think of it as a charity education with the perk of free parking and entry. Else you are swizzling a charity for the sake of a few quid. 

Disagree - this is a money saving site - I and many others simply do not have the spare cash to join at the full rate.It is better they get a smalller amount of money from me than none at all.

See my sig - I was on a DMP for years and managed to find the cash for NT membership, with children it was far cheaper than paying for other one off days out. If you don't join you are not contributing to wear and tear and properties, if you do  you are least paying your share. Using but not paying your share is the worst of both.

Again - thanks for the moralising and finger wagging but I repeat this is a money saving site and there has been countless posts on this subject in the past so it is nothing new. You have no right to determine "what is my share" and as I said paying a little is better than paying none at all. I won't be replying to anymore of your replies as I don't want to continue a war of words. As stated in my post I was looking for particular advise from someone who has taken out membership in this way.

beckstar1975

I don't determine, the NT do, with their membership rates. 

The INTO website states that parking is not covered by this so it's worth looking at how you'd get to the site and what that would cost - it's only Admission to the property itself. And that would count for all NT parking (ie beaches and other places where you'd normally use proof of membership to park for free) - so depending how frequently you'd use it could quickly cost more than the UK membership.