Posts Tagged ‘Rewards’

As the competition for travel rewards heats up one recurring problem for the Aeroplan rewards program is that its members are on the hook to pay for any fees, taxes, and fuel surcharges when they redeem their points for travel. Other travel rewards programs, such as RBC’s Avion, TD’s First Class, and CIBC’s Aventura, allow…

Scanning the weekly flyers and clipping coupons is a great Canadian tradition but – like the landline telephone, VCRs, and analog TV – coupons and flyers are on their way out. Retailers are moving their loyalty programs online and developing smart phone applications to get more personal with their offers. Rapid advances in technology, coupled with…

Canadians have a myriad of options when it comes to choosing the right credit card for their spending needs. Rewards credit cards are increasingly popular as consumers look for ways to earn travel points or cash back on their everyday purchases. Readers often ask me which credit card is best. The answer is that it…

It’s amazing how we can always find joy in the smallest of things. Like when I lingered too long at a downtown coffee shop last week and expected to find a parking ticket – but to my surprise a Good Samaritan had plugged the meter for me before time expired. Or the time we went…

I’ve been a fan of cash back rewards for many years, and here’s why: With cash back, you’ll know exactly how much your points are worth, plus redeeming your rewards is easy. Most cash back credit cards offer you the choice of a statement credit or a cheque in the mail, giving you full control…

Travel rewards credit cards got all the attention in the big Aeroplan shake-up last summer.  But now the cash back segment is getting a much-needed shot in the arm with the introduction of the new SimplyCash and SimplyCash Preferred Cards from American Express. New SimplyCash Card from American Express The SimplyCash Card – simply put…

The ability to use credit cards wisely is one of the most important financial skills you can learn.  Everyone has different habits when it comes to credit card use and no single approach is best. When we got married in the early 1970’s, my husband dealt with the Bank of Montreal which introduced the MasterCharge…

One of the most frequent questions readers ask is which credit cards are best for earning rewards.  Unfortunately, the most common answer is “it depends”.  Do you prefer travel rewards or cash back?  How much do you spend every month, and in which categories do you spend the most (i.e. groceries, gas, travel)? As for…

We don’t go to the movies too often any more because we either need to find a babysitter or else we haul the entire family to the latest kids’ flick (and there’s only so much Frozen I can take). But recently I’ve uncovered a hidden gem among rewards programs in Canada – the SCENE rewards…

Travel rewards were thrown into the spotlight this summer when TD Bank and CIBC fought for the right to issue Aeroplan credit cards. While the battle raged on, other banks and card issuers were busy enhancing their rewards programs and coming up with offers to entice new customers. What it all means for consumers is…