Rewards Cards

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…

There has been plenty of upheaval in the rewards cards space over the past 12 months.  It started when TD bought MBNA Canada’s credit card business and promptly slashed the benefits on what was arguably the best cash back credit card in the country, the Smart Cash MasterCard.  More recently, Capital One discontinued its Aspire…

A new ad campaign by Visa is drawing the ire of retailers and small businesses across the country.  Smallenfreuden, or the joy of small, is Visa’s attempt to get consumers to use their credit card for small purchases under $100. The ‘small’ purchase segment is dominated by debit and cash users, and retailers would like…

When TD bought MBNA’s credit card portfolio I knew it spelled trouble for my favourite cash back credit card, the Smart Cash card.  Sure enough, about a year later, MBNA announced some pretty drastic changes to limit the amount of cash back you could earn with Smart Cash. Related: MBNA Smart Cash MasterCard Review So…

I’m always looking for ways to maximize my rewards and earn cash back for my everyday spending. Recently I’ve discovered that the best cash back credit card in Canada is the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite.  Here’s why: Many of the top cash back credit cards try to entice you with a bonus offer – whether…