Friday, December 12, 2008

Loyalty Cards


In the past few months, Monsieur Bear and I have started to apply for and use the loyalty cards which are being offered by many of the stores and businesses here in Canada.

Instead of paying cash or using our debit cards, we are consciously using specific credit and/or loyalty cards at the various stores where we shop.


We pay off any account balances before interest rates would accrue so it is not costing us any extra to shop this way.

We have been pleasantly surprised to learn that by doing this we are accumulating points and/or dollars to the amount of $40.00 to $50.00 per month.

This amount may not seem like much but when you add it all up; it means an additional $480.00 to $600.00 we have to spend in one year.

Are there any others out there who are using loyalty cards in this way and have you found similar or higher savings?


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13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh I have enough cards - no more please! My credit card gives me travel points so I use that all the time and pay nit off each month, but get the points, so that works well enough for me.

i beati said...

never heard of them here. smart idea!!esp now Sandy

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

You're right, it does add up over time.

I don't use them because I am a very unorganized person, and...well, anything else I'd add next for additional explanation simply says the same thing: I am too unorganized.

Anonymous said...

I'm not sure what loyalty cards are but we use three credit cards that give us various things. For instance on our Cabela's CC we had almost 300.00 in credits and I used it for Christmas shopping. Our Southwest credit card gives us free flights and then an AMEX gives Delta flight miles. So far we've yet to figure out how to redeem those flight miles because every time we try, "nothing is available for the time or place we want to fly Delta". Sure wish Southwest would start flying to Hawaii. LOL We keep them paid off too.

Smart Mouth Broad said...

I've never heard of a loyalty card but it sounds like a fabulous idea!

Mental P Mama said...

I can only keep up with one card. But i am impressed with all those points you have! Should I send you my wish list?;)

Suldog said...

No, nothing like that for us. We have the usual supermarket scan card, to get the store savings, but nothing else. Something to look into, though.

David said...

Canadian tire money is still the best deal always. It is money for stuff I can use.
Cards that give me gifts I don't need, nor do I need travel gifts. No toasters or trips, or steak knifes or bobbles. Just give me the best deal. I found that stores that offer air miles are more expensive then those that don't. You have to be careful, there is no free lunch. You always pay for it.
Also: I always ask if I get a better deal if I pay cash. More often then not I get 10-15% off. Loyalty cards cost money to operate, and no one, especially in this new age, is going to give you something for free. Stores that take visa have to pay a 2-5% premium. Ask for it off the sticker price, and see how quick you get a deal.

Daryl said...

I got the American Express JetBlue card ... X dollars spent accrue and you get a free airline ticket and JetBlue unlike its competitors honors these w/o lots of black out dates and flights at ungawdly hours. Since I LOVE to travel and I love JetBlue this works out well for me ... the idea of getting something extra for shopping (in addition to whatever I bought) is definitely a good thing

:-Daryl

Baino said...

We have so many of them it's not funny. I have a Fly Buys card which gives you either frequent flyer points, cash rebates or you can trade your points for a number of items in a catalogue. I've been using it for 2 years and have accrued . . .wait for it . . .$30! Wahey! That's Christmas sorted then! (NOT)

peppylady (Dora) said...

This sound like some thing like our reward points that is offered at our bank plus they all do it.
Anytime I use my credit card or run my debit card as a credit card I earn points and I can cash back or gift cards.

Coffee is on.

magiceye said...

another bait to lure you to shop more!

*~sis~* said...

cash back is always good!! :)