Taking Advantage of Reward Programs

Take Advantage of Reward Programs! The 2 we use on a regular basis are Shoppers Optimum Points and Airmiles. Airmiles being our favorite. We have our HBC points automatically set up to convert to Airmiles and we have an Airmiles American Express and an Airmiles Master Card. We are able to accumulate many airmiles each month. We try to put as much as we can on these 2 credit cards, including such things things as pre-authorized payments of our cell phone, satellite, internet, etc and we put our groceries and anything else possible on them as well. We pay off our credit card balances each month, so we never incur any late fees and interest charges.

By accumulating and redeeming our Airmiles we have been able to fund approximately 70% of our backyard retaining wall renovation (by redeeming the airmiles for Rona gift certicates) and gas for both our vehicles is paid for, in large part, by redeeming the airmiles for Shell fuel gift certficates. The money we save for not having to pay for gas, goes into Savings accounts, or goes towards making an extra payment towards the principal on our mortgage.