Author: Top Cards
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The Tiered Bonus Trap: Why 40,000 Points Isn’t Always 40,000 Points When I first looked at the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite card, I saw “up to 40,000 Aeroplan points” and thought: That’s pretty good. At 2 cents per point, that’s roughly $800 in value. First year free? Even better. Then I actually read the fine…
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This paragraph serves as an introduction to your blog post. Begin by discussing the primary theme or topic that you plan to cover, ensuring it captures the reader’s interest from the very first sentence. Share a brief overview that highlights why this topic is important and how it can provide value. Use this space to…
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Beyond Points: The Insurance and Perks You’re Probably Ignoring Everyone focuses on signup bonuses and earn rates. But the hidden benefits on many Canadian cards can be worth more than the points — if you know they exist. Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance Most premium cards (Visa Infinite, World Elite) cover non-refundable trip costs if you get…
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Cash Is King — But Not All Cash Back Cards Are Equal For people who don’t want to think about points, transfer partners, or redemption strategies, cash back cards offer simplicity. Here’s what’s available in Canada right now. Flat-Rate Cash Back Rogers World Elite Mastercard — 1.5% cash back on everything, no foreign exchange fees.…
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Collecting Points Is Easy — Maximizing Them Takes Strategy Anyone can sign up for a card and collect points. The difference between casual collectors and maximizers comes down to a few key practices. 1. Know Your Point Values Not all points are equal: 2¢+ per point: Amex MR, RBC Avion, Aeroplan (when used well) 1¢…
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It’s Not About the Best Card — It’s About the Right Card The “best” credit card doesn’t exist. The right card depends on your spending patterns, travel goals, and tolerance for annual fees. Here’s how to think about it. Step 1: Know Your Monthly Spend Before comparing cards, look at your actual spending: How much…
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Learn From Others’ Mistakes When you’ve been in the points collecting game for a while, you see the same mistakes repeated. Here are the big ones — and how to avoid them. 1. Chasing the Headline Bonus Without Reading the Fine Print That “40,000 point” offer? It might be split across three spending tiers with…
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What Are Card Rebates? Third-party sites pay you to apply for credit cards through their links. It’s affiliate marketing — the bank pays them a commission, they share a slice with you. In Canada, the main players are FrugalFlyer, GreatCanadianRebates (GCR), CreditCardGenius, and FinlyWealth. How Much Can You Earn? Rebates typically range from $50 to…
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The Cards That Deliver Real Value Not all credit cards are created equal. If you’re looking to maximize rewards on every dollar you spend, a few Canadian cards consistently rise to the top. Here’s what I’m tracking right now. Current Top Picks Amex Cobalt — 5x on Food The Cobalt earns 5 Membership Rewards points…