Itâs almost May â if you havenât started planning your summer travel plans, what exactly are you waiting for? Now is an ideal time to travel: since itâs off-peak, prices tend to be lower. However, if you donât have time to travel now, you can still use your credit cards to save money toward a vacation this summer.Â
Using credit cards to save money sounds weird, right? If used responsibly, you can reap the benefits by simply charging your everyday purchases to your cards.
The case for cash back
Frequent travellers are typically better off using one of the best travel rewards credit cards, but cash-back credit cards are growing in popularity. With cash-back credit cards, thereâs no need to worry about points expiring, blackout dates, or paying taxes. Youâre dealing with cash, which is easy to understand.
The trick is to save those cash back rewards specifically for your travel plans. This is easy if you consider the rewards as part of your travel fund, but thereâs also nothing wrong with using those rewards on something else. The key thing to know is when you can cash out your rewards. If you have a card that only issues cash back rewards annually, youâll want to set a reminder in your calendar.
Before you book your plane tickets or other travel expenses, read the travel insurance policies of all your credit cards to see what youâre entitled to. When youâre ready, charge those purchases to the credit with the best travel insurance so youâll be covered during your travels.
Using a cash back card
One could argue that cash-back credit cards are now the way to go. Over the last few years, many travel rewards programs have devalued their points making it harder to claim rewards. Disappointed with these changes, many travellers have decided to switch to cash back cards since the rewards are pretty much like cash. These credit cards also appeal to casual travellers since they get to decide what they use their cash back rewards on. There are many different cash-back credit cards on the market, but here are a few worth checking out:
SimplyCash Card from American Express
SimplyCashÂŽ Card from American Express
check eligibilityIn your first 10 months as a new SimplyCashÂŽ Card from American Express Cardmember, you can earn a $10 statement credit for each monthly billing period in which you spend $300 in purchases on your Card. This could add up to $100 in statement credits in the first 10 months
Card details
- No annual fee
- Earn 5% cash back on gas, groceries, and restaurants for the first 6 months (up to $250)
- 1.25% cash back on everything else
- Travel insurance benefits
The SimplyCash Card from American Express is a popular card for everyday spending since it offers 5% cash back on gas, groceries, and restaurants (within the first six months, up to $250), and 1.25% on everything else. Thereâs no annual fee, but the downside is that the cash back rewards can only be applied to your credit card statement once a year.
The included travel insurance benefits may appeal to casual travellers. You get complimentary car rental theft and damage insurance, which covers damage or theft of your rental car with an MSRP of up to $85,000. Youâll also get up $100,000 of accidental death and dismemberment insurance (not to be confused with travel medical insurance). This insurance covers you, your spouse and dependent children under the age of 23 from accidental death and dismemberment when any of you travel on a common carrier (plane, train, bus or ship). To qualify the included insurance, you must charge the entire cost of the car rental or travel tickets to your SimplyCash card.
Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite
Scotia MomentumÂŽ VISA Card
check eligibilityGet a 0% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first 6 months (22.99% after that; annual fee $39) Offer ends April 30th, 2023
Card details
- Annual fee: $99
- Earn 4% cash back on gas and groceries, 2% cash back on drug store purchases and recurring bill payments, and 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Receive VISA Infinite benefits
Although the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite has a $99 annual fee, the increased cash back categories are appealing to people who spend a lot. Here are the cash back percentages that cardholders get.
Simply put, the Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite offers some of the highest cash back rewards available. Couples or families who drive a lot can easily earn hundreds of dollars in cash back rewards every year. Note that the cash back is earned at the end of the month, but is awarded annually as a statement credit or deposited to your Scotiabank chequing account (if you have one).
In addition, cardholders get a comprehensive travel insurance package that covers travel emergency medical, trip interruption, flight delay, delayed and lost baggage, travel accident, and rental car collision loss/damage insurance.
Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card
Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card
check eligibilityEarn an extra 10% back on up to $1,000 in everyday purchases within the first 2 months. Must apply by May 2, 2023. Click "check eligibility" to get an additional $100 Amazon gift card đ upon approval.
Card details
- No annual fee
- Earn 2% cash back on purchases in up to three categories of your choice, and 0.5% cash back on everything else
- No limit on how much cash back you can earn
Finally, thereâs the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card. What makes this card unique is that the cash back rewards are deposited monthly and youâre allowed to pick two categories that will earn you 2% cash back. You can earn a third 2% category by having your cash back rewards deposited directly into your Tangerine savings account, while all other categories earn 0.5% cash back.
Travelling may not be your passion, but having a having a good cash back card can help offset costs when you do decide to take a trip.
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