Credit Card Recommendations

[GreenLantern]

So according to YNAB my wife and I spent $5000 at Costco last year and all of that went on debit since they don't take Visa. My understanding is that they only accept MasterCard, so I think maybe I need to get a good MasteCard because that total doesn't include some of our big purchases that don't make it into the monthly budget list. Seems like a waste to not be cashing in on 5000+ free points each year.

I am open to any card, we don't do a tonne of traveling but that doesn't mean we wouldn't like to. Right now I use my visa for LOC credits, its a the best conversion for my Visa points I just get a voucher, put something on my LOC then take the voucher in to apply it against that balance. But I would also consider switching full time to using the MC for everything if it was good enough.

Any recommendations?

[Regorium]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

So according to YNAB my wife and I spent $5000 at Costco last year and all of that went on debit since they don't take Visa. My understanding is that they only accept MasterCard, so I think maybe I need to get a good MasteCard because that total doesn't include some of our big purchases that don't make it into the monthly budget list. Seems like a waste to not be cashing in on 5000+ free points each year.

I am open to any card, we don't do a tonne of traveling but that doesn't mean we wouldn't like to. Right now I use my visa for LOC credits, its a the best conversion for my Visa points I just get a voucher, put something on my LOC then take the voucher in to apply it against that balance. But I would also consider switching full time to using the MC for everything if it was good enough.

Any recommendations?

Just use the Costco card. Free with your membership, 3% cash back on restaurants, 2% back on gas (ie. costco gas), but only 0.5% back in store though, so you may want to use something else.

The tangerine cash back mastercard would work for in-store. It's 2% cash back on groceries without a fee. At $5000 a year, the difference between the two is $75, so up to you if that's worth juggling yet another CC.

[accord1999]

I don't think Costco classifies themselves as Grocery though?

The best option would probably be to churn the MBNA Rewards Elite card which gives 2% on all purchases and is free for the first year.

[VladtheImpaler]

Costco is not grocery. The Costco card is good for one thing only (restaurants). Walmart is not grocery either.
Costco card for eating out, Scotia VISA for gas/groceries, and decided to go with the Westjet card for other over my Aspire (bigger limit too - Capital One wouldn't let me go over 20k). Seems the best bang for the buck (if you want to fly on Westjet).

[caff]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Thanks. Received a business platinum card for our home business today. Now we just gotta charge it to $5000 to get the bonus.

To reach the $5000 spend requirement, you can purchase a flex Air Canada business class ticket and return the ticket once the statement is generated (about 2-3 weeks after your purchase). The ticket is fully refundable and no charge for cancellation. You will receive the 75k welcome bonus points the same day when the purchase posted on your account. So you get the 75k bonus without actually spend anything.

[Daliwan]

Originally Posted by caff

To reach the $5000 spend requirement, you can purchase a flex Air Canada business class ticket and return the ticket once the statement is generated (about 2-3 weeks after your purchase). The ticket is fully refundable and no charge for cancellation. You will receive the 75k welcome bonus points the same day when the purchase posted on your account. So you get the 75k bonus without actually spend anything.

I heard others tried this and worked well.

[caff]

Originally Posted by Daliwan

I heard others tried this and worked well.

I just tried this recently and received the 75k Amex welcome bonus points without any problem.

[caff]

There is a promotion for MBNA Best Western master card, 60k Best Western points if you spend 2k in the first 90 days.

[Daliwan]

Originally Posted by caff

Amex increased the welcome bonus points for Amex Business and personnel platinum card to 75,000!!

https://www.americanexpress.com/cana...QSEhETAg%3D%3D

https://www.americanexpress.com/cana...QSEhEeDw%3D%3D

This is highest ever welcome bonuses from any credit cards in Canada.

I heard this promo is ending by June 30.

[chrishenry]

A good MasterCard that will get you 2% at Costco with no annual fee in the first year is the MBNA Rewards World Elite card. You can redeem your points for cash back, each point is worth 1% and you get 2 points per dollar spent everywhere.

For me, because i have a family, i like the WestJet MasterCard. As someone else said, the cost saving on the first checked bag alone ($25X4 each way) is worth the annual fee. The companion ticket puts the card over the top for us. My wife and I use it to go to Florida every year. I don't use the card to collect rewards on spend, I just use it for the seats and companion ticket, worth the $99.

I like using a cash back card to collect on spend. No games, and my cash back can never be devalued like with points and miles.

I also like churning Aeroplan every year. Usually apply for 3-4 cards a year.

[caff]

Originally Posted by chrishenry

I also like churning Aeroplan every year. Usually apply for 3-4 cards a year.

I apply for 6-8 cards a year in the last a few years.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Potentially doing long term damage to your credit bureau for a few hundred dollars in rewards points is not worth it IMO.

[VladtheImpaler]

Point of interest... when I got the RBC Westjet card, I assumed the companion voucher was only good for economy fares. Not so - just used it to get my kid a first class return ticket to YYZ. That's an $1100 saving right there - no wonder this is the best travel card.

[caff]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

Point of interest... when I got the RBC Westjet card, I assumed the companion voucher was only good for economy fares. Not so - just used it to get my kid a first class return ticket to YYZ. That's an $1100 saving right there - no wonder this is the best travel card.

Westjet has first class seats now?

[caff]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Potentially doing long term damage to your credit bureau for a few hundred dollars in rewards points is not worth it IMO.

I still have near perfect credit score. I did not see any real impact to my credit score at all.

The rewards are worth over $5000 a year, not a few hundred dollars.

[calgarygeologist]

I received a nice little perk this morning from my new AMEX Platinum card. They emailed me an offer to redeem two complimentary tickets to an advanced screening of the new Ghostbuster movie. It is not much but it is better than nothing.

[rohara66]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

Point of interest... when I got the RBC Westjet card, I assumed the companion voucher was only good for economy fares. Not so - just used it to get my kid a first class return ticket to YYZ. That's an $1100 saving right there - no wonder this is the best travel card.

So I could have just booked me (or my GF) first class for our flights to the States.... they didn't mention that when I booked. Oh well.

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by caff

Westjet has first class seats now?

The "plus" - 1st class in everything but name. Westjet is just too "democratic" to call it that.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

The "plus" - 1st class in everything but name. Westjet is just too "democratic" to call it that.

First Class? Watch this link of First Class on Cathay and tell me if you still think that.

https://www.topmiles.com/blog/articl...-seat-for--130

I think you mean Business Class, of which WestJet's Plus seating is still miles off of that. WJ's offering is really just a wider seat with extra leg room with everything else craptastic economy class...

[Hockeyguy13]

It's not even a wider seat. They literally just put a little cup holder thingy over the middle seat.