Most consumers scoff at the thought of paying an annual fee. On the surface that makes a lot of sense; limiting recurring monthly and annual costs is a great way to keep your budget in check. But when it comes to credit cards, it might make a lot more sense to opt for a credit card that carries an annual fee.
Summer’s winding down, but there’s still a little time to getaway this year. When travelling by air, it’s often necessary to rent a vehicle for extended stays, or to explore more than just the resort. Before you get behind the wheel of a rental car, it’s important to find out if you’re protected in the event of a crash.
If you don’t go over your credit card statement with a fine tooth comb, you could be paying hundreds of dollars in extra charges without even knowing it. Each month thousands of people are falling victim to “grey charge”s on their credit card. There are an estimated 233 million grey charge a year, totaling $14.3 U.S. billion, according to a 2013 Aite Group report.
Are you obsessed with credit card reward points? You’re not alone. The Financial Post wrote an interesting article on an alarming trend of consumers racking up credit card debt, just to earn reward points.
Popular travel rewards program Aeroplan has received its fair share of criticism over the years for its costly redemption system. Last year the Toronto Star wrote an article on an Aeroplan member who was faced with $2,200 in fees and taxes for a so-called free flight. In another article, many readers expressed anger in the way Aeroplan rewards are calculated and the amount of fees and taxes paid for flight redemptions. To say Aeroplan has received bad PR would be a huge understatement.
Are you planning to travel to the U.S. this summer? If so, it’s important to plan ahead. With the Canadian dollar hovering around 80 cents, travelling to the U.S. can be a lot more costly if not done the right away. A strong USD means Canadian travellers and cross-border shoppers should look into ways to stretch their loonies. Using a US Dollar credit card is one of the easiest ways to stretch your loonie further.
