The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

TB MONEY MATTERS HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT CREDIT CARD TO MAXIMIZE REWARD POINTS, CASHBACK SRIVINDHYA KOLLURU The sticker shock on ev- ryday purchases — froma latte to fruits and veggies —is forcing more people to turn to credit cards to keep up with mounting bills. According to a recent NerdWallet survey, 70 per cent of Canadians have used credit cards to pay for essentials, including gro- ceries. Meanwhile, 33 per cent of respondents report- ed using credit card re- wards to pay for these items, attributing the shift to the rising price of goods. With the a strategy in place, and paying off the balance every ynonth to avoid interest charges, ex- perts agree that using cred- it cards can help you score rewards and save money on expenses ranging from groceries to big-ticket trav- el plans. For those new to credit card rewards, Natasha Macmillan, director ofF Ev. eryday Banking at poet ca, emphasizes “het ae ing the rit card for your spend. ing habits and pinpointing which category you spend the most amount of money nn — groceries, entertain- ment, travel or gas. ys this will help you narrow the choices for a card that lets you earn points or cashback for that specific area. 'I recommend tracking your s Spending over three to six mnths or even just looking back on your credit card statement and seeing rou've typically travel expert Barry Choi recommends suning un when there's a generous welcome bonus, adding that some travel credit cards offer welcome bonuses of up to 100,000 points, equivalent to some- where between $500 and $2,000. BALANCE OVER REWARDS Just be mindful, he says, of signing up for multiple cards or cancelling them in a short time frame. “If you're signing up for one or two new credit cards ry single year. and keep- bly not going to make a big ie grand g Ze z a8 8 Once you have your credit card, see if you can combine it with a loyalty pro} “You ¢ can usually dow up your points by your credit card alongside your regular loyalty cus- tomer acrount," adds Mac- millan. Popular co-brand- ed loyalty programs in- clude eroplan, Scene and Air Miles. You can also stack re- wards by using two or more Dreamstime photo Points and cashback are great, but consumers need to make sure to pay off their credit card balance every month to avoid costly interest charges. cards. One card might have high cashback on dining and entertainment expens- cery shopping. As an example, Macmil- lan says you can put your Infinite card to earn 1.25 jeneog emlyeo | LE remainder of your expens- es to earn 1.25 per cent > cashback. 6 per cent on groceries and as. According to credit re- hadacredit card balance of $3,909 in the first quarter of 2023, up from $2,446 in 2022. Even with a generous re- rd, you Should Silt be mindful of interest charges, says Choi. Si wards aren't worth the 20 per cent interest charges. “Even if you're getting 10 es, while the other earns you rewards points on gro- 2283 Whistling Springs Cres, Oakville Your timing is perfect! $1,277,777 ju ~ Stunning 4 bed/3 bath/ finished basement Semi In prestigious Westmount. | Beautifully presented | Gorgeous kitchen with granite Designer stone fireplace. | Trendy colours through out. | Real price will sell very fast. Open houses Sat and Sunday. | Check the website out...2283whistlingsprings.com OFFICE 905.844.5000 CELL 905.399.9544 wilma@wilmafournier.com wilmafournier.com wil TOP 1% FOR CANADA BAPTIST groceries and gas expenses on the CIBC Dividend Visa per cent back, you're still losing, right?" BAPTIST OAKVILLE * ONTARIO TE 340 Rebecca Street, Oakville (905) 845-2942 www.cbcoakville.ca “The friendly, caring church!” We have been worshipping for 70 years, serving our local community. Please join us Sunday morning at 10 am for our service. ing: 7:30-9PM (Via Zoom Virtual Platform) akville Pentecostal Apostolic Centre OAKVILLE PENTECOSTAL APOSTOLIC CENTRE (St. Paul's United Church) Oakville, ON unday Service 12:30 - 3PM Worship Service *Covid-19 Safety Protocols Strictly followed.” Tel: 416-892-8123 Fax: 1-866-281-5983 Bishop M. Brissett Email: mjbrisse@yahoo.ca JESUS IS LORD woo-uoyeyepisu!