The 2013 "Other Money" Thread! "What's in YOUR Wallet?"
Hey Smartcanucks! Thanks for keeping those "other money" updates coming! Lots of great stories and tips over the last two months and now we have a fresh thread to continue the journey! Reserved posts below will soon contain the resource and tip summaries to maximizing our other money wealth and help others find them easily as well.
Cheers to a great start to 2013! Let's keep the "other money" wallet fat while enjoying the happy dances and chuckles as we leave the stores!
Where to find "Other Money"!
Airmiles Reward Miles (Cash and Dream Rewards): Earn airmiles at participating retailers including Metro, Shell, Rexall. Bonus miles events are held at Metro and Rexall throughout the year and FPCs may count in your base total for bonus miles. Also, if you have a credit card like BMO Airmiles then you earn more miles based on your spending. I switched my airmiles account so that the miles earned go to "cash rewards" making it easier to redeem at Metro. Who doesn't enjoy free groceries?! You can still save miles for other "dream rewards" like high value gift cards, admission passes, movie passes, appliances and travel. The choice is yours!
Here are two threads that give lots of valuable info re the Airmiles program, the changes and impact on reward values:
http://forum.smartcanucks.ca/23424-s...-deals-canada/(Operabob's thread)
http://forum.smartcanucks.ca/266628-airmiles-best-practices-canada/
***Earn Airmiles when spending your paypal or amazon.ca cash!*** air miles shops.ca (no spaces when you search) features many online shops at which you may pay for your purchase via paypal; or when cashing out on amazon.ca/.com. If you login (requires your Airmiles card #) via air miles shops.ca before making your purchase you could earn at least 1 bonus airmile on your purchase, or bonus mile promos like 2x or 3x on a certain purchase level. Thanks to SCer alicia for this tip!
SDM Optimum Points: Free IS Good! There’s an SDM forum on SC just for optimum point junkies and boy do we make the most of that program! I continue to bring home tons of free stuff and it’s beyond compare to any other loyalty program I’ve subscribed to. Check out all the details, discussions and FAQs here http://forum.smartcanucks.ca/shoppers-drug-mart/
HBC points: Even with Zellers closed/closing and the recent changes to the HBC reward point values, this may still be a worthwhile program if you shop at the Bay and Home Outfitters. Check out the "deals" section for upcoming point promos and or notices of great sales/deals. Bonus point coupons used to be mailed/emailed to customers...not sure if it's still happening but if it is you'd find notices in the "coupons" section of SC.
PC Points: Upon signing up for my PC MasterCard last year, I received free cookies (yum!) and later received bonus point coupons that eventually gave me $40 in free groceries. For those who shop often at Loblaws stores (RCSS, No Frills, Loblaws) this can be a great program. I’ve redeemed for another $80 since signing up last year and with coupons you can really make that free monty stretch! You can sign up here http://www.pcfinancial.ca, but if you let a PC rep catch you in the store, you'll most likely end up with some other freebie including more bonus points.
Selling items via Consignment, Kijiji, Ebay et al: I have sold items at both a children’s and women’s clothing consignment shop. I’ve earned more than $250 over the past year and it’s a great way to empty your closets and make a little extra money on the side. I also purchased items from the children’s store and they gave me an extra 20% in-store credit. This $ topped up groceries, take-out nights and some fun money for each for the family.
I have not sold items on kijiji but other SCers have posted many amazing updates on their "another item sold" experiences. A little time and effort, but it may reap more $ for you in the end.
Gas points/cash: You're buying the gas anyway so be sure to also collect some points/cash for your efforts! Canadian Tire has bonus CT cash coupons (i.e. 8x ct cash when you buy gas), Esso/Shell/Petro give points (gotta have a rewards card). It all adds up! Most places will allow you to convert the points to a gift card, for others you can redeem points right away. SCers have also bragged of using their gas points/rewards to buy gift cards for other stores...sweet!