Shoppers Optimum points:

As with all things points, there always seems to be something new to learn and take advantage of. Tomorrow is a 20 x points day for Shoppers Optimum.

It's not really for travel since SDM points are only redeemable for SDM products, but if you do mental accounting Shoppers points leads to some serious savings that you can allocate to travel.

First off, if you buy a Shoppers gift card, you earn 10 points /$1 on that purchase. When you later redeem that gift card, you earn 10 points /$1 again. AND you can purchase other merchant gift cards with that Shoppers gift card. I did a test run today and loaded $200 on a Shoppers reloadable card (no fees). Instantly I was able to buy a Beer Store cash card and $7 of stuff with a great sale price at SDM. I loaded so much because I am hitting the store tomorrow for 20X. I paid with my Amex Gold MR at 2 points / $ and earned another 2000 SDM points plus another x10 /$ for my small spending today.

SDM has a HUGE selection of merchant gift cards.... Much better than the grocery store. and your Amex Gold earns double points.... For Beer store, LCBO, Home Depot, Canadian Tire, Home Hardware, Rona, Staples, Indigo, all kinds of clothing stores, and restaurants etc etc....

.... So you can earn double Amex MR points and double SDM points.

Who cares about SDM, you ask? They're worth more than you'd think once you think about it:

If you double up on SDM points using their gift card trick and you shop on the 20x Saturdays and you stick to sale items it takes a minimum of $435 of regular targeted spend at Shoppers to earn $170 of rewards (95,000 point redemption for Shoppers products only ... Does not include gift cards sadly).

And this does not account for redeeming those points on the premium redemption days! It's an even better return if you strategically redeem.

You can pay for scripts with the gift cards and still earn points. SDM has some great sale items as well as regularly great priced items like eggs and milk. I looked at the flyer today and easily came up with a quick list of great deals that put me over the $50 spend to get the 20x multiplier.

I've added in Shoppers Optimum to my hacking arsenal. I just need to see how good I am at mental accounting!

NJD

P.S. Don't judge me for the Beer card. That was for DH. I'm an LCBO kind of girl.