Picking your program

With so many loyalty and reward programs to choose from, selecting the one that’s best for you requires a bit of diligent research. Not only should you look at the actual rewards being offered in order to determine if you’re even interested in what the program offers, but you should also look for the program that best suits your spending habits and lifestyle.

If a new car is in your future, then a GM Mastercard might make sense. The GM Card gives you 5% earnings (on whatever you use the card for) toward the purchase or lease of a new GM car, truck or SUV. You can redeem your earnings on more than 50 eligible vehicles from six GM divisions: Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac, GMC, HUMMER and Cadillac.

There are limits to how much you can actually save, depending on the vehicle you have your eye on. If you’re looking at the 2006 Pontiac Vibe, for example, GM will allow you to accumulate enough earnings to discount $1,500. But if you’re interested in something like the 2006 Hummer H2, they’ll allow you to discount as much as $3,500.

Victoria’s Secret fans — and there are many — might benefit from the Victoria’s Secret Angel Credit Card. Each dollar spent with your Angel credit card equals one Angel Reward point. Earn 250 points and get a $10 Angel Reward Card. Plus, you’ll also receive periodic free shipping and handling on qualified catalogue or online purchases, as well as exclusive discounts and bonus points.

The handyman in the family might appreciate the Canadian Tire “money” On The Card Mastercard. Imagine earning Canadian Tire money wherever you shop — not just at Canadian Tire. You can use the card to buy groceries, gas, a meal at a restaurant and for all of your everyday purchases. Redeem as much of your earnings as you like on any Canadian Tire store merchandise, auto parts or auto labour.

The Shoe Company has long had a loyalty program that works for pretty much anyone in the family. Buy a pair of shoes and the cashier stamps and signs a special card you keep in your wallet. Once you’ve amassed a certain amount of points, you can redeem them for a discount on your next purchase.

Recently The Shoe Company created a loyalty program that allows you to collect points on every purchase made online as well at www.theshoecompany.com. Like the points in their original program, these can be used as rewards for discounts on future purchases.