Angela Farquhar is a self-described 91裸聊视频渟ucker for a loyalty program.91裸聊视频�

The 32-year-old teacher from Waubaushene, Ont., collects PC Optimum Points and Petro Points, but Air Miles are her favourite. She pays close attention to bonus events in order to rack them up faster.

But with her husband off work for two months due to the pandemic and travel looking unlikely for the foreseeable future, Farquhar 91裸聊视频� like many Canadians 91裸聊视频攈as had to change the way she uses her rewards. This year, instead of buying airline tickets, she used her Air Miles to buy a backyard slide her daughters, Mackenzie, 3, and Alexandra, 1.

91裸聊视频淢ackenzie absolutely loves it and I just started sliding Alexandra down too,91裸聊视频� Farquhar says. 91裸聊视频淪he actually thinks it91裸聊视频檚 more fun taking turns with her sister.91裸聊视频�

Charlene Suchy, however, is taking the opposite approach.

The 37-year-old divemaster from Pefferlaw, Ont., is a devoted Air Miles collector, but has decided to save up rather than spend on non-travel items.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 currently looking at either round trip flights or an all-inclusive package using my miles,91裸聊视频� she says. I91裸聊视频檓 not sure of a destination yet, but have a few in mind for when we can travel again. My trip will only be nicer the more miles I can save.91裸聊视频�

So which is the right approach when it comes to rewards cards? Save up in the hope a vaccine will make travel possible relatively soon? Or use the points right now?

According to Patrick Sojka, the founder of Rewards Canada and an expert on travel rewards, Canadians are increasingly looking to do the latter, despite the fact that travel typically offers better value.

91裸聊视频淭he loyalty programs have told us that more people are using their rewards for merchandise, more people are redeeming for gift cards. It91裸聊视频檚 definitely happening.91裸聊视频�

Whether that91裸聊视频檚 the right strategy depends on your financial situation, says Sojka.

91裸聊视频淚f you91裸聊视频檙e an average income earner and you don91裸聊视频檛 have a way to rack up miles quickly, short-term benefits are probably a healthy way to look at it. A lot of programs tend to devalue over time, and there91裸聊视频檚 uncertainty over the lack of travel and the global economy generally.91裸聊视频�

For those in higher income brackets, continuing to accumulate miles may be the better option. 91裸聊视频淚t might not matter to you that a business class flight will cost 20,000 more miles in a year and a half,91裸聊视频� says Sojka.

The good news is that even travel-focused loyalty programs have become more flexible in recent years, including Air Canada91裸聊视频檚 recently relaunched Aeroplan program.

91裸聊视频淲hether it91裸聊视频檚 merchandise, gift cards, tickets, Amazon purchases, cashback options: there91裸聊视频檚 a whole gamut of options, depending on the program, says Sojka. 91裸聊视频淢ost of them have added more, you just have to find the program that suits your needs.

The other option is to ditch your rewards card and switch to a cash-back credit card, though Sojka says this strategy has some drawbacks. For starters, cash-back cards tend to offer lower-percentage returns on purchases than travel rewards. And most cash-back cards only pay out once a year, making them less useful for those in search of short-term financial relief, though some, such as TD91裸聊视频檚 Cash Back Visa, allow you to redeem much sooner.

Whatever rewards strategy you choose, Sojka91裸聊视频檚 final piece of advice is to check to see when your points expire. Most programs have 12 to 24-month inactivity rules if you91裸聊视频檙e not earning or redeeming. Many pushed that forward due to the pandemic, but the deadlines will return.

91裸聊视频淓ither earn a mile or spend some on a reward,91裸聊视频� he says. 91裸聊视频淭hat keeps them active.91裸聊视频�

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Alex McClintock, The Canadian Press

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