Charge a lot? Pay early and often to avoid score damage + MORE Sep 11th

Happy New Year! Ok… So maybe it’s not actually the new year – but a recent Tangerine study found 60 per cent of Canadians view the start of the school year as an unofficial new beginning. And, with this fresh start comes new resolutions, especially for personal finances, according to the study.
A third of Canadians say they plan to set some new money goals for themselves before the year is out. Thirty per cent of that group will focus on saving more money while 20 per cent plan to point their efforts at paying down credit cards or other loans.
And Canadians could use the emergency buffer. The survey also found 30 per cent wouldn’t be able to financially handle an unexpected $500 expense. For 28 per cent, that breaking point lies at $2,000.
“Fall” Back on Track with High Interest Savings
For those on board with the idea of turning the fall into a season of financial redemption, strategy is key.
First step – put your money to work with a high-interest savings option…

‘Christmas bonus’ for small businesses may be too narrowly focused

Trying to purge the profit motive from the minds of credit analysts.

Not sure if this is a targeted offer  but the latest email from American Express is a great deal if you are planning any stays at Fairmont Hotels before the end of the year. The offer is similar to some we have seen from Amex in the past where they give a statement credit for spending a certain amount at a merchant (ie $10 credit for spending $20 at Tim Hortons).This time the offer is for a $100 statement credit when you spend $500 or more in one transaction at a participating Fairmont Hotels & Resorts property between September 9, 2014 and December 31, 2014. Considering what most Fairmont Hotel’s charge this shouldn’t be too hard to achieve especially if that stay is for two or more nights and/or you include food, beverage or spa that are charged to your room. The list of eligible properties can be found here and include most if not all locations in Canada, three in Mexico and seventeen in the U.S. The actual purchase requirements don’t specify a room type or specific rate which means you should be able to tie in either a Fine Hotels & Resorts offers via The Platinum Card from American Express or take advantage of one of the awesome resident rates at select locations (ie Alberta residents rate at the Fairmont Banff Springs or Chateau Lake Louise)…

Even if you pay your balance off in full and on time each month, if you are charging close to your credit limit, don’t expect a high credit score