March 11 Update: Air Transat Toronto-Calgary service, bonus miles for flights and more + MORE Mar 11th

OTTAWA – You might be feeling pretty good about that contribution to the RRSP account and may be daydreaming a little about how you’re going to spend the tax refund.
But investment experts say people should think twice before blowing that cheque from the government on a new television or a quick weekend getaway.
“What you have to remember is that it’s not actually a windfall, it is money that you’ve paid in taxes that you’re getting back for funding your retirement,” said Larry Moser, divisional manager for BMO Investorline.
He said people need a strategy for the money, whether it is investing it or paying down debt, depending on financial circumstances.
28 ways to pay less tax »
For those with high-interest debt, such as credit card debt, Moser says that would top his list for uses of a tax refund.
When making an RRSP contribution, people aren’t avoiding tax on their contributions, they’re only delaying it. The advantage comes from the tax sheltered growth and it is likely people will be in a lower tax bracket in retirement when they withdraw the money than when they earned it…

March Break is nearly here, and for many winter-weary Canadians that means a welcome jaunt to a sunnier climate. However, travelling may be harder on the wallet this year due to weaker spending power. But not to fear, would-be vacationers – this week’s travel tips will have you enjoying life in the jet set in no time. Read on for the full story.
INFOGRAPHIC: How to Fly for Free
A weaker Canadian dollar may be clipping vacationers’ wings, but there’s no need to settle for a staycation! There are tons of travel rewards credit cards on the market that can help offset your travel costs – but finding the right one (and understanding how points work) can be confusing. Check out our infographic for insider tips on taking to the skies for less.
Read Penelope’s Blog | How to Fly for Free
Travel in Canada Grows Due to Weak Loonie
Did you know: a vacation in the U.S. could cost you 30% more this year? It’s no wonder canucks are choosing to stay north of the border this vacation season, according to a recent Expedia study…

News, Tips & TricksAir Transat will be running a one time weekly service between Toronto and Calgary/Vancouver this summer (May 26 -  Oct 31). Air Transat doesn’t have its own frequent flyer program but you could choose to use a proprietary credit card program to redeem points for these flights. Read more about proprietary programs here and why they are the best option for most Canadians. Posts since our last update: Current Bonus Mile Offers for flying within Canada or from Canada to the rest of the World Another reminder for you about the one page on the main Rewards Canada site that sees a good amount of…Hotel Review: Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas – Maui We’ve reviewed this hotel before here on Rewards Canada and it continues to be our go to place in Maui.… Bonus Offers British Airways Executive Club- 3,000 Bonus Avios on your first Rocketmiles booking More… Book by Mar 31, 16 IHG Rewards Club- Earn up to 60% Bonus IHG Rewards Club Points when you buy points online…

OTTAWA – Canadian household debt rose to a new record high in the fourth quarter of last year, fuelled in large part by mortgage growth.
Statistics Canada said Friday that total household credit market debt, which includes consumer credit and mortgage and non-mortgage loans, increased 1.2 per cent to $1.923 trillion at the end of last year.
The total included $573.6 billion in consumer credit debt and $1.262 trillion in mortgage debt.
The growth helped drive the ratio of household debt to disposable income to a new peak of 165.4 per cent in the fourth quarter, up from 164.5 per cent in the third quarter.
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That means Canadian households on average held $1.65 in debt for every dollar they earned after taxes and other fees paid to government.
TD Bank economist Diana Petramala said low interest rates have allowed households to take on more debt, mostly backed by mortgages, and predicted the growth in debt will outpace income growth in the first half of this year…

Credit card debt is on the rise among Canadians, according to a new report. So much so that the average credit card debt of $3,610 has hit a three year high, says credit agency TransUnion.
While it’s not unusual to observe increased credit card use after the holidays, says Jason Wang, TransUnion’s director of research and analysis in Canada, the actual amount of outstanding debt is surprising.
“Compared to 2014, consumers used their credit cards much more during the 2015 holiday season,” Wang explains. “Our forecast model predicts that average credit card balances will remain around $3,800 for the rest of 2016, and we don’t expect consumers to significantly reduce their card debt in the near future.”
Related Read: How to Tackle High-Risk Debt>
Car Loan Payments An Increasing Problem
But that’s not the half of it. There’s also been a sharp spike in delinquencies – the percentage of debt payments overdue by 90 days or more — on car loan payments over the same period…