“Report card on Canadian alumni credit cards” – http://t.co/C7wOuoruMb + MORE Jun 11th

The two biggest news pieces today had their own posts but are summarized below again! News, Tips & Tricks Today is the big day on Rewards Canada where I released the 5th Annual Canada’s Top Travel Rewards Credit Card rankings. Check them out at www.rewardscanada.ca/topcc2013 The other big news is the large sign up bonus for the MBNA Best Western Rewards MasterCard, see my post here. Finally, for the second time in recent months British Airways is increasing the fuel surcharges on their Intra Europe Reward Flight saver tickets. Economy class will be going up by 5GBP and business class by 10GBP. Here is the reason why according to Avios:Unfortunately the price rise is due to factors outside of our control, such as the continued increases in government and other airport taxes across Europe. We’ve kept the increase as small as possible, the table below shows you how we can continue to offer you big savings on flights. Full details can be found here. Travel Deals Accor Hotels once again is having their 50% off sale for stays at many of their locations Worldwide…

U.S. stocks were little changed on Monday after Standard & Poor’s raised its credit outlook for the United States, but uncertainty about when or if the Federal Reserve might reduce its stimulus efforts limited gains.

Once upon a time manufacturers like Procter & Gamble (think Tide and Pampers) coupon wildly to get your attention. Now retailers are getting so good at knowing who you are and what you buy that the discounts they want to give you to make you shop are slowly being customized to each customer’s individual needs.
Here’s a story to make your blood run cold: Imagine you’re the father of a teenager who, having gone through the mail, is shocked to find coupons from a major retailer addressed to your kid offering discounts on baby clothes and other accouterments. Imagine you get a little ticked, call up the retailer and give them heck because, as you see it, these are totally inappropriate coupons for your high-school daughter. Now image that a few weeks later you discover your kid’s already pregnant!
It happened.
From the New York Times came a fascinating article of how retailers now know us so well that they can predict what we’re going to want to buy, and coupon us to steer us in the direction they want…

"Report card on Canadian alumni credit cards" – http://t.co/C7wOuoruMb

— Creditcards.Ca (@Canada_cc) June 10, 2013

Even bigger than last year’s 50,000 point sign up offer comes this 60,000 point bonus for the MBNA Best Western Rewards MasterCard.  Thanks to Rewards Canada reader Jean-Pierre H. for forwarding the email to me about this latest promotion. What can those 60,000 points get you?Three free nights at Best Western or$225 in Gift Cards or12,500 Aeroplan (or other airline) milesThose are just three examples for you. Getting this card is almost a no brainer as is it has no annual fee so just by funneling some of your credit card spend (only $2,000) to this card you can take advantage of this relatively large windfall for a no fee card! Here are the details for the card and this promotion:Limited-Time Offer: Earn up to Best Western Rewards® points! 60,000 Best Western Rewards Points is enough for three free nights or $225 in gift cards♦♦ Offer expires on August 31, 2013 No Annual Fee Receive 20,000 bonus BWR Points after your first eligible purchase††Spend $1,000 before July 31, 2013 on your new card and receive additional 30,000 bonus points†††…