When to close an annual-fee card + MORE Mar 18th

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – American Express is preparing to launch a customer loyalty program in the U.S. that will enable shoppers at select retailers rack up points that they can use toward future purchases at Macy’s, Exxon Mobil, AT&T and other participating companies.
The free program, set to debut in May, is dubbed Plenti and will also include Nationwide, Rite Aid, Direct Energy and Hulu, American Express said Wednesday.
US Loyalty, a unit of American Express, will operate the program. But Plenti is not exclusive to AmEx’s cardholders. Customers of the companies in the program can earn points regardless of whether they pay with cash or a debit or credit card from another card issuer.
American Express also will be rolling out a Plenti-branded credit card that will let users earn additional points.
“For every dollar you spend you’re going to get a point on the credit card, plus whatever you get from that merchant,” said Abeer Bhatia, chief executive of US Loyalty…

Coast Hotels quietly offers up an great transfer bonus today! News, Tips & TricksDon’t forget about Rewards Canada’s exclusive contest with Aeroplan! Simply shop via their online shopping portal eSTORE if you haven’t shopped there since May of last year and not only will you earn 5x Aeroplan Miles on all purchases made via the eSTORE but you’ll also get the chance to win 1 of 4 prizes of 2,500 Aeroplan Miles! To find out more about this exclusive contest visit this post:5x Miles for shopping via Aeroplan eSTORE if you haven’t shopped in the last year + RC Exclusive – Win 1 of 4 – 2,500 Miles for shopping via eSTORECoast Hotels is offering up to 75% off their regular conversion rates to Aeroplan Miles. This offer runs until April 30th and is a great deal if you happen to be sitting on 12,500 points as that will net you 50,000 Aeroplan Miles!!! Find all the details here.Air New Zealand will offer daily service between Vancouver and Auckland for a little over a month this coming winter…

Closing a credit card can lower your credit score a bit, but if your annual fee is due and a more rewarding card beckons, it’s probably worth it

(MARCO DE SWART/AFP/Getty Images)
OTTAWA – Canada’s parliamentary budget office believes the Harper government’s controversial income-splitting tax plan will encourage workers to leave the labour force.
In a new report released today, the federal budget watchdog estimates the so-called “Family Tax Cut” will reduce the workforce by the equivalent of 7,000 net full-time jobs as the lower earning partner in some families opts to stop working.
The Conservative government’s multibillion-dollar tax measure was introduced at a time when the country is trying to attract lower-wage workers into the labour force.
The measure was announced last fall and allows eligible taxpayers to transfer up to $50,000 of income to his or her spouse in a lower tax bracket in order to collect a non-refundable tax credit of up to $2,000 per year.
» Use the Family Tax Cut to get a bigger tax refund
» Why TFSA doubling will exacerbate income inequality
The report also says the measure primarily benefits middle- through higher-income households — while earners in the bottom 20 per cent have “near zero” eligibility for the tax credit…

Family tax cut and other deductions can double your tax refund (Getty Images / Peter Dazeley)
It’s a brand new tax year—new tax filing adventures await, and this year I have great news of much bigger refunds for families under the new Family Tax Cut. Last year’s average tax refund was about $1,700, but this year’s refund will be up to twice that for some. Ah yes, now I have your attention! Here’s the lowdown on how to claim the Family Tax Cut, along with some of the other changes introduced this year.
The new Family Tax Cut
Introduced with great fanfare by Stephen Harper on October 30, this new provision will reduce the amount you have to pay in federal taxes, as long as you are a two-parent family with children under age 18. And you won’t need any new information to claim—just a sharper pencil.
To get the credit, you must re-allocate up to $50,000 in income from one spouse to the other using the new Schedule 1-A. The credit may be claimed by either spouse for a maximum tax savings of $2,000, and you’ll see the biggest benefit if one spouse has an income that’s much higher than the other…