So things I have set in motion since last posting:
Signed husband and me up for AMEX Gold Rewards. Spent $500 in first three months receive 25,000 Aeroplan points. Annual fee waived. Although a previous poster was correct that it is more difficult to find places that take AMEX, it wasn't too onerous; in less than a month I logged $500 so now I've set aside the card...the first 20,000 get awarded at about 3 months past the $500 spend and the final 5,000 at the card's 6 month mark as long as the card is still active. Now we are on to husband's card. The big one was that our gym membership takes AMEX for monthly fee of $94 (husband is a triathlete, needs pool three or more times a week, one child is also triathlete, I'm recovering from hip replacement, other two kids use Y regularly).
I did open a TD chequing account and stuck $4200 in it. It took 30 minutes to set it up and so I'm in to this activity for 60 minutes now. I did have to keep gently batting away all suggestions for overdraft, an accompanying savings account etc. I did not hide why I was doing it. The bank rep knew and I was frank that the $300 was too good an opportunity to pass up (if I keep the money there for even 4 months, that's about 18% return...way better than any other investment). I only have to do two of: A direct deposit, a PAD and an online banking item over $50. I've set up my Koodo cell phone bill to come out of there in about two weeks and my hydro bill (which is $60) I will pay online. I will easily meet these requirements within the 45 day restriction.
CIBC VISA Business Aeroplan offers 25,000 points with first use and fee waived first year. The points are awarded as long as the card is active for 3 months. We have two of these now as well and I've already used the VISA to purchase discounted ink for our business. This has been set aside. I do want to investigate exactly what "active" means. I believe this just means the card is not cancelled..but want to make sure that it doesn't mean something stupid like one use per statement period. There was no clear indication in the fine print for the offer.
I opened a Tangerine chequing account. One PAD or three months of payroll Direct Deposit nets $100. I will open one for my husband, and the two kids who are older than 16. It was easy to activate the account; I stopped by Canada Post in my small town as I was walking my 5km loop with my daughter. It was the first time they'd had anybody open one through their outlet. Took 3 mins.
Just noticed TD VISA has an aeroplan card...waived fee first year and 25,000 points on first use. This offer is open until May so I'm holding off as I am reaching the point where I feel like I'm juggling things, even though I've got spreadsheets and reminders.
So if all is successful, from end of February to whenever each card/account realizes their benefits (late summer):
1,000 cash
150,000 aeroplan points (split between two people). 60,000 points will get a round trip ticket to Europe.