With competition being tough, many consumers would chase the highest interest rates, but that often required you to constantly switch banks. To combat this issue, horizons introduced CASH.to, a High Interest Savings exchange-traded fund (ETF). When looking at the yields, it’s obvious that CASH.to is a great choice for those looking to invest in fixed income. But what is CASH.to, is it safe, and how do you buy CASH.to? I’ve got all the answers in this CASH.to guide.

Understanding CASH.to?

CASH.to represents the ticker symbol for the Horizons High Interest Savings ETF listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The “.to” extension indicates that it trades on Canada’s main stock exchange.

This exchange-traded fund focuses on generating monthly income for investors by allocating assets into high-interest deposit accounts held with Canadian chartered banks. The fund’s primary goal centres on maximizing your monthly distributions while maintaining capital preservation and liquidity.

When you invest in CASH.to, you gain exposure to Canadian dollar-denominated cash-equivalent investments without needing to manage multiple bank accounts yourself. The ETF operates as a convenient vehicle for parking cash while earning competitive interest rates that often exceed traditional savings accounts.

How Does CASH.to Work?

When you invest in CASH.to, your funds are pooled with other investors’ money and placed into high-interest savings accounts at major Canadian financial institutions. The fund manager actively seeks out accounts offering the strongest returns and can shift money between institutions to maximize yields.

This pooling strategy provides a significant advantage. Because CASH.to manages billions of dollars in assets, it can negotiate better rates than individual investors typically access on their own.

Key operational features:

• Monthly distributions are paid directly to your brokerage account
• You must hold shares by the ex-dividend date to receive that month’s payment
• The fund continuously reallocates capital to maintain optimal yields
• Returns reflect the aggregated performance of multiple high-interest accounts

The mechanics mirror those of a standard savings account, where you deposit money and receive interest payments. The main difference is that CASH.to leverages institutional scale to secure enhanced rates for investors.

How do CASH.to Yields Work?

CASH.TO generates returns based on interest earned from deposits held at Canadian financial institutions. The fund’s performance fluctuates with prevailing interest rates. During 2021’s historically low rate environment, yields hovered around 0.6%. Current interest rates have pushed yields into the 3.5% to 4.5% range.

These rates typically exceed what you can access by opening accounts directly with banks. The quoted yields represent annual figures. You receive distributions monthly, calculated as roughly one-twelfth of the annual rate.

The fund charges a management expense ratio of 0.11%. This fee is deducted before your yield is calculated and posted, meaning the rate you see already accounts for costs. You don’t need to subtract anything additional to determine your actual return.

Your distributions arrive as monthly deposits into your brokerage account if you hold shares by the ex-dividend date. This structure mirrors traditional savings accounts but operates through the exchange-traded fund framework.

How Does the Share Price of CASH.to Function?

The share price of CASH.to operates on a predictable cycle tied to its monthly distributions. The ETF maintains a floor net asset value of $50, which means the trading price stays at or above this baseline.

Throughout each month, the share price gradually increases as the fund accrues interest income. This daily appreciation continues until the distribution payment date arrives. On the ex-dividend date, the share price typically reaches its monthly peak before resetting to the $50 minimum after the distribution is paid out.

Key pricing mechanics:

• The price climbs each trading day incrementally
• The increase reflects the accumulating distribution value
• The share price drops back to $50 after the payout

This structure means that the timing of your purchase makes little difference to your returns. When you buy at a higher price mid-month, you’re paying for the upcoming distribution that’s already embedded in the cost. The distribution you receive offsets the elevated purchase price, resulting in a neutral timing effect for investors.

How Are You Taxed on CASH.to?

When you hold CASH.to in a non-registered account, you’ll pay tax on the monthly distributions as interest income. This interest gets added directly to your total income for the year and taxed at your marginal tax rate.

If you sell your CASH.to shares for more than you paid, you’ll trigger a capital gain. The tax treatment works like this: only 50% of your capital gain is added to your taxable income. For example, if you sell shares and realize a $100 profit, you’ll include $50 in your taxable income, which is then taxed according to your marginal rate.

Registered accounts work differently:

• RRSP
• TFSA
• LIRA
• RESP

When you hold CASH.to in any of these registered accounts, you don’t need to track interest or capital gains. You won’t owe any tax on distributions or price appreciation within these accounts.

How to buy CASH.to?

You can buy CASH.to via your broker or your online discount brokerage account. CASH.to can be held in all registered and non-registered investment accounts.

CASH.to is eligible for placement in registered accounts such as TFSAs and RRSPs, as well as non-registered investment accounts. Your brokerage may charge a commission for executing the trade, though many platforms now offer commission-free ETF purchases.

Important limitation: Certain financial institutions restrict access to this ETF. TD Direct Investing currently blocks clients from purchasing CASH.to, which appears to be a business decision rather than a regulatory restriction.

Before placing your order, verify that your brokerage permits CASH.to transactions. If your current platform doesn’t support it, you may need to transfer funds to a different brokerage that allows High Interest Savings ETF purchases.

CASH.to vs. GICs

CASH.to and GICs represent two distinct approaches to cash management in Canada. GICs are fixed-term products offered by banks and trust companies that lock in a specific rate of return for a predetermined period.

The yield structure differs significantly between these options. A GIC provides a fixed interest rate that remains constant throughout its term, whether that’s one year or longer. CASH.to distributes monthly dividends that fluctuate based on prevailing market conditions and short-term interest rates.

Liquidity is another key distinction. GICs typically require you to commit your funds for the entire term, restricting access until maturity. You can trade CASH.to shares during Toronto Stock Exchange hours, providing the ability to access your capital when needed.

Protection and costs also vary. Eligible GICs qualify for CDIC coverage up to $100,000, safeguarding your principal. CASH.to does not carry this insurance protection. Additionally, CASH.to charges management fees that reduce your net returns, while GICs have no associated fees.

Overall, CASH.to gives you more flexibility than GICs since you can withdraw your funds at any time. However, you need to pay fees for CASH.to and there’s no CDIC insurance.

Comparing CASH.to with Other Options

Besides GICs, there are a few other alternatives to CASH.to that are worth considering:

High Interest Saving Accounts

ou can bypass CASH.to entirely by placing funds directly into a high-yield savings account. The returns from CASH.to typically exceed what most banks offer on standard deposit accounts.

Higher rates may be available through promotional offers for new deposits, but this requires effort on your part to transfer money between institutions and open multiple accounts. A key benefit of direct deposits is CDIC protection, which covers your money if you open an eligible account with a member institution of the Canadian Deposit Insurance Corporation.

CASH.to does not provide CDIC coverage, making direct savings accounts more secure for those prioritizing capital protection.

Money market funds

Money market funds are funds that invest in short-term bonds. They typically invest in bonds that have a maturity of less than 30 or 60 days so their yield can follow the interest rate movements. This can be a decent alternative to CASH.to, but investors should look at the quality of all bonds within the funds to make sure they match their risk profile.

What Happens to CASH.to if Interest Rates Drop?

When interest rates decline, your CASH.to distributions will decrease accordingly. The fund generates returns by depositing cash into Canadian bank accounts, and these earnings fluctuate with prevailing interest rates.

Your monthly payouts will shrink as the fund earns less on its holdings. During periods of historically low rates, distributions can fall significantly—potentially to levels similar to 2021 when yields hovered around 0.6%.

Key impacts on your investment:

• Lower monthly distributions
• Reduced annual yield percentage
• Decreased passive income generation

The fund’s performance remains directly tied to what Canadian banks pay for deposits. You won’t receive fixed returns, as the yield adjusts continuously based on market conditions.

Is CASH.to Safe?

CASH.to does not carry CDIC insurance, which distinguishes it from GICs or traditional high-interest savings accounts. This lack of insurance coverage applies to all ETFs, stocks, preferred shares, and bonds, not just CASH.to specifically.

The ETF deposits funds into accounts at major Canadian financial institutions, including National Bank, Scotiabank, and CIBC. Canadian banks rank among the most secure financial institutions globally, which provides a degree of safety for your investment.

While you cannot consider CASH.to 100% safe due to the absence of CDIC protection, the risk remains relatively low. If one of Canada’s major banks were to collapse, the resulting economic crisis would likely overshadow concerns about individual deposit losses.

Key Safety Considerations:

• No CDIC insurance coverage
• Funds held at multiple established Canadian banks
• Canadian banking system has strong stability record
• Risk comparable to other ETF investments

Your money faces minimal risk under normal economic conditions, though you should understand the differences between ETF holdings and insured deposit accounts.

Final Thoughts

CASH.TO stands out as a practical choice for parking funds you want to keep accessible. You won’t be locked into your capital for months or years, as you would with fixed-term products. The ability to trade during market hours gives you flexibility that traditional savings products can’t match.

You can hold this ETF in your TFSA, RRSP, or any other account type you already have. This means you won’t need to open additional accounts or juggle multiple institutions. The competitive interest distribution makes it worth considering, though you should weigh the absence of CDIC coverage against your own risk tolerance and financial goals.

The popularity of this fund reflects its usefulness for investors seeking liquidity combined with reasonable returns on cash holdings.

Unlike some of the other free birthday stuff in Toronto lists you’ve seen online, I actually live in the city and have verified all of the deals. Start early and get a free drink at Starbucks or Tim Hortons (maybe both). For breakfast, the best place to visit is Denny’s since you can claim a build your own Grand Slam Breakfast for free. Both What A Bagel and Kettleman’s offers free bagels, so grab some and put them in your backpack. For lunch, The Works has you covered. Need an afternoon pickup? Get bubble tea at The Alley, and Chatime. For dinner, you can get a free slice of their Billy Miner Pie with your meal.

You’ll quickly realize that there’s plenty of free birthday food in Toronto. That said, many retailers such as Sephora and the Body Shop also have gifts waiting for you. Before you head out, call the stores where these deals are to check if they’re still available. Here’s a list of the best birthday freebies in Toronto.

The Alley

Although they don’t actively advertise it, if you have The Alley’s app, you get a free bubble tea for your birthday. The coupon shows up in your app on your birthday and it’s good for five days. The Alley has multiple locations in the city and it comes sealed so it’s something you can put in your fridge for a few days.

Arby’s

Growing up, I used to love Arby’s as there was a location beside the arcade at my favourite mall. Admittedly, it’s a bit of an acquired taste, and the only locations left in the greater Toronto area are in Burlington and Oshawa, so it may not be easy to get to. The website doesn’t say anything specific, but app users have reported getting a coupon for a free snack shake or cookie coupon with any purchase when their birthday rolls around

Applebee’s

My apologies to those looking for birthday freebies in Toronto that are actually in the city. Some of the restaurants on this list are in the GTA and I felt it was worth a mention. I’ve also listed them in alphabetical order which is why two places outside of the GTA have appeared so high. Applebee’s has a location in Ajax and gives you a free entrée when purchasing another meal at regular price as long as you’re signed up for their e-club newsletter.

Baskin-Robbins

Everyone loves ice cream right? Club 31 members will love the free scoop on their birthday when they purchase a 2.5 oz scoop or 3 oz soft serve cone. If you plan on having a party, you can also get $5 off a 20+ cake.

The Body Shop

Joining The Body Shop’s, Love Your Body Club is free, and you get something special on your birthday. In addition, you’ll get sneak peeks at new products and invites to exclusive events held by The Body Shop.

Boston Pizza

When you sign up for MyBP by Boston Pizza, you’ll immediately get a coupon for a free starter. On the anniversary of signing up, you get an individual 2 topping pizza. If that wasn’t enough, you also get a free dessert on your birthday.

Chatime

Chatime Socitea (Chatime rewards) gives you a free birthday drink that’s automatically loaded to your account 7 days before your birthday. You would obviously need to register your birthday to get your free drink. This free drink is good for 7 days before and after your birthday. You must sign up for the rewards program to get your free drink.

Chick-Fil-A

Chick-Fil-A locations have been popping up all over the city. It’s quickly become a popular spot to get fried chicken sandwiches. Customers that sign up for the app/loyalty program get free food on their birthday. What you get depends on your loyalty tier. All can choose between a Chocolate Chunk Cookie or Chocolate Fudge Brownie. If you’re silver, you can choose a Small Milkshake, Small Frosted Lemonade, Small Frosted Coffee, Small Icedream Cone or Small Icedream Cup. Signature members get their choice of entrée.

Cora

One of the best places to get free birthday food in Toronto is Cora. Anyone who signs up for the newsletter should get a $5 off coupon on their birthday, but I noticed it’s no longer specifically mentioned on the website. I can confirm that if you join the Cora loyalty program, you can earn three times the points on your birthday. This offer is good for 30 days.

David’s Tea

Unfortunately, David’s Tea closed all of their retail locations during the pandemic, but they’re still giving out birthday freebies in Toronto and across the country. If you’ve joined their frequent STEEPER program, you’ll get 5 free points on your birthday. Note that you used to get a free cup of tea, but since David’s Tea no longer has physical locations, they’ve switched to free points. 

Denny’s

Birthday freebies in Toronto with the best value are found at Denny’s. If you dine in on your actual birthday and present a valid picture ID, you’ll get a free Grand Slam breakfast. That meal comes with eggs, bacon, sausage, hashbrowns, and pancakes. Note that you still have to pay the taxes and be sure to tip based on the regular price.

DQ

You can enjoy one of your free birthday meals at DQ (Dairy Queen) if you’re a Blizzard Fan Club member. On your birthday, you can get a free Blizzard when you purchase another Blizzard at the regular price. It’ll be tempting to get a large, but you’ll want to save room if you’re heading to more locations on this list.

Harvey’s

Harvey’s used to have one of the best free stuff on your birthday in the form of a burger, but they seem to have decreased the present in recent years. Harvey’s newsletter subscribers have reported that the special gift on your birthday is now just a free slice of pie when you purchase a burger. Not exactly the best deal on this list, but handy if you happen to be heading to Harvey’s.

The Keg Steakhouse + Bar

For those who want to have steak on their birthday, you may want to head to The Keg Steakhouse + Bar. When you purchase a meal at the regular price, you’ll get a free slice of their Billy Miner Pie. This is a dine-in only offer, but it doesn’t have to be on your exact birth date. Just let the server know that you’re celebrating your big day.

Kelseys

Kelseys is one of the few family restaurants that still offer a free birthday dessert. You do need to purchase a meal, so you can’t just show up expecting pie and ice cream. To get the offer, you do need to sign up for their newsletter. When you sign up, you’ll get a free appetizer coupon immediately and a $10 off coupon on your anniversary.

Kettleman’s Bagel

You can get free birthday stuff in Toronto at Kettleman’s Bagel which serves Montreal-style bagels. You’ll get a dozen bagels for free on your special day if you have downloaded the app.

KFC

Kentucky Fried Chicken, or KFC, as they like to be called now, gives anyone who has the app a free popcorn chicken coupon for their birthday. The offer is good for 30 days from your birthday so there’s no need to rush things.

Lone Star Texas Grill

Lone Star Texas Grill has two locations in the Greater Toronto area. There’s one by the airport and another one in Richmond Hill. If you’ve signed up for The Sizzle, you’ll get a free dessert on your birthday. The catch is, you need to spend at least $30 before taxes to get your deal. On a positive note, you also get unlimited chips and salsa.

Mandarin

Many people will say the best free birthday stuff is found at The Mandarin. That’s hard to argue since you’ll get your birthday buffet for free as long as you’re joined by three paying adults. You do need to need to sign up for the Mandarin Dish e-newsletter at least one day prior to your birthday to get the offer.

Marble Slab Creamery

It pays to sign up for Marble Mail since you’ll get access to some pretty sweet deals. The website is a bit vague and says you’ll get free sweet surprises on your birthday. In most cases, it’s been a buy one scoop, get a free scoop coupon. You need to sign up at least 48 hours before your birthday to get your deal.

Medieval Times

When you sign up for Medieval Times’ Birthday Club, you’ll get to dinner and a show for free when joined by at least one paying adult. Medieval Times has limited seating, so you’ll want to reserve your spots early.

Menchie’s

One of the more popular free birthday meals is found at Menchies. When you download the app and create a My Smileage account, you’ll get a $5 coupon to use on frozen yogurt on your birthday. That may sound like a big deal, but Menchie’s is self-service where you pay by weight so you can get your treat for free.

Montana’s

Another restaurant offering free birthday stuff in Toronto is Montana’s. They serve BBQ dishes (think ribs and chicken), and you can get a free dessert on your birthday. You need to sign up for the grill lovers club newsletter to get access to the offer.

New York Fries

For some reason, the NYF Fry Society loyalty program isn’t well known. I’m not sure why since you can earn points on every purchase, and you get free regular fries on your birthday. However, you need to spend at least $50 in the prior year to be eligible for the free fries.

Panera

For those looking to collect free birthday stuff in Toronto, you need to head to Panera bread since you can get a free pastry on your birthday. To get it, you need to be signed up for MyPanera Rewards, the loyalty program for Panera. The signup page doesn’t say you get something free, but people have reported that the coupon is still being sent out around their birthday.

Papa John’s

You would think Papa John’s would give you a slice of pizza as their free food on your birthday, but you actually get a free birthday cookie. This isn’t an individual cookie, it’s one of those ones they bake that’s the size of a small pizza. You get 14 days to claim your cookie and you need to have the Papa Rewards app and made a purchase in the last year.

Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut Hut Rewards collectors get free birthday stuff in Toronto. To be honest, it’s nothing special as most people have reported just getting free breadsticks. That said, some people have received a free dessert coupon. Usually, there’s no purchase necessary, so it could be worth stopping by if you have a location near you.

Perkins

Perkins only has two locations within the Greater Toronto Area. There’s one by The Toronto Congress Centre, and one out in Pickering. When you sign up for their newsletter, you’ll immediately get a 20% off coupon. The site also says you get a special gift for your birthday – a free Magnificent Seven (Two large eggs cooked to order, with three made-from-scratch buttermilk pancakes and choice of two bacon strips or sausage links).

Red Lobster

If you sign up for Red Lobster’s Fresh Catch News at least 10 days before your birthday, you’ll get a surprise birthday offer. Red Lobster recently removed the language from their website that says exactly what you’ll get, but when you sign up, you get a free appetizer or dessert coupon right away.

Sephora

Sephora Beauty Insiders get to pick a free birthday gift during their birthday month. Your free birthday surprise will change depending on the month in which your birthday falls. Fortunately, these free items are usually quite good and gives you an opportunity to try out new makeup and skincare products

Starbucks

Getting free stuff on your birthday in Toronto is easy at Starbucks. If you’re a member of Starbucks Rewards, you can get a free birthday drink. You have to claim your drink on your actual birthday, or the day after, but it’s well worth it since you can order an expensive drink and not have to pay anything.

South St. Burger

South St. Burger gives you a free burger for your birthday if you’re a member of their Birthday Club, but it comes with a few conditions. You need to subscribe at least 72 hours before your birthday and you must buy one burger to get one free. It’s a bit annoying that this deal is BOGO, but it’s still one of the better free birthday meals in Canada.

Swiss Chalet

If you have children that are 10 or under, Swiss Chalet is a great place to celebrate their birthdays since they can get a free Kid’s Meal. The only catch is that a paying adult must also be dining. Unfortunately, this deal is not available for take out order.

Tim Hortons

The Tim Hortons Rewards app has seen some improvements since it launched. Overall, the coupons are pretty decent, especially on your birthday where you can claim a free reward such as a drink or breakfast sandwich.

What A Bagel

If you really like bagels, you might as well make a trip to What A Bagel. You’ll get six free bagels when you purchase six on your birthday. Not a bad deal at all. Note that you need to show your ID when you make the purchase.

The Works

Finally, there’s The Works, that gives out some of the best. free birthday meals. If you sign up for the burgers with benefits club at least nine days before your birthday, you’ll get a free burger coupon. If you’ve never been to The Works, they’ve got some of the best burgers in the city.

If you’re going to be out of the city for your birthday, check out my free birthday stuff guides on Vancouver and Canada.

The safety of your money is always important, but so is the customer service experience. EQ Bank is focused on providing a better banking solution that will help Canadians reach their savings goals faster. Here’s my EQ bank review of their Personal Account.

EQ Bank

Apply now

• 2.5%* Interest rate
• No everyday banking fees
• Unlimited day-to-day transactions
• No minimum balance required
• Unlimited free Interac e-transfers®
• Free electronic fund transfers
• CDIC Member

One of the biggest complaints from Canadians is the lack of a reasonable interest rate with savings accounts. Since EQ Bank’s rate of 2.5%* is available to everyone and not just a limited time rate, it makes the account very attractive. The high-interest rate is obviously an attention grabber, but the other benefits of the account are quite good too.

No monthly fees, unlimited day-to-day transactions, and no minimum balances are common in the online world, but for whatever reason, have been slow to adapt by the big six banks. To be fair, bricks and mortar banks have much higher operational costs since they have retail locations and staff to pay. EQ Bank is branchless and completely digital so the savings are passed on directly to their clients.

The EQ Bank Personal Account combines features found in chequing accounts with savings accounts. You can deposit cheques (including mobile cheque deposits) and set up a direct deposit from your payroll. You can also link an external bank account to EQ Bank, so moving around your money will be easy.

Accessing your money is pretty straightforward since you would link your EQ Bank account to your regular bank account, but it does take up to two business days to transfer any funds. If you want to speed up the process you can get access to your money within 30 to 60 minutes by using your unlimited free Interac e-Transfers®.

All these features should have both savers and investors excited. You can simply park your money and get a guaranteed return (minus taxes of course) with zero risks. With EQ Bank, your interest is paid monthly, and there’s no holding period.

Although EQ Bank has been around for a few years, some potential clients tend to be suspicious of the high rates being offered. The good thing is, EQ Bank is owned by Equitable Bank, a member of the Canadian Deposit Insurance Corporation so your accounts are protected up to a maximum balance of $100,000.

One thing to note is that when you open up a new account, EQ Bank will perform a soft credit check to confirm your identity. This does not affect your credit score, so it shouldn’t be a big deal.

Despite all of these great features, EQ Bank is available in all provinces and territories except Quebec.

EQ Bank card

• No monthly fee
• Free withdrawals from any ATM in Canada
• Cash back on every purchase
• Earn interest on your savings
• No FX fees

One of the biggest complaints about EQ Bank in the past was that you couldn’t withdraw cash from ATMs. Well, that’s no longer an issue as the EQ Bank card has been announced. This no fee reloadable Mastercard requires you to transfer funds to the card first, but then you’ll be able to withdraw funds from any ATM for free. Technically speaking, the ATMs will charge you a fee to withdraw the funds, but EQ Bank will reimburse you for those funds after.

What makes this prepaid card highly appealing is that there are no foreign exchange fees when making purchases with the card. Mastercard does add a slight markup that’s built right into the exchange, but you won’t pay the standard 2.5% fee that most credit cards charge.

In addition, any money loaded onto the card earns interest at the same rate as the EQ Bank savings account rate.

Other accounts available from EQ Bank

• EQ Bank Retirement Savings Plan 
• EQ Bank Tax-Free Savings Account
• EQ Bank US Dollar Account

EQ Bank has finally introduced RRSP and TFSA accounts. These are separate products from the HISA account. Note that you do need to open an EQ Bank Personal Account if you want to set up an RSP and TFSA account.

Both the RSP and TFSA will be limited to a savings account and GICs. What that means is you won’t be able to invest in stocks, mutual funds, ETFs, etc., within these accounts. The standard rules apply to both these accounts e.g. contribution and withdrawal limits.

The USD account has become quite popular since it also pays interest on your deposits

Why use EQ Bank?

Many people are hesitant to switch banks (we all know they don’t make it easy), but EQ Bank shouldn’t be viewed as a replacement. It’s meant to complement your daily banking needs.

It doesn’t matter if you’re saving for a vacation, school, or a new pair of boots, the EQ Bank Personal Account allows you to open an unlimited amount of sub-accounts to meet your needs. The added option of setting savings goals for each individual account is a bonus since you can clearly monitor the progress of your savings. Best of all, your money is never locked in with the EQ Bank Personal Account. You can withdraw your money whenever you need to.

Saving is obviously the theme of the account, but you can also do day-to-day transactions directly from the mobile app including transferring funds and making bill payments. EQ Bank does not allow your account to go into overdraft so you won’t need to worry about being charged extra bank fees; it’s the lack of available money that I’d be concerned about.

There’s no catch. Even though EQ Bank gives you an above-average interest rate, they make their money by lending out your deposits to other people at a higher interest rate. This is standard practice for any bank, but since EQ Bank is a digital bank, they have less overhead compared to traditional banks.

EQ Bank does allow is pre-authorized payments. This means you can do all your daily spending with one of the best travel credit cards in Canada or one of the best cash back credit cards in Canada and then set your card to be automatically paid from your EQ Bank account. By doing this, your money is only withdrawn once a month from your EQ Bank account so you’re basically earning the maximum interest and getting credit card rewards at the same time.

Despite the fact that EQ Bank has no physical locations, you can contact customer service through live chat, phone (from 8am – midnight), or email.

EQ Bank joint accounts

It may have taken a few years, but EQ Bank finally has joint accounts, which are obviously handy for people who want to set up an account with someone else. Best of all, EQ Bank joint accounts allow up to 3 people which is perfect for a variety of reasons such as elderly parents who want their adult children to have easy access to their funds.

The same interest rate applies to joint accounts. It’s also worth mentioning that CDIC considers joint accounts separate from your main account, so you get another $100,000 insured by them.

Is EQ Bank safe?

I already covered this above, but I want to go over it again. EQ Bank is safe and it’s unlikely to go out of business. The reason you can trust EQ Bank is that they’re owned by Equitable Bank. In case you didn’t know, Equitable Bank has been in operation since 1970 and is a member of the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC).

Any person who has their money deposited at a CDIC member will have their accounts protected up to $100,000 under CDIC protection. If you need more deposit insurance, you could have your spouse open a joint savings account which would give you another $100,000 in protection.

To be clear, it’s still possible for a bank to fail, but this applies to all banks. Just because EQ Bank is giving its customers a higher interest rate, that doesn’t mean they’re riskier. I personally use EQ Bank to park the majority of my cash savings.

EQ Bank refer a friend

Just recently, EQ Bank introduced a referral program where the person signing up gets $20. If you make the referral, you also get $20, but that amount increases depending on how many people you bring aboard.

• $20 – For your first 3 referrals
• $30 – For your next 4 referrals
• $40 – For any additional referral

The referral bonus is capped at $500, so you’ll reach the maximum after 15 referrals. Remember, you only get the referral if the person who is signing up for an EQ Bank Personal Account deposits at least $100 into their account within 30 calendar days of account activation.

EQ Bank GIC

EQ Bank’s other major product available is guaranteed investment certificates (GICs). GICs are a type of investment that guarantees you a return. The “catch” is that you need to lock in your money for the time you specify. The longer you lock in your money, the higher the interest rate you get. Investing in a GIC can be beneficial if you know you won’t need that money for a set period of time. As EQ Bank’s GIC rates are always changing, I won’t list what’s available now, but the terms are as follows:

• 3 Months
• 6 Months
• 9 Months
• 1 Year
• 15 Months
• 2 Years
• 27 Months
• 3 Years
• 4 Years
• 5 Years

For you to purchase an EQ Bank GIC, you must have an EQ Bank Personal Account.

How does EQ Bank compare to others?

To be realistic, all digital banks are similar, but I do like to separate them into tiers.

Motive Financial is their closest competition when it comes to interest rates, but they’re pretty similar. LBC Digital is another bank that came in with aggressive rates when they launched, but their rates are a bit lower now.

Then there are banks such as Tangerine and Simplii which are owned by bigger banks (Scotiabank and CIBC respectively) who give you access to an ATM network, but their interest rates are much lower.

One feature that EQ Bank excels at compared to similar online banks is international money transfers. EQ Bank is partnered with Wise (formerly Transferwise) to offer some of the best exchange rates. 

I personally use EQ Bank for all my personal banking, but I also use Tangerine because my wife and I have old accounts there. I’ve linked my EQ Bank account to my Tangerine account so I can easily transfer money between the two. You don’t need to use one online bank, just pick the ones that make the most sense for you.

Final thoughts

Overall my EQ Bank review is positive. The interest rate is higher than average daily rates and you can access your funds with a physical card. It’s clear that EQ Bank respects its clients’ money and values their business.

The question is, what free stuff on your birthday is available? Well, it really depends on where you live. Many local restaurants across the country offer free meals on your birthday. This can be convenient if one is nearby you, but often it’s worth seeking out major chains as they tend to have more deals.

For example, you could start at Denny’s and get free breakfast. After that, you could take advantage of your free birthday drink at Starbucks. For lunch, how about Harvey’s since you can get a burger for free? An afternoon snack at Menchie’s is ideal since you get a $5 coupon on your birthday. For dinner, there’s the Mandarin buffet. If you still have room, you could end your day at Chatime where you can claim your free drink. 

Note that I checked these offers at the start of 2021, but they may have changed since then. Not every location has to participate, so call them before you go. If you live in Vancouver or Toronto, I have dedicated birthday freebies guides to the cities. Here’s a list of the best birthday freebies and what you need to get them.

The Alley

The Alley is one of my favourite bubble tea shops and has locations in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta. While it’s not really advertised, I got a coupon in the app for a free bubble tea that’s good up to five days after my birthday.

Arby’s

Arby’s has a newsletter that allows you to enter your birthday. They don’t specifically say you’ll get something free on your birthday, but many people have reported that they got a free snack shake or cookie coupon with any purchase.

Applebee’s

Applebee’s only has a handful of locations in Canada, but you’ll still get free stuff on your birthday if you visit this family restaurant. When you sign up for their e-club, you’ll get a coupon for a free appetizer right away. On your birthday, you can get a free entrée when purchasing another entrée at the regular price.

Baskin-Robbins

Ice cream lovers should sign up for Club 31 at Baskin-Robbins since you’ll get a free scoop on your birthday when you purchase a 2.5 oz scoop or 3 oz soft serve cone. You also get a $5 off a 20+ cake coupon if you need to feed the family.

Boston Pizza

Signing up for MyBP by Boston Pizza guarantees you a free dessert on your birthday. Oddly enough, that’s not even the best deal. You’ll also get a starter as soon as you sign up, an individual 2 topping pizza on your anniversary, and a bandera bread on your first delivery order all for free. 

Chic-fil-A

Chic-fil-A has been opening restaurants across the country, and if you sign up for their app/rewards program, you’ll get rewarded on your birthday. What you’ll get depends on your tier, but the basic reward is a chocolate chunk cookie or brownie.

Cora

Cora is a popular breakfast spot with locations across the country. Originally, the birthday gift was $5 off your meal when you signed up for the newsletter, but the offer is no longer stated on the website. If you join the Cora loyalty program you do get 3X the points for your birthday (you get 30 days following your birthday to claim this).

David’s Tea

David’s Tea closed all of their retail locations, but you can get 5 free points on your birthday. To be eligible, you need to be a member of their frequent STEEPER program. Once you’ve earned 100 points, you can get a 50g bag of free tea.

Denny’s

You can get a free Build Your Own Grand Slam breakfast at Denny’s. This is a dine-in only offer and you must present a valid picture ID. You can only claim this offer on your actual birthday and it can’t be combined with any other offers. Taxes still apply.

DQ

I know they go by DQ now, but I’m still going to call it Dairy Queen. Blizzard Fan Club members get a free Blizzard on their birthday when they purchase another Blizzard. This applies to any size so you could get two larges for yourself! I mean to share.

Harvey’s

There are a lot of burger birthday freebies on this list because every chain is trying to compete with each other. If you sign up for Harvey’s newsletter, you’ll get a special gift on your birthday. Interestingly enough, the newsletter used to specifically say a free burger, but it’s a little vague now. Some people have reported still getting a free burger while others have received free pie with the purchase of a burger.

IHOP 

IHOP has quite a few locations in Canada and you can get free pancakes on your birthday when you sign up for the MyHop loyalty program. In addition, you get pancakes for free when you sign up and on every anniversary of your sign up date.

Jack Astor’s

When you sign up for Jack Astor’s Inspired Rewards, you’ll get a free dessert with your dinner purchase. The reward shows up in your app and it’s valid for 90 days starting on the first day of your birthday month.

The Keg Steakhouse + Bar

The Keg Steakhouse + Bar offers a free dessert on your birthday with the purchase of a dinner meal. The Keg offers incredible value for a steakhouse, so the free dessert is the perfect way to end a meal. Note that you can only claim the free dessert on your actual birthday.

Kelseys

You can get a free birthday dessert when you sign up for Kelseys’ newsletter. As an added bonus, you’ll get a free spinach dip as soon as you sign up and a $10 off coupon on your first anniversary. 

Kettleman’s Bagel

Serving Montreal-style bagels in Ottawa and Toronto, Kettleman’s Bagel gives you a dozen bagels for free on your birthday. Note that you must have the app to have access to the offer.

KFC

KFC or Kentucky Fried Chicken has an app that allows you to enter your birthdate. It’s worth your while to do so as you’ll get a free popcorn chicken coupon that’s good for 30 days from your birthday.

Lone Star Texas Grill

If you’re heading to Lone Star Texas Grill, be sure you’ve signed up for The Sizzle since you’ll get $10 off your next visit, free unlimited chips and salsa, and Texas-sized deals. On your birthday, you’ll get a free dessert when you spend a minimum of $30 before taxes.

Mandarin

The best free birthday meals are arguably found at the Mandarin. When you sign up for the Mandarin Dish e-newsletter at least one day prior to your birthday, you’ll get your birthday buffet for free when dining with three paying adults. 

Marble Slab Creamery

When you sign up for Marble Mail, you’ll get access to exclusive offers. This includes free sweet surprises on your birthday. Marble Slab has locations across Canada, so it’ll be easy to get free stuff on your birthday. That said, you need to sign up 48 hours before your birthday to get your offers.

Menchie’s

If you like frozen yogurt, be sure to sign up for the Menchie’s app as you’ll get a $5 coupon to celebrate your birthday. Registration is free and you’ll also get access to special promos. Menchie’s is DIY froyo so you can create any combination you want for your birthday.

Montana’s

BBQ lovers can take advantage of the free dessert on your birthday offer when you sign up for their grill lovers club newsletter. You also get a free app coupon when you sign up and on every anniversary. 

New York Fries

The NYF Fry Society loyalty program gives you free regular fries on your birthday every year. If you preload the app with $25, you can get a free regular size poutine. This is one of the more popular free meals on your birthday.

Olive Garden

The Olive Garden is a popular restaurant in the US, but they also have a few locations in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. When you sign up for their newsletter, you’ll get a free dessert coupon worth up to $10.

Panera

MyPanera Rewards is the loyalty program for Panera. Although it’s no longer clearly listed on the website, many users have still reported getting a free pastry coupon that’s valid on their birthday.

Pajo’s

With a few locations in Vancouver, Pajo’s fish and chips gives you the option of 2 piece cod and chips, beef burger, or breakfast menu item for free on your birthday. You need to contact them via the website to get the coupon and the purchase of a second meal of equal or greater value is required.

Papa John’s

Free food on your birthday is great, so make sure you make a stop at Papa John’s with your Papa Rewards app. The coupon for a free birthday cookie will show up in your app and it’s valid for 14 days.

Perkins

Perkins may have limited locations in Canada, but you do get multiple freebies when you sign up for their newsletter. You’ll get a 20% off coupon right away and a special gift for your birthday. You can add your family members’ birthdays to your account so they get free birthday food too.

Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut has Hut Rewards which earns your points with every purchase. The birthday freebies have usually been just free breadsticks, but no purchase was necessary, so it could be worth dropping by if you’re in the area. That said, others have received a free dessert.

Quiznos

There aren’t too many Quiznos locations left in Canada, but at least they give you a free sub, when you buy a sub for your birthday. To get access to this offer, you need to download the app and create an account. The coupon will appear in the app and is only valid up to one week after your birthday.

Red Lobster

When you sign up for Red Lobster’s Fresh Catch News at least 10 days before your birthday, you’ll get a surprise birthday offer delivered to your inbox. When you sign up, you also get a free appetizer or dessert right away. Some savings will also be sent to you from time to time.

Red Robin

Located in British Columbia, this American chain gives you a free birthday burger when you sign up for the Red Robin Royalty program. You also get a free appetizer coupon the day after you sign up.

Sephora

Okay, this isn’t food, but the best free birthday stuff comes from Sephora. Beauty Insiders can choose one of the available gifts. These gifts rotate, but in the past, there has been lipstick, body oils, face creams and more. You usually get a month to claim your free stuff.

Starbucks

All Starbucks Rewards members are entitled to a free birthday drink. This can be a lucrative deal since just about any drink qualifies. That means you could order the most expensive drink you can think of and you won’t have to pay for it. As a Reward Member, you earn stars which can lead to free drinks and food.

South St. Burger

Residents of Alberta, Ontario, and British Columbia should head straight to South St. Burger if they’re looking for free birthday meals. When you join the Birthday Club, you’ll get a Buy One, Get One FREE Burger coupon on your birthday. You get 14 days to use the coupon, but you do need to present a valid ID. Also, note that you need to subscribe at least 72 hours in advance of your birthday.

Swiss Chalet

Although only available to those aged 10 or under, you can get a free Kid’s Meal on your birthday at Swiss Chalet. The website doesn’t say that a paying adult must be present, but the odds are kids aren’t going to be dining in by themselves. 

Tim Hortons

Although not widely advertised, The Tim Hortons Rewards app gives you a birthday coupon that’s valid on your birthday only. In the past, it’s been a free beverage worth between 70 and 100 rewards points.

What A Bagel

What A Bagel may only have locations in Toronto, but it’s worth a trip if you live near one since you’ll get six free bagels when you purchase six on your birthday. You’re not required to sign up for the newsletter to take advantage of this promo, but you do need to show a valid ID at the time of purchase. 

The Works

Getting free stuff on your birthday and throughout the years is easy if you join The Works, burgers with benefits club. If you sign up at least nine days before your birthday, you’ll get a free burger coupon. You’ll also be entered into contests so there’s always a chance to get more free stuff. The Works has locations throughout Ontario. 

My list of the best birthday freebies mainly focuses on food, but there are plenty of other free or discounted things you can get. Old Navy, The Body Shop, and American Eagle are some of the retailers that offer free stuff on your birthday.

What is Moi Rewards?

Moi Rewards is the loyalty program of Metro Inc.’s grocery stores. In case you’re not familiar with Metro, they have the following brands:

• Metro
• Food Basics
• Super C
• Jean Coutu
• Brunet
• Première Moisson

Moi Rewards earning rate

In Ontario, you’ll earn 1 Moi Rewards point per $3 spent at Metro grocery stores. However, in Quebec and New Brunswick, members earn 1 point per $1 spent. You don’t earn any Moi Rewards points on regular purchases at Food Basics, Super C or Premiere Moisson, but you will earn bonus points (points on certain promoted products).

Unlike other grocery loyalty programs, which offer points only on in-store and targeted offers, Moi Rewards is one of the few that earns points on all purchases.

Moi in-store and targeted offers

For those looking to maximize Moi Rewards, you’ll want to pay close attention to in-store offers as they can yield plenty of points. For example, here’s a recent flyer from my local Metro store in Ontario:

As you can see, you can earn 25 points for each can of Pringles, 40 points on pizza pops and 20 points on pasta. This is in addition to your regular earning rate, so it’s an easy way to top up your points.

Even though you don’t earn points on your regular purchases at Food Basics, they also have in-store offers.

Interestingly, Food Basics is even offering points on some items that already have locked down prices. I love Food Basics for its low prices, so earning additional points is a huge bonus.

Beyond in-store offers, Moi Rewards also has targeted offers at Metro, which are found in the app. Some of the offers in my app right now are 35 points when buying any frozen pizza, 55 points on any brand of maple syrup, and 70 points when buying turkey or chicken breast.

As you use Moi Rewards more, the personalized offers will learn about your likes and dislikes. For example, say you buy a lot of fresh fruit and deli meat, you’ll likely start to see offers for those items.

You do need to manually add these offers to your account, so be sure to check your app regularly.

How to redeem Moi Rewards

Redeeming Moi Rewards is simple. At any time, you can redeem 500 points for $4 off your purchase at participating stores. If you want to redeem more points, you can do it in $1 increments (125 points). This will appeal to some shoppers as other loyalty programs may require you to redeem in $10 increments. Moi Rewards offers the lowest threshold to start redeeming your points. Note this includes Food Basics in Ontario.

Maximizing Moi Rewards with RBC

Moi is formally partnered with RBC and offers two ways to increase your earning rate. First, if you link your Moi Rewards account with an RBC Avion Rewards credit or debit card, you’ll earn 1 extra point per $2 spent at eligible stores. However, there is a minimum spending requirement. At Metro and Food Basics, you need to spend at least $60. This is relevant because you’re essentially double dipping your rewards. You get your Moi Rewards, plus Avion Rewards which can be used on things such as travel, gas, merchandise, and more.

There’s also the Moi RBC Visa Card, which has no annual fee. You get 1 point per $1 like you normally do as a Moi Rewards member, and the card gives you an additional 1 point per $1 spent.

Keep in mind that the regular earning rate in Ontario at Metro is 1 point per $3 spent, so if you have the moi RBC Visa Card, you’re actually earning 1.33 points per $1 spent at participating stores.

On a positive note, you’ll earn 2 points for every $1 spent on dining, gas, and EV charging. All other purchases earn you 1 point per $1 spent.

Is Moi Rewards good?

If you shop at Metro – or even casually – then being engaged in Moi Rewards is worth it since you’ll earn points on all your purchases, through personalized offers, flyer deals and more.

While you won’t earn points on regular purchases at Food Basics, you can earn points on in-store offers. More importantly, you can redeem your points for discounts, which means more money in your pocket. You can sign up today via the Metro or Food Basics app, online at moirewards.ca or at checkout.

When you’re on maternity leave in Ontario or parental leave, you’re on Employment Insurance (commonly known as EI) which pays up to 55% of your earnings, to a maximum of $668 a week (As of January 1, 2024). While these benefits are taxable, many Canadians feel less stress as they’re not worried about returning to work after just a few months because they lack an income.

Knowing how maternity leave works in Canada is vital since not everyone qualifies for EI benefits and it isn’t automatically given as soon as you have a child. Keep reading to understand everything there is about maternity leave in Ontario.

Maternity leave in Ontario vs. Parental leave in Ontario

One thing that confuses new parents is that maternity leave is different from parental leave. That’s right, there are two types of leave. They’re similar, but there are a few minor differences that you need to be aware of as they’ll affect how much money you’ll get.

Maternity leave in Ontario 

Maternity leave benefits only apply to people who are away from work because they’re pregnant or have just given birth. This is for birth mothers. That means if you’re adopting or you’ve used a surrogate, neither parent would qualify for maternity leave benefits.

You can claim up to 15 weeks of standard benefits for maternity leave, but parents cannot share these benefits. Since parental leave can follow maternity leave, you can apply for both benefits at the same time.

Parental leave in Ontario 

Parental leave (sometimes mistakenly referred to as paternity leave) in Ontario applies to both parents of a newborn or newly adopted child. These benefits can be shared, but you must choose between standard parental benefits or extended parental benefits. When sharing, parents must submit their own application and select the same option.

You also have the choice to take parental leave at the same time as your partner or one after another. Keep in mind that once you start getting your parental benefits, you can’t change options.

Standard parental leave in Ontario gives you up to 40 weeks of benefits. However, no parent can exceed 35 weeks of benefits. Note that new rules introduced in 2019 allows you to take 5 weeks of standard parental leave without affecting your spouse’s maximum of 35 weeks which is why there’s a limit of 40 weeks total.

When it comes to extended parental leave in Ontario, parents get up to 69 weeks of benefits, but no parent can exceed 61 weeks of benefits.

Note that maternity and parental leave are part of Ontario’s Employment Standards Act. Your employer can’t deny you these benefits. 

Maternity Leave in Ontario eligibility

To qualify for maternity leave and parental leave benefits in Ontario, you need to meet the following criteria:

• You’re pregnant or have recently given birth when applying for maternity benefits
• You’re a parent with a newborn or newly adopted child when applying for parental benefits
• Your weekly earnings have decreased by more than 40% for at least one week
• You have accumulated 600 insured hours of work in the 52 weeks before the start of your claim or since the start of your last claim (whichever is shorter)

While the above criteria are straightforward, you can always speak to a Service Canada representative to find out if you’re eligible. Part-time and full-time employees would qualify for maternity leave benefits as long as they meet the above criteria.

Once you come back from maternity leave, you would need to regain enough insured hours of work to go off on leave again. Similar to before, there’s no qualifying period. You could come back for six months and then go off again assuming you’ve met the eligibility obligations. 

Pregnant employees that have a miscarriage or stillbirth more than 17 weeks before the baby’s due date do not qualify for pregnancy leave. However, if happens after that time frame, you’re still able to claim EI maternity benefits while you take time off.

Maternity Leave in Ontario for self-employed individuals

If you’re self-employed, you can still qualify for maternity leave in Ontario, but you need to register for access to EI special benefits for self-employed people. In addition, you need to meet the following criteria:

• A minimum of 12 months must have passed since your confirmed registration
• The time you spend on your business has decreased by more than 40% for at least one week because you’re pregnant, have recently given birth, or you’re caring for your newborn or newly adopted child
• You meet the minimum earned income amount during the previous calendar year before you apply for benefits.

As long as you have a valid social insurance number, you may be eligible for maternity and parental benefits. This even applies to people who aren’t Canadian citizens.

Maternity leave pay in Ontario

As of January 1st, 2024, maternity leave pay in Ontario is 55% of your insurable earnings to a maximum salary. That works out to a total of up to $668 a week.

For those taking parental leave, there are two options that pay different sums. Standard parental benefits allow you to receive 55% of your insurable income for up to 40 weeks. Remember, no one parent can exceed 35 weeks of pregnancy leave pay in Ontario.

If you choose to take extended parental leave, your pay is 33% of your insurable income for up to 69 weeks. This gives you a weekly pay of up to $390. Again, no one parent can exceed 61 weeks of parental leave benefits.

The maximum amount of EI benefits you are entitled to is the same when it comes to standard and extended parental leave. It’s just paid out over 35 weeks or 61 weeks, depending on your choice.

That said, those who take standard parental benefits and return to work after 12 months where they can earn their full salary, often come out with more money than those who take the extended leave.

Some employers offer maternity or parental leave top-up, which can give you a nice boost to your income for a period of time. For example, your employer might top up your pay up to 80% of your income. That means they would give you an additional 25% of your pay on top of the 55% you’re getting from EI. Not every employer offers this, so check with yours to see what you’re entitled to.

Keep in mind that there is a one-week period where you won’t be paid which is referred to as the waiting period. The government likes to think of this as a deductible. Maternity and parental benefits are also fully taxable. How much you’ll pay depends on your household income, but for most people, it’ll be lower than their usual tax rate.

What you do with your benefits is up to you. Most people use it for regular bills and expenses, but there’s nothing stopping you from investing it in your high interest savings account, RRSP, TFSA, or RESP. Some people even use the money to pay off their debt.

How to apply for maternity leave in Ontario

As soon as you stop working, you’ll want to apply for maternity leave in Ontario. Do not delay your application! If it takes you more than 4 weeks after your last day of work to apply, you could lose some of your benefits.

The actual process of applying for maternity leave is easy. Just follow these steps:

• Choose your benefits
• Complete the online application
• Provide the required information
• Wait for your benefit statement and access code to arrive by mail
• Review your application

If your application is approved, you’ll get your first payment about four weeks after you applied. If your banking information is set up with your CRA account, then the money you’re entitled to will be directly deposited into your account. If not, you’ll get a physical cheque in the mail.

Unlike regular EI, you can still receive maternity and parental benefits while outside Canada. To find out when your EI payments end, check your My Service Canada Account.

Additional things to be aware of when going on maternity leave

Some of your employment benefits may include maternity leave top-up. That’s where your employer may pay the difference between what you get from EI and your regular wages. Since this is free money, it’s in the best interest of couples to take advantage of anything that’s offered.

While you’re out on your weeks of maternity leave, your regular benefits such as dental plans and contributions to pension plans won’t apply. However, some companies will let you buy into those perks when you’re off, which is likely worth it. Some employers may also offer unpaid time off if you need longer leave. Unpaid leave is not mandatory, so it’s up to the employer to decide.

Another expense you’ll want to factor in is life insurance. Now that you have a dependent, getting life insurance is the smart thing to do since it’ll protect your loved ones in case you were to suddenly pass. Term life insurance is relatively inexpensive, so it’s worth getting.

Final thoughts

The cost of raising a child in Canada is not cheap. Fortunately, there are government programs that provide financial assistance to people who qualify. Maternity and parental benefits will help, but be sure to get a hold of your finances as you’ll likely be spending a small fortune on your child for the next 20 years.

Whether you’re looking for free breakfast on your actual birthday or multiple bubble teas during your birthday week, the rewards are easy to redeem. All you need to do is have your ID handy and know what’s available so you can enjoy the best Birthday freebies in Calgary.

The best birthday freebies in Calgary

A surprising number of restaurants and retailers in Calgary offer free gifts on your birthday. With so many choices available, you’ll need to plan your day – or days – accordingly.

The Alley

The Alley has several locations in Calgary: one downtown, one right by the University of Calgary, and one at the Chinook Centre. Although it’s not advertised and may change at any time, if you download The Alley’s app, you’ll get coupons and discounts. One year, the app gave me a free bubble tea coupon that was good for five days from my birthday.

Applebee’s

When you sign up for Club Applebee’s online, you’ll get access to exclusive discounts. Come your birthday, you’ll get a free appetizer, dessert, or entrée (it depends on the offer at the time). Note that for this free meal, you usually need to pay for at least one entrée at regular price. Applebee’s only has one location in Calgary: Harvest Hills Blvd. N. and Country Hills Blvd. NE.

The Body Shop

When you sign up for the Love Your Body Club from The Body Shop, you’ll get a free gift of $10 that can be spent on anything on your birthday. Note that you must make at least one purchase with your Love Your Body Club account at least 12 months before your birthday to be eligible for this gift. The Body Shop has multiple locations in Calgary, but note the Sunridge Mall location is closing. 

Booster juice

One of the most popular birthday freebies in Calgary is a regular size, classic smoothie from Booster Juice. To be eligible, you must download the Booster Rewards app, create an account, and add your birthday. You’ll get a free drink if you do this at least seven days before your birthday. 

Boston Pizza

Family restaurant Boston Pizza’s loyalty program, MyBP, gives you a free dessert on your birthday and a free individual pizza every year on your MyBP anniversary. In addition, you’ll get $5 off after your fifth online order and 15% off your 10th online order. Boston Pizza has over a dozen locations in the city, so it’s a good place to spend your birthday.

The Canadian Brewhouse 

Those looking to spend their birthday at a sports bar should consider the Canadian Brewhouse. When you download the Canadian Brewhouse app, you’ll get a free order of nachos. This offer is good anytime during your birthday month, so there’s no rush.

Chatime

One of my favourite bubble tea shops is Chatime, and it’s even better on my birthday since I can get a free birthday drink as a Chatime Societea member. Although you’re only entitled to a regular size drink, you can upgrade it by paying a small upcharge. The trick here is to order a drink with a topping by default, so you don’t need to pay extra.

The Cheesecake Cafe

The Cheesecake Cafe is a family restaurant located at 7600 Macleod Trail SE. If you dine in on your birthday and tell your server it’s your birthday, you’ll get a free slice of cheesecake. Enjoy flavours like caramel brownie, chocolate strawberry, London fog, and chocolate banana.

Chicken on the Way

Chicken on the Way doesn’t advertise their birthday freebies in Calgary much, but they offer a snack pack on your big day. The snack pack includes two pieces of fried chicken, fries, and a corn fritter. All you need to do to get your free meal is show your ID. Note that this deal only applies to the Kensington location.

Cobs Bread

Another bakery where you can score a free birthday gift is Cobs Bread. To get your present, you must join the Cobs Club, a loyalty program app available on the App Store and Google Play. As long as you have your birthday information in your profile, you’ll get a special treat on your birthday. Although the app doesn’t say specifically what you’ll get, many people have said they’ve been able to get a free cinnamon bun.

Cold Garden

Even though it’s not advertised on their website, Cold Garden Brewpub gives you a free birthday cake lager on your birthday. Admittedly, this is a niche product, so it may not be worth the journey, but it’s a nice gesture nonetheless. You can find Cold Garden at 1100 11 St SE.

Costa Vida

You’ll find Baja-style Mexican food at Costa Vida, which won’t disappoint. To get your free birthday dessert, you must sign up for CostaVida Rewards. As an added incentive, you’ll get $5 off your next purchase after you register for an account. 

Cowboys Dance Hall

If you’re looking for an epic celebration, you may want to take a look at Cowboys Dance Hall since their birthday package is free. The package includes VIP list for you and your entire party, unlimited gaming in the arcade, VIP entry for you + 1 for a year, and two tickets to any upcoming event or concert at Cowboys Dance Hall.

Crave Cupcakes

With two locations in Calgary, Crave Cupcakes has quickly become the go to spot for gourmet cupcakes. When you sign up for the Crave newsletter, you’ll get 15% off your first cupcake order. As for your birthday, you’ll get a sweet treat, which is usually a cupcake. With fun flavours such as, lemon drop, crave-o-licious, nutty over chocolate, and dirty blonde, it’ll be hard to choose just one.

Cultures

Cultures serves health food and offers a free sandwich or smoothie that’s redeemable within five days of your birthday. To get this offer, you need to sign up for Cultures Collective, which is the store’s loyalty program. Pro tip, if you redeem your birthday gift at the Chinook Centre location, you can also grab some of the best birthday freebies in Calgary from some of the other retailers on this list.

DQ

DQ or Dairy Queen to older people gives Blizzard Fan Club members a free Blizzard on their birthday. Although you can get any size, you must buy one of the same size to get your free Blizzard. There are more than a dozen Blizzard flavours to choose from, but some of my favourites are chocolate chip cookie dough, Oreo cookie, choco dipped strawberry and caramel fudge. 

Denny’s

Enjoy a free grand slam breakfast or a credit for an equivalent amount for your meal. Best of all, you can get this deal even if you’re dining alone, so you can start your day early. This offer is only available for dine-in, and you must have a valid picture ID. It can also only be redeemed on your actual birthday.

Gaucho Brazilian Barbecue

If you’ve joined Gaucho Brazilian Barbecue’s Rodizio Rewards, you’re entitled to a free dessert on your birthday when dining in. Joining the program is free, and you get some additional perks, such as invites to special events and exclusive discounts. Gaucho Brazilian Barbecue is located at 100-5920 Macleod Trail SW. They also have a location in Canmore.

Good Earth Coffee House

Good Earth Coffee House has a loyalty program called Good Earth Rewards. Anyone signed up and has entered their birthday will get a free drink or food item of their choice on their birthday. In addition, you get a free medium drink as soon as you sign up. Good Earth Coffee House has quite a few locations downtown, and by the University of Calgary, so this is one of the easier birthday freebies in Calgary to redeem.

Harvey’s

To get one of the best birthday freebies in Calgary at Harvey’s, you must join their Burger Boss Club. Although you won’t earn any points, Harvey’s will give you occasional gifts and discounts. For example, as soon as you sign up, you get a free order of Frings. As for your birthday gift, it changes, but people have reported getting free burgers and drinks in the past. Harvey’s has only a few locations in the city, but you won’t find any downtown.

IHOP

The International House of Pancakes, more commonly known as IHOP gives you free pancakes after your first purchase when you sign up for the MyHop loyalty program. You’ll also get free pancakes on your birthday and each anniversary of your sign-up date. There are two IHOP locations in Calgary, one near 

Jugo Juice

Jugo Juice Rewards from Jugo Juice is a highly underrated loyalty program. When you sign up, you get a free small smoothie right away. On your birthday, you get a free large smoothie. Plus, throughout the year, you’ll get personalized offers that will help you save more. Of course, when you buy seven smoothies, your eighth one is free.

The Keg

When you dine in and purchase an entree, you can enjoy a free slice of the Keg’s famous Billy Miner Pie. Have you ever heard of Billy Miner Pie? It’s like a slice of ice cream cake with a cookie crust at the bottom. It’s definitely worth saving room for, Be sure to bring your ID, as they will check. This offer is only available on your actual birthday.

London Drugs

London Drugs may seem like a random retailer to offer birthday freebies in Calgary, but if you have the LD Extras app, you’ll get a coupon for $5 off anything on your birthday. There’s no extra purchase required, so you could get anything that’s $5 or less and not have to pay any extra money.

Marble Slab Creamery

Free ice cream on your birthday is arguably better than cake, so be sure to sign up for Marble Slab Creamery’s Marble Mail. As long as you sign up at least 48 hours before your birthday, you’ll get a coupon in your e-mail for a sweet surprise. While this offer does change, it’s usually a scoop of ice cream. Enjoy flavours such as candy cane, English toffee, guava, and more.

Montana’s

Montana’s may only have one location in Calgary, but at least they offer you something free for your birthday as a member of Montana’s Grill Lovers Club. On your birthday, you’ll get 10% off when spending at least $30 and get a free sweet treat. You also get a free appetizer as soon as you sign up and each year on your Montana-versary.

Olive Garden

The famous American Italian food chain Olive Garden offers a free dessert when you dine in on your birthday. To get this offer, you need to sign up for their newsletter. It’s also worth mentioning that Olive Garden offers unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks.

Pacini

Casual Italian eatery, Pacini has a unique birthday. While not free, you get a percentage discount based on your birthday. For example, if you’re turning 45, you get 45% off your main course only. However, if you’re turning 100, you get your main course completely free. You can take advantage of this offer the day before your birthday, on the day of your birthday, or the day after your birthday. Pacini has two locations, one near the airport, and one in the south by IKEA. In other words, you could get this discount twice.

REGRUB

Mant Calgarians will say that REGRUB has the best milkshakes in the city. If you’ve never had one, you can enjoy one on your birthday. To get your free birthday shake, you must sign up online for the REGRUB newsletter and provide your birthday. A coupon will be e-mailed to you when your birthday approaches.

Sephora

Sephora’s Beauty Insider is one of the most popular loyalty programs in Canada. During your birthday month, you’ll be able to choose a gift from the beauty bizarre. While these free gifts are always changing, some previous products available include face cream, primer, lipstick and more. These are sample-size products, so don’t expect anything that’s full-size.

Starbucks

Anyone who’s joined Starbucks Rewards and made at least one purchase within the last 12 months is eligible for a free birthday drink. This is one of the most generous free birthday gifts in Calgary since Starbucks will give you any drink for free. That means you can order any size and add as many extras to it as you’d like.

South Street Burger

Craving a burger? South Street Burger gives anyone that’s signed up to their birthday club a free burger on their birthday. There is one catch, it’s a buy one, get one free burger so you may want to visit with a friend. The good news is that South Street Burger has multiple locations in the city, so it shouldn’t be too hard to redeem your gift.

Subway

Be sure to sign up for the Subway Rewards program as you get two free cookies on your birthday. While that may not sound like much, no purchase is necessary. In addition, as a Subway Rewards member, you get some extra perks such as free chips on Friday with any purchase. You’ll also get 250 points right away just for signing up.

Sunterra

Sunterrra is the only grocery store in Calgary that offers a free birthday gift. As long as you have the Sunterra Fresh Rewards app downloaded and an active account, you’ll get a free cake slice and brewed coffee on your birthday. Sunterra has locations in Elboya, downtown, Westgate, and West Hillhurst.

TacoTime 

With more than a dozen locations, TacoTime is the largest taco chain in Calgary. When you download the TacoTime Rewards app and create an account, you’ll immediately get 1,000 points. On your birthday, you’ll get 2,500 points, which is enough for a few different menu options, including a taco.

Tim Hortons

Tims Rewards from Tim Hortons is incredibly popular since it’s an easy way to get free stuff. Every time you scan your app when making a purchase, you’ll earn points. Those points can later be redeemed for baked items, beverages and even sandwiches. As your birthday approaches, you’ll get an offer in the app for your free birthday gift. This deal changes, but in the past it’s been drinks and baked goods.

Since scammers often use sophisticated tactics to create the illusion of legitimate transactions, potential buyers and sellers must be aware of the risks of Kijiji. This can include posing as fake buyers who overpay for items and then request a refund of the difference or sellers who demand upfront payments for goods that don’t. Being aware of common scams on Kijiji can help you avoid losing money.

Recognizing Common Scams

The reality is that Kijiji is full of scams. It’s crucial to be vigilant against fraud since it can cost you money and potentially your personal information. Recognizing scams on Kijiji can ensure that you don’t become a victim of fraud..

Email and Communication Scams

Email and communication fraud come in many forms, but they often share a common goal: to mislead the victim. Always be cautious of messages with generic subjects and verify the sender’s identity. You can do so by looking up the person’s name or company to see if they have an online profile. Additionally, double-check links within emails. These links could look like real links but be slightly different or they may link to phishing sites. If they’re just sending you a link with no context, it’s definitely a scam.

Overpayment and Fake Check Scams

In overpayment scams, a scam artist might send a physical or digital cheque for more than the asking price of an item. They will then ask for the difference to be returned, but once the fake cheque bounces, the seller will lose all the money. Some sellers fall for this fraud because banks make some of the funds from the cheque available to be withdrawn right away. However, once the cheque bounces, your bank will claw back the entire amount. This tactic exploits the time it takes for banks to process these fake payments. Even though it’s clearly fraud, you willingly deposited a fake cheque and sent the funds, so you won’t get it back.

e-Transfer Scams

There are a few variations to fraudsters using e-Transfers to scam victims, but they all work in the same way. Often, they’ll try to lure you in with the overpayment method as mentioned above. However, instead of using a cheque, they’ll use an e-Transfer. This works because the scammers have hijacked a legitimate account to make the transfer. Once that account has been found to be compromised, the original owner will get the money back while you’re out of yours.

Another variation is where they’re the “seller” and they ask you to send a password protected e-Transfer. They’ll claim they never got it and suggest you send another one with a different password for a small amount such as 50 cents. Many people don’t realize this second password releases the funds from the original transfer they claimed they never got. Once they have the funds, you won’t hear from them again. In addition, since you willingly sent the money, the bank won’t reimburse you.

Rental Scams

Rental scams often involve too good to be true offers, where the property does not actually exist or is not available for rent. Fraudsters prey on the fact that many people are desperate for cheap housing. The scammers will pressure you into transferring a deposit before viewing the property. Similar to the above, once they have your money, you won’t hear from them again. Checking the property in person is a must to avoid falling into these traps. In addition, you’ll want to see paperwork that proves they’re the owner.

Auto Scams

Auto scams may include offers to ship vehicles without an inspection or meeting in person. They’ll claim they can’t see the vehicle in person because they’re being relocated, but their company is handling the costs. Of course, they’ll try to bait you with the overpayment scam.

Another Kijiji auto scam is where they claim Carfax Canada is not a reliable source to check your auto’s history and ask you to go through a different site. The link they send you may look real, but it’s actually a way to get you to part with your personal information.

If you’re the one looking to buy a car off Kijiji, be aware that there can be fake vehicle history reports designed to hide problems with the auto. Insist on a proper inspection with a mechanic of your choice and check Carfax Canada on your own.

Phishing and Identity Theft

Phishing and identity theft attempts are found everywhere, including Kijiji. Scammers often try collecting personal details through fake security alerts or account problem emails. These emails may appear to come from Kijiji, but they’re clearly fake. If you’re concerned by these emails, you could contact Kijiji through one of their official channels for verification. Never use or click any links in a suspicious email.

Shipping and Delivery Scams

In Canada, scams on online marketplaces like Kijiji are on the rise, especially involving shipping and delivery. These scams can be sophisticated, so users need to recognize the common signs to avoid being a victim.

Common Signs of Shipping Fraud

Inquiries from far away: A typical sign of a shipping scam involves an interested buyer who claims they are unable to pick up the item in person due to being out of town, often requesting shipping to a distant location. It’s best to only deal with people you can meet in person.

Suspicious overpayment requests: Scammers may offer to pay more than the asking price and then request that the excess funds be sent to a so-called shipping agent or moving company. If this is ever mentioned during the negotiations, it’s 100% a scam.

Fake tracking numbers: Fraudsters might provide a fake tracking number to prove that the items you have purchased have been shipped when, in reality, nothing was sent. It’s important to verify tracking numbers with carriers like Canada Post before proceeding with any payments.

Avoiding Delivery Scams

Verify buyer information: If an interested buyer requests shipping, independently confirm their identity and be wary of those refusing to provide verifiable contact details. One way to do this is to request a selfie with a government-issued I.D.

Use secure payment methods: Never accept overpayments and use secure platforms for transactions. This can be complicated because e-Transfers are not 100% secure. If the buyer suggests Bitcoin or a wire transfer, say no, as that’s often a clear sign of fraud.

Meet in person when possible: Whenever it’s practical, arrange for a local pickup and payment in person to avoid risks associated with delivery scams. Even when meeting in person, only accept cash. An e-Transfer or cheque they provide could still be fraudulent.

Safe transaction practices

When buying or selling on Kijiji, it’s crucial to prioritize safety, especially regarding payments and meeting spots. Sticking to proven methods can reduce the chances of you becoming a victim.

Preventing fraud during payment

Payment Methods: The safest method for transactions is cash. Interac e-Transfers are also reliable if the person is sending the transfer to you when meeting in person, as it’s less likely they’re using a compromised account. A certified cheque is a reasonable solution if it’s a huge sale. However, only accept it if you go to the buyer’s bank and see them get the certified cheque from a teller. Anyone suggesting PayPal, Western Union or a wire transfer shouldn’t be taken seriously.

When making any transaction on Kijiji, be aware of the following during payments:

• Avoid shipping for payment: For buyers, it’s recommended to be wary of sellers who insist on payment before shipping, especially if the price seems too low to be true.
• Reversible transactions: Sellers should be cautious of overpayments. Some buyers will say the overpayment was a mistake, while others will say it was intentional. Either way, it’s likely a scam.

Conducting transactions in person

Meetup Arrangements: The best way to ensure a Kijiji transaction is done safely is by arranging face-to-face meetings for the exchange and payment. These meetups should be done in public spaces to ensure both parties’ safety. The best places to meet are public places and during the day. For example, inside a coffee shop in the afternoon instead of a parking lot when it’s dark.

Some additional things to consider include:

• Cash transactions: Whenever possible, stick to cash transactions during these face-to-face meetings.
• Check items and money: Buyers should check the item thoroughly before handing over any funds. As for sellers, they need to verify cash to ensure there are no counterfeit bills.

Dealing with Suspicious Ads and Sellers

Unfortunately, Kijiji is full of fake sellers and buyers who are looking to scam you. Identifying suspicious listings and scrutinizing seller communication can reduce the risk of falling prey to scams.

Identifying Suspicious Listings

When you’re looking to buy something on Kijiji, you need to look at the listing in detail. Suspicious signs may include:

• Unrealistically low prices: If something is being sold way below market price, it’s probably a scam.
• Hard to get item: Be suspicious of any seller on Kijiji claiming to have stock of a specific item that’s nearly impossible to find at retail stores.
• Generic or stock images: Although real sellers may use pictures found online for their listings, it can also be a sign of fraud. Users can perform a quick image search to confirm the images’ authenticity. Alternatively, they can ask the seller for a real picture of the item beside a piece of paper that has the date and their user name.
• Vague descriptions: A lack of details about the item being sold can be a red flag.

Red Flags in Seller Communication

When interacting with a seller, there are some clear warning signs that they are attempting to scam you, such as:

• Urgency: They’re pushy for a quick sale.
• Payment methods: If they offer wire transfers or prepaid gift cards, it’s a scam.
• Personal information: Anyone asking for your detailed information should be ignored.
• Inconsistencies: Be cautious If their reason for selling or the item’s description doesn’t match the listing.

Generally speaking, if you’re wondering if this person is trying to scam you, they probably are.

Protecting your personal information

You need to protect your personal information when using sites like Kijiji. Scammers know the Kijiji users are looking to score a deal or to make some cash, so phishing scams are common on the site.

Avoiding phishing attempts

Phishing attempts typically come in the form of deceptive emails that look legitimately from Kijiji. They’ll often try to get you to give up your login details. To guard against these fraudulent attacks, you should closely check who the emails are coming from and avoid clicking on unsolicited links. If an email asks for personal information for account verification or security checks, it’s likely a scam. That said, you could cross-reference things with Kijiji’s official guides on Fraud: Phishing Scams.

Securing your Kijiji account

Securing your Kijiji account starts with having a strong password. It should be a unique amalgamation of letters, numbers, and symbols that’s not easily guessable or replicated. Regular password changes and adding two-factor authentication give you extra layers of protection against potential scams. Also be on the lookout for text messaging scams that relate to Kijiji as those are often phishing scams.

Navigating Covid-19 Related Scams

With the rise of Covid-19, scam artists have taken the opportunity to exploit the public’s fears. Similar to other scams, they’re just using the pandemic to get you to part with your money. Recognizing these Kijiji scams and understanding how to report them can protect your health and finances.

Identifying Pandemic Exploits

Scammers have been utilizing various tactics to take advantage of the pandemic. They may offer fake vaccines or promise access to medical supplies in exchange for personal information or money. They often use email and texts to reach potential victims with offers that purport to be from Health Canada or local health authorities. The fraud can be obvious if one of the following situations happens:

• An immediate demand for payment.
• Misspellings or incorrect grammar in the communications.
• Personal information is requested, such as Social Insurance Numbers or credit card details.

So, how does this relate to scams on Kijiji? Thieves will often visit online sites to find people desperately seeking certain items. In this situation, they’ll target people searching or advertising things related to Covid-19.

Reporting Health-Related Fraud

If you suspect a health-related scam, reporting it is essential for public safety. Reports should be directed to Kijiji, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, and Health Canada. When reporting fraud, be sure to provide the following:

• Details about the scam (emails, texts, or phone calls).
• Any contact information of the scammer (email addresses, phone numbers).
• The time and date of the incident.

By reporting these incidents, you can help authorities track and combat these exploits, enhancing the overall safety of your community. Reporting helps to alert the relevant authorities to take necessary action and better protect the public from similar scams.

Contacting Kijiji Customer Service

When dealing with potential scams on Kijiji, it is crucial to contact Kijiji Customer Service to report fraudulent activities. The customer service team can sometimes provide necessary guidance and support, but don’t expect to get any lost money back.

How to Report a Scam

To report a scam on Kijiji:

1. Gather all relevant information about the scam, including communication records and ad details.
2. Visit the Fraud: Phishing Scams page for instructions on how to identify suspicious emails.
3. Email the full scam details to Kijiji’s help desk, or use the contact form available on the Contact Us section of Kijiji’s help desk.

Always keep personal contact information, such as phone numbers, private when reporting Kijiji scams.

Seeking Help and Advice

If you believe you’re a victim of fraud on Kijiji, you could do the following.

• Contact your financial institution and let them know that you believe an e-Transfer that’s been sent to you is fraudulent. You could also have them freeze any accounts where you think your information has been compromised.
• You could contact the police to report that you’re a victim of fraud. It’s highly unlikely they’ll be able to do anything, but you might be able to get an incident number, which could help for insurance purposes.
• If you’re not sure if you’re dealing with a potential scammer, Kijiji does have a guide on suspicious emails, which could help determine the authenticity of emails received.

Legal recourse and reporting to authorities

Victims of scamming incidents on Kijiji have a few legal channels they can pursue. While going this route is the right thing to do, the reality is that if you’ve already sent money to the scammer, it’s unlikely you’ll get your funds back.

When to involve law enforcement

Victims should file a police repor if they suspect that they have been defrauded. Contact your local police department immediately upon noticing unauthorized transactions. If you’re dealing with someone who scammed you in person, provide as many details as possible.

How to report to police and financial institutions

Reporting to the police can be done at your closest police department. Do not contact the emergency line. Provide all documentation related to the scam, including communications and transaction records. If the scammers use a traceable source, such as Bitcoin, there’s a slim chance that the police may be able to recover some funds.

As for your bank. Contact them as soon as you think you’ve been a victim of fraud. They may issue you new bank details to avoid any further fraud. Remember, if you’ve accepted an overpayment and willingly sent the extra funds to the fraudster, your bank won’t reimburse you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get my money back from an e-Transfer?

Unfortunately, once an e-Transfer is accepted by a recipient, it is usually not possible to recover the funds. Banks typically treat e-Transfers like cash transactions.

What are the latest methods fraudsters use for scamming on online marketplaces?

Fraudsters frequently change their tactics. Currently, overpayment scams and payment outside of the platform, such as asking for gift cards or cryptocurrency, are common.

How can I identify a scammer among potential buyers?

A scammer might avoid meeting in person, rush the sale, or use suspicious payment methods. Having stock of something that’s sold out in stores is also a potential scam.

What steps should I take if I’ve become a victim of a scam?

You should report the incident to the police and contact your bank if any financial information was shared. Reporting the scam to Kijiji directly can help others from becoming victims of fraud.

What precautions can I implement to ensure a safe transaction?

Always meet in person, in a public place, verify the item’s condition, and ty to only accept cash as the payment method.

What are the most common types of scams encountered in online classifieds?

Common scams include non-delivery scams, fake listings, overpayment scams, and phishing attempts designed to steal personal information. Fake rentals are also very common.

What red flags should signal a rental listing might be fraudulent?

Unusually low rent prices, requests for a deposit without a signed agreement, and an inability to tour the property in person are major red flags.

Although you do need a Costco membership to make travel arrangements, it can be worth it since Costco uses their bulk purchasing power to get the lowest prices. Here’s everything you need to know about Costco Travel Canada.

What is Costco Travel?

Costco Travel is a dedicated platform for booking various travel needs exclusively for Costco members. This site is separate from the regular Costco website, so you must create a different account to access it.

Services Overview

With Costco Travel Canada, you have access to the following services:

• Vacation packages: Bundled deals for resorts worldwide.
• Hotels: From budget-friendly to luxury accommodations, you have endless options.
• Cruises: Various cruise lines and itineraries are available.
• Rental cars: Choose any type of vehicle from various rental car agencies.
• Specialty travel: Book a safari adventure, Disney World tickets, and more.

Even though you book a flight with your vacation package, hotels, cruise, etc., you can’t book flights alone on Costco Travel.

Who Can Use Costco Travel

Costco Travel is designed exclusively for Costco members. To utilize these services, you must hold a valid Costco membership and reside in Canada. It doesn’t matter which Costco membership tier you have, both give you the same prices on Costco travel. Since this service is exclusive to Costco members, you get special pricing explicitly negotiated for the Costco membership community.

Membership Benefits

When booking with Costco Travel, your membership entitles you to the following:

• Value: Competitive pricing on travel options.
• Member-Only Deals: Special offers on hotels, cruises, and more.
• Quality: Access to brand-name and trusted travel providers.
• Assistance: Costco staff with travel expertise are available to help plan your trips.

Vacation Planning With Costco Travel

Vacation planning with Costco Travel is no different from any other travel provider. You put in your information, such as dates and desired location, and the site will show you your options. In general, you want to do some basic research before you start searching. That said, sometimes, a quick search on Costco Travel will inspire you.

Destinations

Costco Travel has almost every destination available, but when you search, you’ll choose a country or region first. For example, the Caribbean, Costa Rica, Europe, and Canada. After you choose that initial area, you’ll be asked to choose a region to narrow down your choices. This is a very natural way of searching for travel so that users won’t have any issues.

Vacation Packages

Vacation packages are arguably the most popular option for those using Costco Travel. The options available include:

• All-Inclusive (with or without a flight)
• Hotel + flight
• Hotel + flight + car
• Hotel + car

For the purpose of this review, I decided to search for an all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana to see what pricing I’d get.

Costco Travel Canada will put its recommended property at the top of the results when searching for a resort. The price defaults at the total price, which includes both passengers and any relevant taxes. I also noticed that you get a Costco Shop Card, which is essentially a gift card, when booking a vacation package through them. In this case, you get a $283 card when the trip costs $4,615.47. That’s almost 6% back in gift cards.

Once you select the property, you’re brought to the flight page. This was the default flight that’s included in your package. While other flights that landed earlier were available, they required a stopover and cost more. The other options are displayed all together so it’s easy to decide what’s best for you.

Once you’re good with your flight, you can upgrade your room. This property had a few different options. Just like the initial price, the additional price shows the total extra cost. Another $940 for a swim-up suite is pretty reasonable, considering the stay is for a week. You may have also noticed that your Digital Costco Shop Card value also increases when selecting this upgrade. That’s an additional $81, so the room upgrade only costs you an extra $859.16 or $122.73 daily.

Costco Travel also includes transportation to and from your resort. This is relevant because not ever travel operator offers this at no additional cost. If you had to pay for it, you’re looking at about CAD$50 – $75 each way.

To see if Costco Travel Canada is actually worth it, I decided to check the exact same hotel via Air Transat since they’re providing the flights. The price listed is $4,718. That’s a difference of $102.53. However, you don’t get the Costco gift card or free transportation. If you added all those extras, you’d save about $535 for booking directly with Costco. These savings won’t apply to every property, but clearly, it’s worth looking at Costco Travel to see what prices they’re offering.

It’s worth mentioning that upgrading the room via Ait Transat costs only $860, which is $80 cheaper than Costco. However, when choosing this room upgrade via Costco Travel, you get an additional $81 in gift cards, so Costco is still cheaper.

Costco Hotels

When you first log into Costco Travel, you might assume that they have access to a full range of hotels. However, that’s not the case. Costco is partnered with select hotels at specific destinations. In addition, some destinations require you to book the hotel as a package. For example, hotel + airport transfers or hotel + theme park tickets.

Sometimes these packages offer good value, but not always.

Using the Martinique New York as an example, you’ll see that the mandatory daily amenity fee is waived, and the occupancy tax is included. While this may seem good, it’s worth noting that the occupancy tax is always included regardless of where you book. The price also includes the price of a private transfer from/to JFK Airport.

When going to the Hilton website directly, I found the price to be $449.80 cheaper. Yes, Costco offers the free transfer, which is probably worth about $240, but they’re still more expensive. What’s funny is that the Hilton direct rate clearly includes the mandatory $40, whereas Costco says they don’t.

While this scenario shows that Costco is still more expensive, there are still deals to be had. For example, when I searched hotels in Orlando, they included three theme park tickets. In this case, Costco Travel was a bit cheaper than booking on your own.

If you need just a hotel, it’s likely better to book directly with the property. It’s also worth mentioning that when you book hotels through Costco, you won’t earn any loyalty points, and any perks you get with status, such as Marriott Bonvoy, won’t apply.

Costco Cruises

Although Costco only works with 11 cruise lines, some of the most popular ones, including Norwegian, Disney, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean, are partners. Oddly enough, on the cruise landing page, they also have a dedicated search for Alaska Cruise Tours, which covers cruise and land tours. You can also only search for one month at a time, which is a bit annoying.

The search results are pretty straightforward and you can use some of the included filters to narrow down your choices. You can also immediately see how much a room upgrade is. You’ll also notice that you get a digital Costco shop card – although how much you get isn’t shown.

Here’s what the exact same cruise costs when booking directly with Celebrity. While going direct may seem cheaper, it’s priced in USD and does not factor in taxes, fees, and port expenses. When you add that all up and factor in the exchange, Costco is a touch cheaper due to the included gift card.

A quick look at some other cruises shows similar results. That said, when booking directly, they often offer additional benefits such as free drink packages, discounts on an additional passenger, no gratuities, and more. In other words, it’s always worth looking at Costco Travel for a cruise, but waiting for a sale and booking directly may be better.

Costco Car Rentals

Searching for a rental car via Costco Travel is easy. Just like other car rental sites, you’d enter your pickup location and dates. You also have the option to choose a different drop-off location.

The good thing about Costco Rental Cars is that it automatically checks four different agencies for you: Alamo, AVIS, Budget, and Enterprise. It also immediately highlights the lowers price for each car class. One downside is that it shows the price in US dollars. This is annoying since Costco Travel mostly shows Canadian prices. Here you need to factor in the currency exchange and any foreign transaction fees you may need to pay.

On a positive note, if you click “Terms & Conditions,” you’ll see that one additional driver fee is waived for rentals in Canada. While this is good, it’s a bit silly to include it in this search since Orlando is in the U.S.

You can add your loyalty number to your rental car booking, but there’s no place to enter a discount code. No payment is due when you make a reservation.

When you compare prices to Budget directly, Costco is about US$10 cheaper. That said, Costco doesn’t require you to pay in advance. You pay at the counter when you pick up your car. Going with that option with Budget directly costs $40.40 more, so you’re actually saving about US$50 in this example.

I also checked Alamo for the same dates and noticed that Costco Travel waives the additional driver fee, whereas going direct only covers a single driver. Overall, Costco seems to be the cheapest way to go for car rentals.

Travel Deals and Offers

Anyone who’s flexible with their dates and location should check the Costco deals tab regularly. From weekly deals to what’s trending, some offers include things such as resort credits, free breakfast, waived fees, ground transportation, free nights, room upgrades, late checkout and more.

Limited Time Promotions

As the name implies, Costco Travel often has limited-time offers which include substantial savings on select travel packages. For example:

Admittedly, some of the included extras listed are standard amenities for all guests. What you’re really getting here as a bonus is the resort credit and ground transportation which are worth a few hundred dollars.

Executive Member Benefits

Costco travel can be especially lucrative for Executive Members. Not only do you earn 2% in Costco Rewards, up to $1,000, on qualified Costco Travel purchases, but you also get extra perks such as resort and cruise credits. Considering an Executive membership only costs CAD $120 a year, it’s likely worth upgrading if you see a Costco Travel package with good perks for Executive members.

Booking Process

Interestingly enough, Costco Travel Canada’s booking process is better than some dedicated travel websites I’ve seen out there. All prices are clear and will state if it’s in USD or CAD. The terms and conditions are also easy to find.

Online Booking

To book your trip online, visit the Costco Travel website and sign in to your Costco account. Remember, this is a separate login from your regular Costco account.

To book your travel, just do the following:

1. Select your travel service: Choose the type of travel service you want – Vacation packages, hotel + car, theme park tickets, etc.
2. Input your travel details: This is where you put in your city of departure, destination, travel dates, and the number of travellers.
3. Choose options: you can add extras to your booking, such as a room upgrade and special requests.
4. Review and reserve: Once you’ve reviewed the details, you can book your travel. Some bookings will require a deposit. Note that you can only pay with Visa and Mastercard.

Customer Support

If you need assistance with your bookingor have specific questions, Costco Travel Canada’s customer support is easy to reach.

• Costco Travel Canada phone number: 1.855.863.0357
• Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Saturday – Sunday, 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (Eastern time)

The same phone number and hours should be used if you’re currently travelling. Customer support can help you understand the details of your booking, assist with special requests, and guide you through the booking process if you’re unfamiliar with online reservations. Have your membership information ready as the may ask you for the details.

Is Costco Travel Worth it?

Vacations booked through Costco Travel can be good deals since they may come with additional perks like airport transfers or even Costco cash cards. It’s also worth mentioning that since Costco Travel bundles everything, you save a lot of time. Your time is valuable, so using Costco Travel could be well worth it.

That said, there are a few things to consider. First off, you need a Costco Membership to use Costco Travel. A Gold Star membership is $60, while the Executive Membership will cost you $120. However, the savings from your travel will easily offset those costs. There’s also limited selection when it comes to hotels and cruises. Plus, you can’t book flights alone.

If you have a Costco Membership, and like to travel, it’s definitely worth browsing Costco Travel Canada to see what’s available. Some of the limited-time and weekly deals offer incredible value. You can also earn cash back or travel rewards by using one of the best Costco credit cards in Canada.

Frequently Asked Questions

What benefits will I receive by booking through Costco Travel?

By booking through Costco Travel, you can access member-exclusive prices and benefits. Some vacations come with Costco shop cards, room upgrades, dining credits, and more. In addition, Executive members get 2% in rewards on qualifying travel purchases.

How can I get in touch with Costco Travel Canada for assistance?

For assistance, you can contact Costco Travel Canada’s customer service number at 1.855.863.0357. They’re open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Saturday – Sunday, 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (Eastern time)

Are there exclusive discounts available when booking a vacation package with Costco Travel?

Yes, Costco Travel offers exclusive discounts on various vacation packages available only to Costco members. The limited time and weekly deals offer some of the best pricing.

How can I log in to my Costco Travel Canada account?

To log in to your Costco Travel Canada account, you need a Costco membership. You would then create an account as this site is different from the regular Costco website. Once your account is created, you can login with your credentials.

What car rental services does Costco Travel Canada offer?

Costco Travel Canada partners with Alamo, AVIS, Budget, and Enterprise. When doing a search, you’ll have access to all their vehicles.

Are last-minute travel deals offered by Costco Travel Canada?

Costco Travel Canada does have some last-minute travel deals. These deals apply to cruises, hotel bookings, and more.

Doest Costco Travel Canada accept American Express cards?

No, you can only pay with Visa and Mastercard at Costco Travel.

Basically, an RESP is a a type of account that can be used to help you save for your child’s education. As an added incentive, the government gives you an RESP grant of 20% of your contributions. There’s also some tax benefits which is why an RESP is the best way to save for your child’s post secondary education.

Registered Education Savings Plan Rules

When it comes to setting up your Registered Education Savings Plan, there are some basic rules you’ll want to understand.

• An RESP can be set up for any “beneficiary” including your children, grandchildren, or family friends
• The beneficiary must be a Canadian resident and have a Social Insurance Number
• There’s a lifetime RESP maximum of $50,000 per beneficiary
• You can get a 20% match up to $500 per year thanks to the CESG
• You can contribute to an RESP up to 31 years and the plan can remain open for a maximum of 35 years
• An RESP can hold a variety of investments including mutual funds, ETFs, stocks, bonds and GICs
• Capital gains are tax-free while it is in your RESP
• You do not get a tax refund for RESP contributions
• Money withdrawn from the RESP as an Educational Assistance Payment is taxed in the hands of the beneficiary

Although some people think the RESP rules can be complicated, as you can see from above, it’s pretty straightforward. I realize some of you may still be confused, but I’m going to breakdown things even further so you really understand how RESPs work.

Types of RESP in Canada

When I refer to the types of Registered Education Savings Plan, what I mean is the type of plan you get create or setup. These are the three types of RESPs in Canada you need to know about:

Non-Family Plan

When setting up an RESP for their first child, most people opt for the non-family plan. By doing this, the RESP is managed for the individual child. What’s nice about this option is you can set your investments to line up with the timeline of the beneficiary without having to worry about your choices affecting any other beneficiaries.

Family Plan

Some parents like family plans since it allows multiple beneficiaries as long as they’re related by blood or adoption by the subscriber (the person who set up the RESP). With this type of plan, you’re dealing with one big pot of money so you can allocate funds as needed. However, since you’ll have multiple children in the plan, you may need to be more conservative with your investments.

Group Plan

In my opinion, group plans should be avoided. They’re attractive since they can give your children a defined payout, but there are so many conditions and rules that there’s no guarantee you’ll get what you were promised. Seriously, if you google RESP group plans in Canada, you’ll probably quickly find many horror stories.

RESP investment options

As mentioned above, your Registered Education Savings Plan is basically an investment vehicle which allows you to put a variety of investments within the account such as:

• GICs
• Bonds
• Mutual funds
• ETFs
• Stocks

Since this is for your child, many people think investments that aren’t risky are the way to go. That’s a good thought, but if you set up your child’s RESP when they’re born, it’ll be 16-18 years before they need that money. That’s plenty of time to grow your child’s RESP so you have a balanced portfolio to reflect that time line.

Do-it-yourself investors won’t have an issue with this, but people who are new to investing may be a bit terrified about all of this. As a result, most investment firms have a mutual fund option which automatically re-balances the portfolio based on your child’s estimated first year of their post-secondary education. This is a decent option, but the management expense fee is typically 2.5% or higher which is quite expensive.

Another (and likely better) option is to use a robo-advisor that does the same thing but charges much lower fees. I like Justwealth’s RESP portfolios since they use target dates but charge much lower fees compared to many other financial institutions. Clients will be charged the minimum monthly fee of $2.50 per month OR the 0.5% annual fee (never both), whichever one is greater.  To help you get started, you’ll get $50 for free when you open an RESP with Justwealth via my referral link.

Canadian Education Savings Grant (CESG)

What really makes an RESP appealing is the RESP grant which is formally known as the Canadian Education Savings Grant or CESG. This grant gives the beneficiary a 20% match up to $500 per year. That means if you contribute $2,500 per year to your child’s RESP, you’ll get another $500 for free. Alternatively, if you contributed $2,000, your child would get $400.

The government realizes that you may not have $2,500 just lying around every year so they allow you to carry the grant over for one year. In other words, you can skip contributions one year and then make a deposit of $5,000 the next year and still get the full $1,000 CESG grant ($500 X 2). As you’ve probably guessed, you can’t contribute $25,000 one year and then expect to get 10 years worth of RESP grants.

Keep in mind that there’s a lifetime CESG grant of $7,200 up to the age of 18 so your child could reach that limit when he or she is 14 if you opened an RESP the year they were born.

RESP grant for lower income families

As an added incentive, lower income families can get up to an additional $100 each year from the CESG. Families with a household income under $50,197 get a 40% match on the first $500 in RESP contributions and then 20% on all contributions up to $2,500. That would give them a yearly RESP grant of $600

If your household income falls between $50,197 and $100,392, then your beneficiary would get a 30% match on the first $500 contributed to their RESP. All other contributions up to $2,500 earn you a 20% match. Families in this circumstance would get a total of $550 per year from the CESG.

As an additional incentive, low-income families may qualify for the Canada Learning Bond. This program gives your child up to $2,000 in RESP contributions without you having to deposit any funds.

Note that the income brackets change yearly based on the adjusted family net income level shown on your tax return for the previous tax year. Regardless of your income, the lifetime CESG limit is $7,200.

RESP Withdrawal rules

When your child is ready to make RESP withdrawals, there are two scenarios to consider:

When the funds are used for their education – Upon enrollment of a qualifying post-secondary school, you can withdraw funds from the RESP as long as you can provide proof of enrollment. Any payments made including the grand and/or bonds are referred to Educational Assistance Payments (EAPs) which the student must claim as income when they file their taxes. Since most students will have little to no income, the money withdrawn from their RESP is usually tax-free. You can even use your RESP if you’re studying abroad.

When the funds are withdrawn and not used for education – If your child decides not to continue their education, you can still withdraw your initial contributions without having to pay any taxes. That being said, any interest and capital gains (known as accumulated income) will be taxed at your income level, plus another 20%.

In addition, you can transfer the CESG from the child who is not continuing their education to a brother or sister if they have grant room available. If this isn’t an option, the CESG and any bonds must be returned to the government.

When you finally close the RESP, you can reduce the amount of taxes you pay by transferring your accumulated income (up to $50,000) to your or your spouse’s RRSP. This is only possible if you have enough contribution room. For more details on what happens to unused RESP? Check out this post.

Final thoughts

If you want to help your child with their post-secondary education, there’s no better way than setting up an RESP. The 20% match you get from the CESG is free money and it’s guaranteed! Even if your child decides not to continue their education, you won’t lose the money you initially contributed. Use my Justwealth referral link now and get $50 when you open an RESP with them.