Happy Chinese New Year! How to Earn Rewards Today

For the year of 2015, February 19 marks the day for Chinese New Year celebrations. For those who are not familiar, generally the tradition is that married couples are to give out red pocket envelopes to family and friends as a sign of good luck for the New Year. The Chinese tradition has slowly been modified over the years to give it a more modern twist where money has been replaced with “monetary gifts” such as gift certificates and gift cards.

Luckily for me, I’m not in a married status yet, but for those who are and require to give out red pockets, you can purchase gift cards instead so that you aren’t losing out on purchase rewards this day. I suggest that you can maximize your earnings when you purchase Visa prepaid cards with a credit card which offer 2 points per dollar or more. Essentially, you can double your miles or more, depending on the type of loyalty credit card you use. For example, with the CIBA Aerogold Infinite Privilege Visa card, you can earn 1.25 Aeroplan points for every $1 spent.

Another recommendation I would make is to purchase coins from the Royal Canadian Mint. Currently, they are offering a great promotion- $25 for a $25 fine silver coin with free ground shipping. Following the original Chinese tradition, coins in red envelopes were first placed under the pillows of the younger generation to ward off evil spirits and protect them from sickness. Purchasing coins will be a great way to continue with the original Chinese tradition as well as help you earn rewards with the use of a loyalty credit card.

For those givers on Chinese New Year, passing out red envelopes doesn’t always have to be a painful experience. By being a little creative and contemporary, both receivers and givers can earn rewards during this cultural event!

Happy Chinese New Year everyone!