While we adhere to strict editorial guidelines, partners on this page also provide us earnings.
Marie Alcober
Updated Aug 21, 2026
That moment at the checkout when the total is higher than you expected? It's become the norm, not the exception.
You’re not the only one facing sticker shock, either. 85% of Canadians said they changed their shopping habits in the prior three months due to the economy, according to TransUnion's Q4 2025 Canada Consumer Pulse Study.
67% said they were seeking out sales and discounts more often. Others were shopping at more affordable retailers, switching to store brands, or reaching for coupons more than before.
Here’s a look at seven shopping habits that are saving Canadians money — including smart ways you can use certain types of credit cards to help you stretch your dollars further.
1. Compare prices before buying
According to TransUnion's Q4 2025 Canada Consumer Pulse Study, sales and discounts are the single most common adjustment Canadians have made, with 67% seeking them out more often.
Cross-checking prices between stores or tabs has become second nature for a lot of shoppers.
2. Stick to one card instead of spreading spending across several
Consolidating spend onto a single card — rather than juggling several with no clear system —makes it easier to actually track the rewards that you're earning and hit meaningful thresholds.
For example, consider putting everyday spending like groceries and cash through one cashback rewards credit card instead of splitting them up.
Get up to 1.5% cashback on your day-to-day purchases with the ECHO® Cashback MasterCard®.
Benefits of the ECHO® Cashback MasterCard® credit card include:
- Earn up to 1.5% cashback on gas, groceries, and online purchases¹
- Redeem your rewards directly via your online bank
- Extended warranty on your purchases²
- No minimum annual income required
Apply online from the comfort of your home and get an answer in minutes.
3. Keep a closer eye on your balance
Checking in on your balance regularly is one of the simplest habits that keeps spending in check.
It also puts you in a better position to notice when your card isn't set up to reward that kind of attentiveness, whether that's through a grace period, a lower rate or how quickly interest accrues.
Reduce your interest fees and pay off your balance faster with the Syncro™ Mastercard®.
Benefits of the Syncro™ Mastercard® low interest rate credit card include:
- A 21-day grace period that applies to all purchases³
- Fraud protection and extended warranty on your purchases⁴
- No minimum annual income required
Apply online from the comfort of your home and get an answer in minutes.
4. Put recurring bills on a card instead of paying them separately
Routing bills like streaming, insurance, or utilities through a card instead of paying them directly from a bank account can be a smart consolidation move — provided the card actually gives you something back for it.
Benefit from cashback on your pre-authorized payments and restaurant purchases, as well as free mobile protection, with National Bank’s mycredit™ Mastercard®.
Benefits of the mycredit™ Mastercard® credit card include:
- Up to 1% cashback on restaurant purchases and recurring pre-authorized payments⁵
- Mobile protection against theft or damage for up to 2 years following the purchase of your mobile device⁶
- Extended warranty on your purchases⁷
- No annual fee
Apply online from the comfort of your home and get an answer in minutes.
5. Take advantage of card offers more often
TransUnion's Q4 2025 Canada Consumer Pulse Study found that 18% of Canadians were taking advantage of credit card offers and discounts more often as a way to manage rising costs.
That only works if the card offers something worth chasing in the first place, which is worth checking before assuming your current one does.
Here's an example of a card that delivers on that front. Get up to 2 points per dollar spent¹ with the World® Mastercard®, available to applicants with a minimum gross annual income of $50,000, or $80,000 for household income.
Benefits of the World® Mastercard® credit card include:
- Up to 2 points per dollar spent⁸
- Comprehensive travel insurance: up to 60 days' coverage including trip cancellation/interruption, baggage loss and car rental insurance⁹
- Get up to triple the manufacturer's warranty for most items purchased using your credit card⁹
- Redeem points for travel rewards, merchandise, gift cards, and more through the À la carte Rewards Plan®
Apply online from the comfort of your home and get an answer in minutes.
6. Avoid new debt that can't be paid down quickly
Only 5% of Canadians were looking to take on new credit at the time, per the same TransUnion study, a sign that most people are being deliberate about what they borrow.
If you usually carry a balance, the interest rate on your card matters far more than any rewards program attached to it, since a high enough rate can erase the value of every point or cashback dollar you'd otherwise earn.
Reduce your interest fees and pay off your balance faster with the Syncro™ Mastercard®, National Bank’s low interest rate credit card. Learn more.
7. Reassess whether your card still fits, instead of assuming it always will
Spending habits shift when the economy does. A card that matched your life a year ago may not be pulling its weight now — whether that's missed cashback, a fee you've outgrown or a rate that's costing you more than any reward is worth.
It may be worth revisiting every so often rather than assuming the card in your wallet is still the best one for how you actually spend.
-
All eligible purchases qualify for 1% cashback when your account is in good standing. Your account is in good standing when you comply with the obligations of your cardholder agreement (e.g., making your minimum payment by the due date). The cashback will be paid as a credit applied to your account and cannot be paid in cash. An additional cashback of 0.5% is granted on the first $25,000 of eligible gas, grocery and online purchases charged annually to your credit card account. The additional cashback of 0.5% does not apply when the total of your annual eligible purchases exceeds $25,000. After that, the cashback equals 1% of eligible purchases, regardless of the type of purchase. For conditions and restrictions that apply to cashback rewards and a full list of codes associated with eligible merchants, refer to the cashback accumulation table [PDF] and the applicable rules [PDF].
-
This coverage applies to purchases charged to the National Bank ECHO cashback card. Extended warranty coverage applies to most new items purchased with the card, in Canada or abroad, as long as the manufacturer's warranty is valid in Canada. Certain conditions and restrictions apply. For more information and for details of your insurance coverage, please consult the insurance certificate associated with your card
-
Grace period: No interest will be charged on purchases made during the month, provided the client pays the balance in full within twenty-one (21) days of the statement date. This grace period does not apply to cash advances or balance transfers. Minimum payment: If your account balance is lower than $10, you must pay the entire balance. If you reside in the province of Quebec, your minimum payment will correspond to 5% of the credit card account balance plus any overdue payment or $10, whichever amount is higher. If you reside outside of Quebec, your minimum payment represents 2.5% of the credit card account balance plus any overdue payment or $10, whichever amount is higher. Account statement: A statement is sent monthly
-
This coverage applies to purchases charged to the National Bank Syncro card. Extended warranty coverage applies to most new items purchased with the card, in Canada or abroad, as long as the manufacturer's warranty is valid in Canada. Certain conditions and restrictions apply. For more information and for details of your insurance coverage, please consult the insurance certificate associated with your card.
-
Subject to credit approval by National Bank of Canada. The cashback granted is 1% on restaurant purchases and on recurring pre-authorized payments when you use recurring automatic transfers with your mycredit account. The cashback of 0.5% applies to all other eligible purchases during a billing cycle. The account must be in good standing when the cashback is awarded. Your account is in good standing when you comply with the obligations of your cardholder agreement (e.g., making your minimum payment by the due date). These eligible automatic transfers are defined as regular payments that are automatically withdrawn by a merchant on your credit card. Balance transfers, cash advances and fees resulting from the use of the card are excluded from the cashback calculation. For conditions and restrictions that apply to cashback rewards, refer to the Cashback Program [PDF].
-
Subject to the mobile device’s purchase with the card or mobile plan settled by recurring pre-authorized payments from your mycredit account.
-
This coverage applies to purchases charged to the National Bank mycredit card. Extended warranty coverage applies to most new items purchased with the card, in Canada or abroad, as long as the manufacturer's warranty is valid in Canada. Certain conditions and restrictions apply. For more information and for details of your insurance coverage, please consult the insurance certificate associated with your card.
-
Certain restrictions apply. For more information, consult the Rewards plan section or the Plan rules regarding how to earn points.
-
This coverage applies to purchases and rentals charged in part to the card, except out-of-province medical/hospital insurance for which the travel arrangements need not be charged to the card, and lost or delayed luggage insurance where all transportation costs must be charged to the card. This coverage applies to the primary cardholder, their spouse and/or dependent children when they (spouse and/or dependent children) travel with the primary cardholder. Extended warranty coverage applies to most new items purchased with the card, in Canada or abroad, as long as the manufacturer's warranty is valid in Canada. Certain conditions and restrictions apply. For more information and for details of your insurance coverage, please consult the insurance certificate associated with your card.
Marie Alcober
Commercial Content Manager
Marie Alcober is a commercial content manager at Money.ca, where she develops branded content that helps readers make smarter money decisions.
Explore the latest articles
Canada's top 15 comprehensive universities ranked
Your alma mater may be a top school, but how does it score for reputation?
Serah Louis
Senior Staff Writer
Disclaimer
The content provided on Money.ca is information to help users become financially literate. It is neither tax nor legal advice, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities enter into any loan, mortgage or insurance agreements or to adopt any investment strategy. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional. We make no representation or warranty of any kind, either express or implied, with respect to the data provided, the timeliness thereof, the results to be obtained by the use thereof or any other matter. Advertisers are not responsible for the content of this site, including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete and current information on any advertiser product, please visit their website.
†Terms and Conditions apply.
