Nearly three-quarters of Canadian homeowners (74%) are planning to make home improvements this year, according to a March 2021 survey conducted by HomeStars.
“With all this extra time at home, Canadians are investing in their spaces by making repairs, adding functionality or simply to ‘spark joy’ in the new normal we’re living in,” Shir Magen, CEO of HomeStars, said in a release.
The report found that outdoor work, including landscaping and decks, was the main priority with over half of survey respondents (54%) planning to improve their outside space. Rounding out the top five renovations were bathroom projects (32%), kitchen updates (23%), basement overhauls (17%), and appliance repair or replacements (12%).
Many of these projects can be costly. Just under half of the homeowners (46%) anticipate spending between $1,000 and $10,000 on their upgrades — a budget HomeStars compares to the cost of an annual family vacation.
We at RATESDOTCA want to share a few simple tips and tricks for sprucing up your home and garden on a budget. The first step may be as close as your local supermarket.
While most credit cards don’t specifically reward cardholders for buying plants and soil, they will typically offer a percentage of each purchase back in cash or points. A few cards provide accelerated rewards for furniture and home improvements, like the Tangerine Mastercards or Triangle Mastercards from Canadian Tire.
What might surprise you is that your grocery card may be just as rewarding during the spring and summer. Depending on your credit card, you may be able to earn and redeem rewards at your local garden centre, such as the ones affiliated with Walmart or President’s Choice. Keep an eye on the weekly flyers for deals and discounts to save more money on the supplies and tools you’ll need to create your dream yard.
Some credit cards offer exceptional perks like the $50 annual lifestyle credit found on the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card or the $200 annual lifestyle credit provided by the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege* Card. The primary account is credited within two statement periods after making a purchase equal to or greater than the annual lifestyle credit amount, as long as the account is in good standing.
Cardholders can use this type of reward toward supplies or merchandise of their choice, like patio stones, fire pits or Muskoka chairs.
Loyalty programs generally offer members access to personalized offers and promotions. But some cards, like the Triangle™ Mastercard®, provide a few additional incentives. Cardholders can make payments more manageable with no fee, no interest financing available on qualifying purchases of $150 or more at participating Canadian Tire stores.
Related read: Credit Card Installment Plans: Should You Buy Now and Pay Later?
Cardholders can also make no receipt returns at participating stores, which can be convenient when running errands and picking up products for your DIY projects.
Compare the best credit cards for home improvements and landscaping below.
*The RATESDOTCA Best of Finance methodology assumes the cardholder spends an average of $2,000 a month on their card to determine the first-year value. The calculation includes all welcome bonuses and promotional offers at the time of publishing.
Apply for the Scotiabank®* Gold American Express® Card to earn up to 40,000 Scotia Rewards points. Earn 30,000 Scotia Rewards points when you spend at least $1,000 in the first three months and an additional 10,000 Scotia Rewards points when you spend at least $7,500 in the first year.
Regular features and benefits of this card include:
This card also features complimentary concierge services and other travel-related benefits, including travel insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and the Best Price Guarantee on airfare through the Scotia Rewards Travel Service.
Offer expiry date: August 31, 2021
Apply for the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card to earn up to 40,000 points. Earn 25,000 points when you spend at least $3,000 in the first three months and get another 15,000 points on your first anniversary. Plus, BMO will waive the annual fee for the first year.
Regular features and benefits of this card include:
Cardholders can earn 10% more rewards when they add an authorized user to the account. That means you can earn 5.5 points for every $1 spent on purchases like groceries and 1.1 points for every $1 spent everywhere else. Not only that, but this card also features a $50 annual lifestyle credit to spend however you like, including plants or patio stones so that you can be summer-ready on a budget.
This card provides travel insurance, mobile device insurance and exclusive Visa Infinite benefits.
Offer expiry date: October 31, 2021
The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege* Card offers new cardholders up to 50,000 points in the first year. Earn 35,000 points when you spend at least $5,000 in the first three months and another 15,000 points on your anniversary.
Regular features and benefits of this card include:
Get 25% more rewards when you add an authorized user to the account. That means you can earn 6.25 points for every $1 spent on grocery purchases and 1.25 points for every $1 spent everywhere else. Also, get a $200 annual lifestyle credit to spend however you want, including new furniture, paint, and appliances.
This card features travel insurance, mobile device insurance and exclusive Visa Infinite Privilege benefits.
Offer expiry date: October 31, 2021
Best of Finance winner: Best credit card for families for the second year in a row!
New cardholders of the President’s Choice Financial® World Elite Mastercard® can get 20,000 PC Optimum points after making their first purchase.
Regular features and benefits of this card include:
As the top card in the PC Financial line, the President’s Choice Financial® World Elite Mastercard® has the most to offer. Get free cards for authorized users, travel emergency medical insurance, car rental collision insurance, concierge service and identity theft assistance.
Offer expiry date: N/A subject to change without notice
Get 20,000 PC Optimum points after making your first purchase with the President’s Choice Financial®World Mastercard®.
Regular features and benefits of this card include:
Get free cards for authorized users and earn more rewards as a family. This card also features concierge services and basic shopping coverage.
Offer expiry date: N/A subject to change without notice
Apply for the President’s Choice Financial® Mastercard® and get 20,000 PC Optimum points after making your first purchase.
Regular features and benefits of this card include:
Get free cards for authorized users and access basic shopping coverage with this card.
Offer expiry date: N/A subject to change without notice
The Triangle™ Mastercard® offers CT Money® for all purchases made using the card. Cardholders can also access no fee, no interest financing on qualifying purchases of $150 or more to make big payments more manageable.
Regular features and benefits of this card include:
Access personalized offers as a Triangle Rewards member. Plus, get easy no-receipt returns at participating stores.
These annual interest rates are not applicable for residents of Quebec. For residents of Quebec, please click here.
Offer expiry date: No current offer at this time
The Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card offers a 1.95% introductory interest rate on balance transfers made within 30 days for six months. A 1% balance transfer fee does apply.
Regular features and benefits of this card include:
This card also offers free cards for authorized users to earn cash back faster as a family.
Offer expiry date: N/A subject to change without notice
The Tangerine World Mastercard® offers a 1.95% promotional interest rate on balance transfers made within 30 days of opening the account for six months. A 1% balance transfer fee does apply.
Regular features and benefits of this card include:
This card also features basic travel benefits like rental car collision insurance, Boingo Wi-Fi for Mastercard®* and Mastercard® Airport Experiences Provided by LoungeKey for discounts and offers. Other perks include mobile device insurance.
Offer expiry date: N/A subject to change without notice
The Walmart Mastercard® offers a welcome bonus of up to $25. Get $15 in Walmart Reward Dollars when you make two qualifying purchases using your card: one purchase at a Walmart store in Canada or online at Walmart.ca and another purchase anywhere Mastercard® is accepted. Both purchases must be made within 30 days of opening the account. Cardholders can get another $10 in Walmart Reward Dollars when they sign up for electronic statements.
Regular features and benefits of this card include:
Redeem rewards when you have a Walmart Rewards balance of as little as $5 and choose from thousands of items in-store and online.
Offer expiry date: May 30, 2021, and may be extended
Rates, product information and reward estimates are subject to change at any time and do not constitute financial advice. This post was not sponsored. RATESDOTCA may receive a referral fee from our partners or affiliate links featured on the site; however, our editorial choices are objective and free from bias. The opinions expressed in this article are purely those of RATESDOTCA; thus, the credit card issuers and partners are not responsible for any editorials or reviews that may appear. Please visit the associated website for complete and current terms and conditions on any product or service mentioned. The information in this article is accurate as of the date of this posting, June 10, 2021. Read our full disclaimer.