Which loyalty reward program will save you the most money?

Rewards programs are everywhere.

For businesses, they are all about luring and retaining customers through discounts, points and deals, and tracking consumer behaviour for marketing purposes. 

But how do you know which one is the best for you? It depends on where you shop, what you buy, and how much effort you want to put into it.

To help you out, the Deal Diva took a deep dive into four reward programs for CBC Radio's The 306. In each segment, she gives an overview of the rewards program, how to earn, how to spend, and how to maximize its benefits.

Triangle Rewards

Triangle Rewards are basically a new, digital version of "Canadian Tire Money," which is the OG of loyalty programs, starting in the 1950s.

It has since expanded to more than Canadian Tire – Triangle Rewards can be earned and used at Sport Chek, Marks, Atmosphere and Sports Experts, to name a few.

So, if you are an outdoorsy person who's into sports or hockey, this program is for you!

LISTEN | How to get the most out of the Triangle Rewards program: 

The 3067:29The 306's Deal Diva looks at reward programs

Scene+

You might remember Scene when it first started out as a rewards program for Cineplex movie theatres.

In 2021, Cineplex joined forces with Scotiabank for a big revamp. Now, there are many more partners and ways to earn, including at restaurants and grocery stores.

LISTEN | What's different about the Scene+ program: 

The 3067:08The 306's Deal Diva looks at reward programs

Air Miles 

Air Miles started back in 1992 and for years it was a much-beloved program heavily focused on travel rewards.

About eight years ago, the company announced Air Miles would expire after a certain timeframe. That made a lot of longtime collectors angry, and a bunch of partners, including Sobeys, Safeway and Rexall, jumped ship. 

In 2023, when Air Miles's parent company filed for bankruptcy, BMO to signed a deal to take over and reinvigorate the program.

LISTEN | How Air Miles is now about much more than travel: 

The 3067:35Deal Diva: Air Miles

PC Optimum

Shoppers Drug Mart launched its Optimum program 25 years ago, and it quickly became one of the biggest customer loyalty programs in Canada.

It has since expanded to include Loblaw-owned grocery stores and gas stations, among other businesses.

LISTEN | How to strategize to get the most out of the PC Optimum program: 

The 3067:30Deal Diva: PC Optimum

Love deals? Click here for more Deal Diva segments for more great tips on saving money.