Airmiles Armchair Chatter

[Newcastle]

What is this Manulife account?

Thank you for asking this...I wanted to know too but was too shy to ask .

 

[Donald - my hero]

What is this Manulife account?

Thank you for asking this...I wanted to know too but was too shy to ask .

It is quite nice knowing we don't HAVE to make a full mortgage payment if we got stuck. I do all of my day-to-day banking through the manulife account. I always have to keep a note as to what our "zero dollars" is for each pay period though. It's not like I'm out there shopping-til-I-drop each month!

Manulife is a loan vs a mortgage. It's based on a certain value of your home's total worth. Not every homeowner qualifies.
Our loan for our house is $188,000, but we technically only need to pay the interest every month ($700). It's a variable interest rate, which is good and bad. I think you can get a closed interest rate, not sure on that.

It's actually a secure line of credit using your house as collateral, technically a loan for the value of your house. If you use ManulifeOne (that's what this one is called, they also offer conventional mortgages BTW) you will have all of your accounts rolled into one, you will get one statement for both mortgage & chequing account. That will tell you what you owe, in interest, based on how much of a loan is still sitting on your mortgage and as you add more money to the account (deposit your pay or whatever) the amount of the loan will drop, and so will the interest you owe, until you get to the point where they are paying YOU the interest if you have more in the account that the total loan. What's nice about this method (and like i said a GODSEND for us for several years!) is you do not have a set amount to pay each month, so long as there is enough in the account to cover the interest owing you're fine! When things crop up unexpectedly you can simply pay for it without applying for a loan -- hello car or some sudden renovation needs or in our case 2 weddings with short lead time We will just charge whatever we need to on the AMEX (earn mucho AM this way!) and then pay it off when the bill arrives directly from our ManulifeOne account. When we bought this new car we actually did get a loan from Honda because the rate was lower than we pay Manulife (we got it for something stupid like 1.9%) so it made more sense.

As i highlighted in red above this is not an account for someone who can't handle their money properly on PAPER! You have the ability to spend up to the original amount on your house and as a neighbour discovered, you can in fact, still need to sell simply because you can't pay what's needed!! It's dangerous if you are an emotional shopper or are easily tempted by "last minute deals" but if you are dedicated & disciplined to the point that you are able to establish your "zero line" it is perfect! They don't have a brick & mortar setting but if we need to deposit actual cheques we go to RBC and use the business counter. We do everything online and that suits my hubby perfectly!

If you want more info check their website out. If you haven't guessed by now, we can't recommend it highly enough!
Manulife One Mortage

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

Yup, what Donald said

 

[osully]

Best offer at Sobeys ON starting Thursday seems to be redeem 95AM get 25AM lol.

I will be going there to pick up the frozen chicken breasts - 4kg box for $26.36. I had literally just finished one of these boxes from the last time they had them on sale YESTERDAY lol. Talk about good timing.

It lasted my husband and I about 5 weeks. I like to use about 4 chicken breasts to make shredded buffalo chicken for the week, in the Instant Pot! SO GOOD.

Will probably do the rest of my shopping at FreshCo.

 

[bababear_50]

A few link
Sobeys Ontario
https://www.reebee.com/flyers/10012/1299447?page=1

Metro Ontario
https://www.reebee.com/flyers/10017/1299550

Foodland Ontario
https://www.reebee.com/flyers/10016/1299450

Have a great day
Hugs
Mel

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

Well Superstore is supposed to be having some big points event this weekend. That is good timing since Sobeys isn't good this week!

 

[momof2gr8kids]

I love it when I get Starbucks cards as I never buy anything from there, too expensive!

They were very handy at MK while waiting for the fireworks and needed something easy to eat.

Same at Cabana Bay in the evenings after a long day at the parks.

Not only is Starbucks expensive, I find it complicated to order. LOL I make my daughter order something for me. We enjoyed using them on our last Disney Vacation, but thank goodness it was "free" because once you add in the exchange on those fancy drinks....

 

[hdrolfe]

I'll be shopping at Food Basics this week I think, based on the flyers. No Big AM deals that work for me. Maybe next week, or later in the week if Rexall has a good Thursday deal as they sometimes do.

Home again for a snow day! Buses are cancelled and no way I can get to work and back in time to get him from school. Ugh. I did walk over to McD's to get a coffee... we ran out and I haven't been able to get to the store! Tea was not going to cut it today. Hopefully he'll help me shovel later! He has decided to save his money up for a gaming PC, so he will expect to get paid for his efforts. The funniest thing is last time he helped he said it was so hard it must be worth $10 even though he did like 1/4 of the driveway or less... We shall see what he earns today I guess! I do not like winter.... need to save up more AM and get away from this!!! Wonder if I could do a back to back cruise next year, two weeks south? To make up for not getting away this year

Oh Starbucks! Sometimes it's great, and sometimes it doesn't taste the same. I had a great barista once when I was starting keto who was also doing it and helped me perfect my order. Not cheap but my parents seem to think I like it so they give me giftcards for there all the time, and I use them to earn stars for free stuff. It's a nice treat once in awhile, and when we are travelling they are often in the airports.

 

[dancin Disney style]

Well Superstore is supposed to be having some big points event this weekend. That is good timing since Sobeys isn't good this week!

They are but it's not that great. It's all minimum spend on certain items....there might be 8-10 items. No Frills also has some of the same deals but they also have bonus on the total bill. Don't remember them all but there is spend $100 earn 10,000.

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

They are but it's not that great. It's all minimum spend on certain items....there might be 8-10 items. No Frills also has some of the same deals but they also have bonus on the total bill. Don't remember them all but there is spend $100 earn 10,000.

Where do you see info on the promotion?

 

[ottawamom]

I have been through my usual flyers and Metro looks like my best bet for the week. Cream cheese, blocks, dips, spreads 2.99 (3) +20AM. I'll pick up a couple of those as I need 3 blocks to make a cheese cake and it freezes well for that purpose. All in I will only get 80AM at Metro. Not much besides croissants for me a Sobeys. It's not worth the drive for less than 50AM so Sobeys and Foodland are out this week.

Maybe airmiles isn't offering much in the hopes to discourage the casual collector. I'm good with doing one big shop a month and smaller shops at FreshCo to use my GC in between.

Edit to add: I really shouldn't post this early in the morning. Had to correct the cheese offer 3 times.

 

[Silvermist999]

They are but it's not that great. It's all minimum spend on certain items....there might be 8-10 items. No Frills also has some of the same deals but they also have bonus on the total bill. Don't remember them all but there is spend $100 earn 10,000.

Yeah, those offers at RCSS aren’t that great, hope there’s some different/better offers at Shoppers. There used to be a huge No Frills here but they closed it down, there only a tiny one left(it’s like a convenience store, lol) and I doubt I could even spend $100 there.

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

Since the switch to PC Optimum, I've received ONE threshold spend offer. I used to get them once every other month at least. I need 5,000 point to hit $50. Then I can cash out and use that money to buy another $50 Disney gift card at Walmart before they are non-existent for another year.

 

[pigletto]

Since the switch to PC Optimum, I've received ONE threshold spend offer. I used to get them once every other month at least. I need 5,000 point to hit $50. Then I can cash out and use that money to buy another $50 Disney gift card at Walmart before they are non-existent for another year.

Really ?!? I get more than one a week. Sometimes several. Do you have a Shoppers near by ? It’s 20x the points when you spend $50 this weekend and it’s a flyer offer. You would make about $15 back in points. I go there for milk and bread and butter and eggs since they are always low prices most Saturdays. I’ll stock up on the toilet paper on sale this weekend and hit the $50 pretty easily.

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

Really ?!? I get more than one a week. Sometimes several. Do you have a Shoppers near by ? It’s 20x the points when you spend $50 this weekend and it’s a flyer offer. You would make about $15 back in points. I go there for milk and bread and butter and eggs since they are always low prices most Saturdays. I’ll stock up on the toilet paper on sale this weekend and hit the $50 pretty easily.

Sorry, I should have been more specific. I used to get them for Superstore. I get Shoppers every week or more, but I don't buy groceries there, at least not in that quantity. Maybe I should start!

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

Do they allow points on dairy products at Shoppers?

 

[Disney Addicted]

I'll be shopping at Food Basics this week I think, based on the flyers. No Big AM deals that work for me. Maybe next week, or later in the week if Rexall has a good Thursday deal as they sometimes do.

Home again for a snow day! Buses are cancelled and no way I can get to work and back in time to get him from school. Ugh. I did walk over to McD's to get a coffee... we ran out and I haven't been able to get to the store! Tea was not going to cut it today. Hopefully he'll help me shovel later! He has decided to save his money up for a gaming PC, so he will expect to get paid for his efforts. The funniest thing is last time he helped he said it was so hard it must be worth $10 even though he did like 1/4 of the driveway or less... We shall see what he earns today I guess! I do not like winter.... need to save up more AM and get away from this!!! Wonder if I could do a back to back cruise next year, two weeks south? To make up for not getting away this year

Oh Starbucks! Sometimes it's great, and sometimes it doesn't taste the same. I had a great barista once when I was starting keto who was also doing it and helped me perfect my order. Not cheap but my parents seem to think I like it so they give me giftcards for there all the time, and I use them to earn stars for free stuff. It's a nice treat once in awhile, and when we are travelling they are often in the airports.

Yes, home again today. The notice I received for the Kawartha Pine Ridge district is cancelled for freezing rain. WHAT freezing rain??? I checked the forecast last night and again this morning and every hour from 5AM through evening there is no freezing rain scheduled for Bowmanville. Ugh... Exams start this week. He has now missed two review days before his first exam. My friend's daughter was suppose to have her first exam today and it's been rescheduled for Tuesday. Thank goodness I made my son bring home all his school books yesterday. He has a lot to do today between shovelling snow, studying and delivering papers. (As I write this my son is out there shovelling now. He just made me JUMP by throwing a snowball at the window beside me).

By the way, how old is your son? This Week newspapers accepts kids 10 and up for newspaper delivery. Both of mine deliver papers. My daughter started at 11 and I made her save. She paid for her Vimy Ridge high school trip last year and this year's California trip from her newspaper money. My son was only able to start when he turned 13 (I put him on a wait list when he was 9!) and he's saving for his high school trip now. Maybe delivering papers would be a good job start for your son. Once he sees the money he earns, he may jump on board with that real quick!

Since the switch to PC Optimum, I've received ONE threshold spend offer. I used to get them once every other month at least. I need 5,000 point to hit $50. Then I can cash out and use that money to buy another $50 Disney gift card at Walmart before they are non-existent for another year.

Wait - did I miss something? Are the Disney gift cards going to be discontinued? Or did you mean your Wal-mart might stop carrying them for awhile?

 

[Disney Addicted]

Do they allow points on dairy products at Shoppers?

Yes. My friend says she purchases her milk specifically at Shoppers because it's cheaper there and she usually gets a lot of extra bonus points on milk somehow. I get targeted offers for Loblaws where I get 200 points for every $1 spent on poultry, beef and pork so I guess she gets targeted offers for milk at Shoppers.

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

Wait - did I miss something? Are the Disney gift cards going to be discontinued? Or did you mean your Wal-mart might stop carrying them for awhile?

Yes, the latter...

 

[kimbert]

FYI for those who managed to find someone who would write them a rain cheque back on Blue Friday for the Barilla Ready Pasta (I was lucky at one of the 4 stores we checked - someone wrote me one for the original $2 price!).
So I finally redeemed it yesterday, and the person who credited me my Air Miles noticed something she had not before when "Making it right". I was maxed at 200 miles in one transaction.

So, I was owed 250 AM for my 10 bags of pasta, and after I paid through the regular checkout, the supervisor took me over to a separate checkout to provide the AM, so we wouldn't keep holding up the line. She swiped the single AM "make it right" thingy (as a former Sobeys cashier I can tell you that is its technical name! ha ha ha) and then multiplied it by 250. Then she rang it off and was about to send me on my way.

However, she glanced at the receipt, and even though she knew she put in x250, it only provided 200 AM!

Thankfully she then just rang up a new transaction and provided the additional 50. But everyone check your receipts when redeeming your rain cheques, if you were expecting more than 200 AM, and only did it in one transaction.