Reference strategies

Reference strategy: Cash Back

Maximize cash back on your everyday spending. This page shows the strategy calculated for this profile; adjust the spending level or the American Express policy, or adapt it to your own spending.

Annual spending levels

The same total amount is used for every profile at a given level. Only the distribution across spending categories changes by profile.

  • Moderate — $24,000 / year
  • Standard — $36,000 / year
  • High — $60,000 / year

In a personalized analysis, your actual spending replaces this reference basket.

Your strategy

Cash Back

2 cards that maximize cash back on your everyday spending.

  • Groceries
  • Everyday purchases
  • Pre-authorized payments
  • + more
Adapt to my spending

Your recommended cards

2 cards in this strategy
1 Primary card
SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express — American Express Canada

SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express

American Express Canada

  • Transportation
  • Everyday purchases
  • Entertainment
  • Gas / charging
  • Groceries
  • Hotels
  • Pre-authorized payments
  • Travel

$32,400/year assigned to this card

Welcome offer included

View card
2 Network backup
CIBC Costco Mastercard — CIBC

CIBC Costco Mastercard

CIBC

  • Restaurants

$3,600/year assigned to this card

View card

How to use it

How to use this strategy

Spending breakdown for the reference profile and the recommended card for each category.

  • Groceries $8,400 SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express
  • Everyday purchases $7,200 SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express
  • Pre-authorized payments $6,000 SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express
  • Gas / charging $3,600 SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express
  • Restaurants $3,600 CIBC Costco
  • Transportation $2,400 SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express
  • Entertainment $2,400 SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express
  • Hotels $1,200 SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express
  • Travel $1,200 SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express

Breakdown by card

  • SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express

    $32,400/year assigned to this card

    • Transportation
    • Everyday purchases
    • Entertainment
    • Gas / charging
    • Groceries
    • Hotels
    • Pre-authorized payments
    • Travel
  • CIBC Costco Mastercard

    $3,600/year assigned to this card

    • Restaurants

Breakdown across cards

  • SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express 90 %
  • CIBC Costco 10 %

These amounts make up this scenario’s reference profile. Adapt them to receive a personalized strategy.

Adapt to my spending

Is a more advanced strategy worth it?

1 card (solo)

Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card — Scotiabank Canada

Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card

$732 Annual net value

$120 in annual fees

2 cards — Recommended

SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express — American Express Canada
CIBC Costco Mastercard — CIBC
$877 Annual net value

$119 in annual fees

+$145 more net value per year
View calculation details Understand net value, fees, and each card’s contribution.

Calculation transparency

How this strategy’s value is built

The breakdown shows each card’s contribution. Applicable fees have already been deducted.

Annual net value
Annual gross value
$996
Annual fees
$119
Annual net value
$877
First-year value
Recurring net value
$877
Eligible offers
$200
First-year value
$1,077
2-year total$2,004
3-year total$2,881

The first year includes offers earned during the first 12 months; subsequent years use recurring value.

Portfolio breakdown

Each card’s contribution

Each expense is assigned once to the card responsible for it.

SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express — American Express Canada

SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express

Primary card for alternative transportation, general spending, entertainment, gas, groceries, hotels, recurring payments, travel. Its place in this strategy is also supported by its current welcome offer: it ranks No. 5 among cash-back and credit offers, with a conservative estimated net value of $120.13 for the complete offer.

$32,400 in assigned spending

  • Transportation
  • Everyday purchases
  • Entertainment
  • Gas / charging
  • Groceries
  • Hotels
  • Pre-authorized payments
  • Travel
Annual net contribution
$769
Offer — first 12 months
$200
First-year contribution
$969
Annual fee
$119
CIBC Costco Mastercard — CIBC

CIBC Costco Mastercard

Visa or Mastercard backup for merchants that do not accept American Express, including dining.

$3,600 in assigned spending

  • Restaurants
Annual net contribution
$108
Offer — first 12 months
No quantified eligible welcome offer.
First-year contribution
$108
Annual fee
$0

Published scenario

Assumptions used

Strategy assumptions $36,000/year Standard 2 cards max. Priority: Cash back

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