Reference strategies

Reference strategy: Family — Household Rewards

Maximize household 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

Family — Household Rewards

2 cards that efficiently cover the household’s major expenses.

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

Your recommended cards

2 cards in this strategy
1 Category specialist
Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card — American Express Canada

Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card

American Express Canada

  • Everyday purchases
  • Entertainment
  • Hotels
  • Pre-authorized payments
  • Travel

$16,800/year assigned to this card

Welcome offer included

View card
2 Network backup
RBC ION+ Visa — RBC

RBC ION+ Visa

RBC

  • Transportation
  • Gas / charging
  • Groceries
  • Restaurants

$19,200/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 $10,800 RBC ION+
  • Everyday purchases $6,000 Marriott Bonvoy American Express
  • Pre-authorized payments $4,800 Marriott Bonvoy American Express
  • Gas / charging $3,600 RBC ION+
  • Travel $3,600 Marriott Bonvoy American Express
  • Transportation $2,400 RBC ION+
  • Restaurants $2,400 RBC ION+
  • Entertainment $1,200 Marriott Bonvoy American Express
  • Hotels $1,200 Marriott Bonvoy American Express

Breakdown across cards

  • Marriott Bonvoy American Express $16,800 / year
  • RBC ION+ $19,200 / year

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)

RBC ION+ Visa — RBC

RBC ION+ Visa

$696 Annual net value

$48 in annual fees

2 cards — Recommended

Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card — American Express Canada
RBC ION+ Visa — RBC
$850.44 Annual net value

$168 in annual fees

+$154.44 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
$1,018.44
Annual fees
$168
Annual net value
$850.44
First-year value
Recurring net value
$850.44
Eligible offers
$666.64
First-year value
$1,517.08
2-year total$2,617.51
3-year total$3,467.95

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.

Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card — American Express Canada

Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card

Complementary card for general spending, entertainment, hotels, recurring payments, travel.

$16,800 in assigned spending

  • Everyday purchases
  • Entertainment
  • Hotels
  • Pre-authorized payments
  • Travel
Annual net contribution
$322.44
Offer — first 12 months
$666.64
First-year contribution
$989.08
Annual fee
$120
RBC ION+ Visa — RBC

RBC ION+ Visa

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

$19,200 in assigned spending

  • Transportation
  • Gas / charging
  • Groceries
  • Restaurants
Annual net contribution
$528
Offer — first 12 months
No quantified eligible welcome offer.
First-year contribution
$528
Annual fee
$48

Published scenario

Assumptions used

Strategy assumptions $36,000/year Standard 2 cards max. Priority: Travel points and benefits

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