Advertisement
Canada markets closed
  • S&P/TSX

    21,969.24
    +83.86 (+0.38%)
     
  • S&P 500

    5,099.96
    +51.54 (+1.02%)
     
  • DOW

    38,239.66
    +153.86 (+0.40%)
     
  • CAD/USD

    0.7316
    -0.0007 (-0.09%)
     
  • CRUDE OIL

    83.66
    +0.09 (+0.11%)
     
  • Bitcoin CAD

    86,490.80
    -1,126.80 (-1.29%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    1,313.18
    -83.36 (-5.97%)
     
  • GOLD FUTURES

    2,349.60
    +7.10 (+0.30%)
     
  • RUSSELL 2000

    2,002.00
    +20.88 (+1.05%)
     
  • 10-Yr Bond

    4.6690
    -0.0370 (-0.79%)
     
  • NASDAQ

    15,927.90
    +316.14 (+2.03%)
     
  • VOLATILITY

    15.03
    -0.34 (-2.21%)
     
  • FTSE

    8,139.83
    +60.97 (+0.75%)
     
  • NIKKEI 225

    37,934.76
    +306.28 (+0.81%)
     
  • CAD/EUR

    0.6838
    +0.0017 (+0.25%)
     

Pogue’s Basics: Money - The argument for paying for insurance with a credit card

Progressive, GEICO, State Farm, Allstate, Esurance — all major insurance companies let you pay for your insurance with a credit or debit card.

And you know what? You should. Because if you have a rewards or cash-back credit card, you’re getting rewards or cash back on a big expense: the thousands a year you spend on insurance. If you have a typical $900-a-year car-insurance plan, your card will kick back $18 each year; if you spend $3,000 a year on homeowners insurance, your card will refund $60 every year.

You’ve got several kinds of insurance to pay. You’ve got utility bills, too—same trick. It adds up handsomely.

As a handy bonus, you can set up a recurring, automatic charge to your card each month. That way, you never forget to pay your premium (and never have to bother).

ADVERTISEMENT

For a typical American consumer, this trick will save you about 150 bucks a year. Thank me in your heart.

More from Pogue:

iOS 10 Hidden Feature: Bedtime-consistency management

Pogue’s Basics: Money – The Amazon card

iOS 10 Hidden Feature: Do Not Disturb Emergency Bypass

Pogue’s Basics: Money – Extended warranties

Pogue’s cheap, unexpected tech gifts #2: ThinOptics glasses

A dozen iOS 10 feature gems that Apple forgot to mention

GoPro’s most exciting mount yet: a drone

Professional-looking blurry backgrounds come to the iPhone 7 Plus

Pogue’s Basics: Turn off Samsung’s Smart Guide

Pogue Basics: Touch and hold Google Maps

The Apple Watch 2 is faster, waterproof—and more overloaded than ever

We sent a balloon into space — and an epic scavenger hunt ensued

Now I get it: Snapchat

The new Fitbits are smarter, better-looking, and more well-rounded

Apple has killed every jack but one: Meet USB-C