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Getting Fit Without Breaking the Bank With Points

Getting Fit Without Breaking the Bank With Points
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Getting fit without breaking the bank is possible, even when everything costs more. Your gym membership, sport clothing, and equipment eat into a budget fast. Still, these expenses can also earn you points and cash back. You just need to know where to look, because in Canada, no credit card boosts a « sport » category.

The good news is that three real levers do the work.

  • The portals: the Aeroplan eStore and Rakuten add points or cash back on your online purchases.
  • The right card: a high earn rate on your recurring payments and groceries.
  • Boosted gift cards: an upfront discount before you even spend.

Paying for your gym membership

Your gym membership is almost always billed as a monthly pre-authorized payment. That is exactly where the gain hides. Some cards boost recurring payments, while most offer only a base rate on this type of transaction.

The Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card pays 4% cash back on recurring pre-authorized payments, as of July 2026. It also applies that same 4% to groceries, which works well for nutrition. Take a membership of $60 per month, or $720 per year. At 4%, you get back about $28.80 per year, on your gym alone.

With a card that pays only 1% on that same membership, you would get just $7.20. As a result, the annual gap tops $21 on a single expense. Moreover, the first year the $120 fee is waived, which makes the net gain immediate.

Annual fee
$0 $120
No annual fee the first year
Our valuation
$420
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$300Annual fee rebated$120Total$420Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to $300
+ First Year Annual Fee Rebate
Ends Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now

on Scotiabank's website

The Scotia Momentum® VISA Infinite*+ card is recognized, year after year, as one of the best cash back credit cards in Canada. Milesopedia has even named it best cash back credit card in 2026.

Currently, thanks to this promotional offer, the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite+ Card has no annual fee for the first year, including on additional cards. And you can get 15% cash back on all your purchases for the first three months (up to $2,000 in total purchases).

It also includes a new convenient benefit for travellers: enjoy 10 GB of free GigSky global mobile data for 15 days, as well as access to Travel Essentials to use essential apps like messaging, maps, and email while on the go. Cardholders also continue to receive 1 GB of free GigSky mobile data per year, plus a 20% discount on future GigSky purchases.

With the Scotia Momentum® VISA Infinite+ card, you get:

  • 4% cash back on grocery purchases and recurring payments
  • 2% cash back on gas purchases, public transit, carpooling, and food delivery
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases

For example, if you spend $1,000 per month on grocery purchases and/or recurring payments, you will get $40 cash back per month, or $480 per year, with this card, for this purchase category. And that’s not counting the other purchases you make with this card and the benefits it offers (including its excellent insurance coverage).

Also note that you can use your cash back at any time (the cash back balance must be at least $25).

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 4xGroceries
  • 4xBills & recurring payments
  • 4xTelecom
  • 2xGas & EV
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xStreaming
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,212
2nd Year Value$408

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $1,000,000 / 15 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $1,000,000 / 15 days
Trip InterruptionUp to $2,000
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Clothing and athleisure

Sport clothing weighs heavily on a budget, especially brands like lululemon, Nike, or Adidas. Here, the winning lever is not the card, but the portal you go through before buying. Two options stand out in Canada.

The Aeroplan eStore earns Aeroplan points on your online purchases. The base sits around 1 point per dollar, but promotions often climb from 2x up to 10x depending on the period. Retailers such as lululemon, Columbia, Marks, and Hudson’s Bay appear regularly. Our guide explains how the Aeroplan eStore works in detail.

Rakuten.ca works differently, by paying cash back. For example, SportChek offers about 2%, while lululemon varies by campaign. Rates fluctuate, so always check the current rate before you click. To understand the principle, read our guide on cash back sites.

How do you choose between the two? If you are saving for a trip, the Aeroplan eStore keeps your points in the same account. However, if you prefer real money in your pocket, Rakuten pays cash. Nothing stops you from switching based on the best offer of the moment.

Why this card for your clothing? The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card earns Aeroplan points quickly, and above all it pairs with the Aeroplan eStore. As a result, you stack the card’s points and the portal’s points on the same purchase. Those points then pay for your travel, which boosts their value.

Featured
Annual fee
$0 $139
No annual fee the first year
Our valuation
$1,139
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,000Annual fee rebated$139Total$1,139Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 50,000 points
+ First Year Annual Fee Rebate
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on TD's website

With this offer for the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you can get up to 50,000 Aeroplan points as well as an Annual Fee rebate for the first year.

  • Earn a welcome bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first Purchase with your new Card
  • Earn 15,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $3,000 within 90 days of Account opening.
  • Plus, earn a one-time anniversary bonus of 25,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $12,000 within 12 months of Account opening

This card also allows you to enjoy travel benefits, such as a free first checked bag for you and up to 8 travel companions on the same reservation, as well as a rebate on the NEXUS program application fee (up to $100 CAD per eligible cardholder) every 48 months.

With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you earn 1.5 points per $1 spent on:

  • Grocery purchases
  • Gas and electric vehicle charging purchases
  • Purchases made directly with Air Canada® (including Air Canada Vacations®)

You also earn 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases made with your card.

Annual fee

Primary card$139
Additional card$75

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 1.5xGas & EV
  • 1.5xGroceries
  • 1.5xAir Canada flights
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,714
2nd Year Value$425

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $2,000,000 / 21 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $2,000,000 / 21 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $2,000,000 / 4 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $5,000
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $2,500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Sport equipment

Equipment is often the biggest one-time expense: weights, mats, a stationary bike, or running shoes. Two routes cut the bill in a meaningful way.

Haltères, tapis de yoga, chaussures de course, bouteille et téléphone disposés sur un plancher de bois

First, the specialty retailers through Rakuten. SportChek and Atmosphere regularly offer cash back, while Decathlon sometimes climbs to about 5%. On a $400 equipment purchase at 5%, you get back $20, before your card’s earn rate. Again, the current rate rules, so check before you order.

Next, Amazon is hard to beat for small accessories: dumbbells, resistance bands, mats, or connected devices. To pay, use a high-earning card on online purchases, then settle part of the order with points. Our guide shows how to shop with your points on Amazon to cut the bill even further.

For shopping in store and online, the Neo World Elite Mastercard also deserves a spot. It pays boosted cash back at many partner merchants, with no high income barrier. As a result, it is a flexible option for your clothing and sport equipment.

Exclusive
Annual fee
$0 $149
No annual fee the first year
Our valuation
$249
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$100Annual fee rebated$149Total$249Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
$100
+ First Year Annual Fee Rebate
Ends Oct 12, 2026
Apply Now

on Neo Financial's website

Exclusive offer (until October 12, 2026): $149 annual fee waived for the first year, plus $100 cash back after $1,500 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months.

The Neo World Elite® Mastercard – Shop & Dine offers some of the highest cash back rates in the country for dining and shopping. Earn 5% cash back every time you dine out or order takeout, and 3% on in-store purchases, with 1% everywhere else.

Benefit from comprehensive insurance including extended warranty, purchase protection and travel insurance, as well as a DragonPass membership for airport lounges around the world.

Combined with additional cash back at over 10,000 Neo partners and an instant credit limit of up to $30,000, this is a card designed for those who spend at restaurants and in stores.

Purchases on Amazon and at warehouse stores are not eligible for the shopping rate. Travel insurance is not available to Quebec residents. DragonPass membership is included; fees apply for each lounge visit.

Annual fee

Primary card$149

Annual income required

Individual$80,000
Household$150,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 5xRestaurants
  • 3xOnline purchases
  • 3xOffice
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$622
2nd Year Value$168

Travel insurance

Travel MedicalUp to $1,000,000 / 14 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,000
Trip InterruptionUp to $1,000
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageIncluded
Flight DelayUp to $250
Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionUp to $1,000 / 90 days
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Nutrition and supplements

Getting back in shape also runs through your plate. Healthy food, protein, and supplements add up fast. Three habits keep the bill under control.

First, buy your healthy food at the grocery store with a card that boosts this category. The Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card pays 4% there, just like on your membership. On $200 of healthy groceries per month, or $2,400 per year, you get back about $96. For comparison, check the best grocery cards to confirm your choice.

If you prefer a more accessible card than the Scotia, the CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Card also pays 4% on groceries. Therefore, it is a solid alternative for your healthy food.

Annual fee
$0 $120
No annual fee the first year
Our valuation
$420
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$300Annual fee rebated$120Total$420Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to $300
+ First Year Annual Fee Rebate
Apply Now

on CIBC's website

The CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite* Card is one of Canada’s best Visa cash back credit cards.

With this offer, get up to $400 in value:

  • A 10% cash back welcome bonus of up to $250 (first 4 statements)
  • A $50 cash back when setting up a pre-authorized payment (first 4 months)
  • A first year annual fee rebate (worth $120)

With this CIBC cash back credit card, you earn:

  • 4% cash back on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, and grocery purchases
  • 2% cash back on eligible transportation and dining purchases and on eligible recurring bill payments
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases

For example, if you spend $1,000 per month on groceries and/or gas and/or electric vehicle charging, you’ll earn $40 cash back per month or $480 cash back per year with this card for this category of purchases!

This CIBC cash back credit card offers many insurance coverages:

  • Auto Rental Collision/Loss Damage Insurance
  • $500,000 Common Carrier Accident Insurance
  • Out-of-Province Emergency Travel Medical Insurance
  • Purchase Security and Extended Protection Insurance

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 4xGas & EV
  • 4xGroceries
  • 2xRestaurants
  • 2xBills & recurring payments
  • 2xTransit
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,044
2nd Year Value$391

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 10 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 10 days
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Second, order your supplements on Amazon, where protein and vitamins are often cheaper than in specialty stores. In that case, you benefit from your card’s rate on online purchases. Third, watch for boosted gift cards from your sport or grocery retailers, bought during a promotion. You pay $90 for a $100 gift card, then spend the full value.

The method to stack gains

Here is where the strategy really pays off. On a single purchase, you can collect three separate gains. The portal gives you points or cash back. The card adds its earn rate. The boosted gift card lowers the price you pay. Three layers, one purchase.

Let’s take an end-to-end example. Say you want to buy $200 of clothing at a retailer on Rakuten at 5% that day. First, you buy a $200 gift card at 90% during a promotion, so for $180. Next, you go through Rakuten, which earns you $10 cash back on the $200. Then you pay with a card that earns 1% outside bonus categories, or $2.

Add it all up. You spent $180 for $200 of value, then recovered $10 through Rakuten and $2 through the card. As a result, your net cost drops to $168 for $200 of merchandise, or 16% off the sticker price. This stacking logic works for nearly all your online sport purchases.

The bottom line

Getting fit without breaking the bank does not rest on a miracle card. The discipline comes from the method: a portal before every online purchase, a high-earning card on recurring payments and groceries, and a boosted gift card when the chance appears. Three simple moves, repeated over the year, clearly lighten the bill.

If you had to keep just one card for this project, it would be the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card. Its 4% on recurring payments covers your gym, and its 4% on groceries covers your nutrition. On a $720 gym and $2,400 of healthy groceries per year, it returns close to $125, before the portals. For flexible cash back on the rest, also compare the best cash back cards.

The winning move is a simple routine. Set your recurring payments and groceries on a high-earning card, then go through a portal before every online purchase. Repeated over a year, this habit can add up to more than $100 recovered, with no extra effort.

Annual fee
$0 $120
No annual fee the first year
Our valuation
$420
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$300Annual fee rebated$120Total$420Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to $300
+ First Year Annual Fee Rebate
Ends Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now

on Scotiabank's website

The Scotia Momentum® VISA Infinite*+ card is recognized, year after year, as one of the best cash back credit cards in Canada. Milesopedia has even named it best cash back credit card in 2026.

Currently, thanks to this promotional offer, the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite+ Card has no annual fee for the first year, including on additional cards. And you can get 15% cash back on all your purchases for the first three months (up to $2,000 in total purchases).

It also includes a new convenient benefit for travellers: enjoy 10 GB of free GigSky global mobile data for 15 days, as well as access to Travel Essentials to use essential apps like messaging, maps, and email while on the go. Cardholders also continue to receive 1 GB of free GigSky mobile data per year, plus a 20% discount on future GigSky purchases.

With the Scotia Momentum® VISA Infinite+ card, you get:

  • 4% cash back on grocery purchases and recurring payments
  • 2% cash back on gas purchases, public transit, carpooling, and food delivery
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases

For example, if you spend $1,000 per month on grocery purchases and/or recurring payments, you will get $40 cash back per month, or $480 per year, with this card, for this purchase category. And that’s not counting the other purchases you make with this card and the benefits it offers (including its excellent insurance coverage).

Also note that you can use your cash back at any time (the cash back balance must be at least $25).

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 4xGroceries
  • 4xBills & recurring payments
  • 4xTelecom
  • 2xGas & EV
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xStreaming
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,212
2nd Year Value$408

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $1,000,000 / 15 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $1,000,000 / 15 days
Trip InterruptionUp to $2,000
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Getting fit without breaking the bank – Frequently Asked Questions

Which card should I use to pay for my gym?

Choose a card that boosts recurring pre-authorized payments. The Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card pays 4% there as of July 2026, which makes it a strong option for a monthly membership.

Is there a card with a sport category?

No, no Canadian card offers a boosted « gym » or « sport » category. Instead, the savings come from points and cash back portals, a high-earning card, and boosted gift cards.

Can I earn Aeroplan points on my sport purchases?

Yes, by going through the Aeroplan eStore before buying at a participating retailer such as lululemon or Columbia. The base sits around 1 point per dollar, with promotions from 2x to 10x depending on the period.

Rakuten or the Aeroplan eStore: which should I choose?

Rakuten pays cash back, while the Aeroplan eStore earns points for your travel. Compare the current rate of each, since both fluctuate, then choose the one with the best return at the time of your purchase.

Do supplements earn points?

Yes, depending on where you buy. Bought at the grocery store, they benefit from your grocery card’s boosted rate. Bought on Amazon, they earn your card’s rate on online purchases.

How do I stack several gains on one purchase?

Buy a boosted gift card, go through a points or cash back portal, then pay with a high-earning card. These three layers stack and can cut your net cost by 15% or more off the sticker price.

Are boosted gift cards worth it?

Yes, when they sell below face value, for example $90 for $100 of credit. You save right away, then spend the full value at the targeted sport retailer or grocery store.

Which card should I use to buy my equipment on Amazon?

Use a high-earning card on online purchases, then combine it with the points payment Amazon offers. That way, you stack your card’s cash back and the value of your points on your weights, mats, and accessories.

Our featured card

Featured
Annual fee
$120
Our valuation
$990
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$990Total$990Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 110,000 points
Ends Sep 22, 2026
Apply Now

on American Express's website

Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).

The Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card is the best credit card in Canada for free hotel nights.

New Cardmembers can earn up to 110,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points with the current offer:

  • Earn 80,000 points after you spend $6,000 on your Card in your first 6 months of Cardmembership.
  • Plus, earn 30,000 points by making a purchase during your 15th month of Cardmembership.

This offer ends on September 22, 2026. The annual fee is $120, and there is no annual fee on Additional Cards, so you can add a partner or a family member at no extra cost.

Every year after your first Card anniversary, you receive an Annual Free Night Award good for a redemption of up to 35,000 points at eligible hotels and resorts worldwide. At a valuation of 0.9 cents per Marriott Bonvoy point, that certificate is worth roughly $315, which on its own more than covers the $120 annual fee. That is the main reason to keep this Card year after year instead of cancelling it.

To get the most out of the certificate, aim it at a night that would otherwise price close to the 35,000 point ceiling.

The Card also gives you 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year and automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status. Those credits count toward the next Elite tier, so you begin every year 15 nights ahead of where you would otherwise start.

You move up to Gold Elite status automatically when you reach $30,000 in purchases on the Card in a year, or when you combine 10 qualifying paid nights within one calendar year with the 15 Elite Night Credits from your Card.

Marriott Bonvoy points are generally valued at 0.9 cents each. On that basis, the 110,000 point welcome offer is worth about $990, and an Annual Free Night Award used at its full 35,000 point ceiling is worth about $315.

Marriott Bonvoy points pull their weight on free nights rather than on gift cards or merchandise, which is why this Card should be judged on the hotel stays it produces.

You earn 5 points per dollar on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases. Points can be redeemed for free nights with no blackout dates at more than 7,000 hotels around the world.

The Card carries a solid package of coverages: $500,000 travel accident insurance, flight delay, baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage and hotel or motel burglary at $500 each, car rental theft and damage up to $85,000 for rentals of up to 48 days, Purchase Protection for 90 days and a one year Extended Warranty.

Two things to plan around: the 2.5% foreign transaction fee on purchases made in a foreign currency, and the 21.99% purchase interest rate, which makes this a Card to pay in full every month. Like all American Express Canada Cards, no minimum income is published for this Card, and you can see whether you would be approved before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 5xMarriott Bonvoy hotels
  • 2xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,437
2nd Year Value$312

Travel insurance

Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days

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