Beyond the Festivities: How PC Financial® Can Help You Manage Your Finances in the New Year
Key Points
Create new year financial resolutions that are truly achievable
Understand the holiday purchases you made so that future spending works with your goals
Find the right financial products to help with budgeting, debt management, and maximizing your rewards
Leverage digital tools to stay on top of your finances and earn more points effortlessly
Ah, the holidays! Full of joy, cheer, and let’s be honest… probably a little extra spending.
But as we wave goodbye to one year and prepare to welcome the next, it’s the perfect time to think about setting ourselves up for future financial success (or how to turn resolutions into results).
Whether you're looking for a fresh start after holiday spending, to boost your savings, or just feel more in control of your money as the seasons change, here are some simple and effective tips to help you kick off your 2026 money goals with confidence and clarity.
Three keys to setting goals: Empowering. Exciting. Achievable!
Research shows nearly half of all Canadians will make New Year’s resolutions. (opens in a new window) These goals tend to centre around health, relationships, self-development and have one thing in common: they are supported by a strong financial foundation. Developing healthy habits with your money can help to alleviate stress in your relationships, improve the means you have to take care of yourself, and even free up time to develop your abilities and interests.
Why do these goals need to be empowering, exciting and achievable? Using these markers can help you stay on track and give you emotional support to propel you toward success.
So, let’s look at some simple but effective ways you can build a financial wellness checklist for the new year.
Understanding your holiday spending
Take a moment to reflect on your purchases. Did they bring joy and create meaningful moments? Maybe you spent more on a membership to their favourite museum than you would have on a gift card – but wasn’t their reaction so worth it?
Consider how future budgets can prioritize these experiences by realigning other spending. If you find yourself making quick decisions, try giving yourself more time for planning and intentional shopping next time. Understanding where your money went and how you can maximize every purchase will help you make future choices with clarity.
Shop strategically: Navigating post-holiday sales wisely
Whether it’s an epic boxing week sale or the seasonal transition where you start to see major markdowns, strategic post-holiday shopping can go a long way.
One thing to consider is which purchases need to be made before the sales, and which can wait. It’s also important to approach sales shopping critically. While a great deal is tempting, asking yourself if it’s a need or a want helps ensure every purchase aligns with your goals. And when you do spend, make those dollars pull double duty. A PC Financial® credit card lets you collect PC OptimumTM points on every purchase, turning today’s thoughtful buys into tomorrow’s little wins – whether that’s on groceries, everyday must-haves, or even trimming down the cost of the holidays.
Beginner budgeting tips: Taking control of your finances
Budgeting after the holidays may take some focus and strategic thinking, but the good news is, you don't have to tackle it alone!
With PC Financial® as your trusted partner, you can get the most value out of your money. From helping you manage your finances with digital tools, to earning interest on every dollar you save and PC OptimumTM points on every dollar you spend, we’re here, every step of the way.
Smart budgeting, smart saving, smart earning
Making smart money moves doesn’t mean having to do more. Sometimes, it’s about making what you already do work harder for you. And with PC Financial® that part is easy.
That’s where the no monthly fee PC Money™ Account (opens in a new window) comes in. It turns everyday things – like getting paid, buying groceries or saving for your next vacation – into everyday wins.
You can earn PC Optimum™ points for your everyday banking, including up to 10K points per month for payroll or pension direct deposits2 and paying bills1, plus up to 10 points per dollar when you shop3.
And your savings start to pick up the pace with our best everyday rate of 2.2%* when you use the savings feature – plus a bonus 0.7%* when you set up payroll or pension direct deposit. Think of it as your paycheque getting a quiet little upgrade each time it arrives.
Digital tools: Your not-so-secret advantage
In the fast-paced world we’re living in, the convenience of online banking is hard to pass up. In fact, over 75% of Canadians rely on it or mobile banking as their primary method (opens in a new window).
With the PC Financial® app, you get more than just the benefit of banking anywhere. It’s your pocket-sized financial dashboard, offering real-time transaction, spending categorization, quick access to account balances and more, to help you stay on top of your post-holiday spending.
Who knew being brilliant with your budget could be so simple?
Setting up for success: Financial habits for the year ahead
A fresh start after the holidays
The new year is a great moment to take a breath, look at where things landed, and give yourself credit for making it through the season. What’s done is done, and now, you get to decide what comes next.
A simple, judgement-free look at what you spent can help you understand your starting point. From there, choosing to focus on those higher-interest debts first can be a small step that makes a big difference over time.
But just as important as the numbers is your mindset. Staying intentional with everyday spending (groceries, gas, the essentials you’re already buying) keeps new balances from piling up. And when you redeem PC Optimum™ points for those same essentials, or even something fun – like new electronics, a little sweet treat or gas for a weekend trip – you give your budget breathing room, and you give yourself something to feel good about.
Make the most of your money with accelerated points earning on every purchase
What’s better than earning PC OptimumTM points ongroceries, health and beauty essentials and gas? Earning them on every purchase!
With the no annual fee PC® Mastercard® (opens in a new window) you can rack up to $750 every year††, earning up to 3% back in PC Optimum™ points at Loblaw banner stores and at least 1% everywhere else on every swipe. From grocery hauls to gas fill-ups, make your everyday spending work harder for you.
One more thing, you can even use points to lower your grocery bill or pay down your PC® Mastercard® balance6. That means you can get a little more creative with how you treat yourself!
So, even if you’re feeling like you got a little too festive with your finances this year, getting back in tip-top shape is more achievable than you might think.
With the simple strategies we’ve just looked at, you can confidently manage your money, maximize your PC Optimum™ points earnings on every dollar, and build that strong financial foundation for the year ahead.
Here’s to leaving any post-holiday spending worries behind and stepping into a new year filled with financial confidence!
†Value shown is for illustrative purposes only. Individual results may vary based on individual savings, deposits and purchase behaviour. This calculation includes regular engagement with the PC Optimum™ program, offers and promotions, with points earned converted at a redemption rate of 10,000 points = $10 worth in rewards.
††Total value estimate is based on PC Optimum points™ earned on purchases with a PC Financial® World Elite® Mastercard® at stores that participate in the PC Optimum™ program. For illustrative purposes only; results may vary based on individual spending behaviour.
Total and category spending estimates are for illustrative purposes only; results vary based on individual spending.
*Interest is calculated daily at the current rate on the total closing savings balance in the PC Money™ Account and paid monthly to the savings balance. It is a simple interest calculation. Interest rates are annual and subject to change without notice. Visit pcfinancial.ca for current rates and more information.
1Earn a bonus of 1,000 PC Optimum™ points for each of up to five bill payments of $50 or more to unique payees, per calendar month, made using a valid PC Money™ Account. Bonus points will be awarded to your PC Optimum™ account within 2-3 weeks of a successful bill payment.
2Earn a monthly bonus of up to 5,000 PC Optimum™ points when you deposit funds to your PC Money™ Account using automatic payroll or pension direct deposits. Payroll or pension deposits totaling between $1,500 and $2,999 within a calendar month will earn a bonus of 2,000 PC Optimum™ points, and deposits totaling greater than $2,999 will earn an additional bonus of 3,000 PC Optimum™ points, for a maximum monthly bonus of 5,000 PC Optimum™ points. Limited to one bonus per customer, per month, even if you have multiple PC Money™ Accounts. The classification of a direct deposit as a payroll or pension direct deposit is determined solely by President’s Choice Bank. Interac e-Transfer® services, electronic funds transfers, and other forms of deposits or transfers to your account do not count towards this bonus. Bonus points will be awarded to your PC Optimum™ account within 2-7 business days of when you meet the minimum direct deposit amount(s).
3Earn at least 5 PC Optimum™ points per dollar on qualifying purchases with your PC Money™ Account, wherever your card is accepted. Earn 10 PC Optimum™ points (5 regular PC Optimum™ points plus a bonus of 5 PC Optimum™ points) per dollar on qualifying purchases at participating Loblaw banner stores, Shoppers Drug Mart® stores, Joe Fresh® stores, and Esso™ and Mobil™ stations in Canada. Bill payments, electronic funds transfers, account fees and interest are not qualifying purchases for the purpose of earning PC Optimum™ points. PC Optimum™ points will be deducted for any credits or returns. President's Choice Bank reserves the right to cancel, change or extend regular and bonus points earning rates at any time. Account must be in good standing at time of qualifying transaction and awarding of points.
4Information about fees for special requests and services for the PC Money™ Account is available here.
5Everyday transactions include an unlimited number of completed electronic fund transfers, withdrawals at PC Financial® bank machines, self serve bill payments, and purchases in Canadian dollars. For information about daily and transactional dollar value limits on everyday transactions, and fees for other available transactions/services, please see here.
6Statement credit redemptions are available to primary cardholders of an eligible PC® Mastercard® account ("Account") and holders of an eligible PC Optimum™ account, both of which must be open and in good standing at the time of redemption. With this offer, you may redeem PC Optimum™ points using your PC Financial® online account for a statement credit applied against the current balance on your Account. Statement credits are not applied against a specific purchase or other transaction. PC Optimum™ points may be redeemed solely in the increments set out in your PC Financial® on line account and for redemption value up to the current balance of your Account, or an amount equal to 500,000 PC Optimum™ points, whichever is lower. The applicable redemption rate will be specified in your PC Financial® online account at the time of redemption. You acknowledge and understand that the PC Optimum™ points redemption rate applicable to this offer may vary from the redemption rate available for other redemption types or offers. For other redemption rates, please refer to your PC Optimum™ Program Terms & Conditions at the URL noted below, or the terms of the specific redemption offer. Once a redemption has been authorized pursuant to this offer, it cannot be changed, cancelled or reversed. Redemption credits from this offer will lower your Account balance, but a redemption is not considered to be a payment on your Account, and you will remain responsible for making a payment of the minimum payment amount specified on your statement by the due date indicated, even if your redemption has reduced your Account balance below your minimum payment amount (including reducing your Account balance to $0.00). Credits may take up to 3 business days to post to the Account. This offer is nontransferable, may not be combined with any other offer, and is subject to change or cancellation without notice to you. This offer and all redemptions pursuant to it are subject to the PC Optimum™ Program Terms & Conditions available online at www.pcoptimum.ca/company-policy/terms-and-conditions.
