Who's More Loyal to Their Credit Card? Men or Women?

When it comes to loyalty, women adore their loyalty programs, while men love their credit cards.

In a new survey by popular loyalty program Air Miles, gender differences are more than just a preferred planet, men and woman focus on different financial concerns when it comes to spending their hard-earned loonies.

According to the survey, 61 per cent of men will have more than one credit card, and 42 per cent of men are more hands on when it comes to managing their credit cards.

Eighty per cent of women are more likely to have more than one loyalty program card and their spending habits are definitely affected by credit card debt - 74 per cent versus 63 per cent of men. And both genders agree - they have too many credit and loyalty cards in their wallets.Patrick Sojka, the creator of Rewards Canada, has seen the credit card and loyalty card market steadily increase, especially in the past five years. Rewards Canada, first established in 2001, helps consumers maximize their credit card and loyalty card programs with its daily updates on new promotions and offers related to airlines, hotel and credit cards.

"The Canadian market has been flooded with loyalty programs and reward credit cards," says Sojka, "but there isn't just one card that works for everyone. You need to figure out what cards works for your financial needs."

Sojka says women more often than men are sending emails to ask questions about loyalty programs, and are very proactive in seeing how they can get the most benefits, whether its for travel or other rewards benefits.

Thirty nine per cent of Canadians currently carry loyalty cards but don't use them and 27 per cent believe they have too many loyalty cards in their wallet.

Sojka recommends every consumer to have one credit card that earns them points with every purchase and two loyalty program cards. He believes focusing on one program will help the consumer reach goals efficiently and quickly.