Hi MoneyNerds,

This week we brace for the World Cup and share insider tips for enjoying the Toronto games on a budget (if that’s your thing).

We also chart the high costs of pet care, and explore a credit card that puts you in control of your own rewards.

Don’t forget to scroll all the way down to see what we’re reading this week!

Let’s dive in.

by Clay Jarvis

Tomorrow, a men's World Cup match will take place on Canadian soil for the very first time.

I’ve lived in Toronto for over a decade, and whenever the city kicks into overdrive, so does the cost of enjoying it. But it’s always good to remember that you can control how financially hungover you feel when the dust settles.

Don’t get me wrong: Experiences are worth spending on. Debt that outlives the experience usually isn't.

A few smart decisions now can keep your World Cup memories from turning into long-term regret.

Here are a few I think will really help:

Most people in the Greater Toronto Area can’t say enough bad things about our public transit system. It’s one of the few things we all agree on.

But Toronto’s trains, buses and streetcars can reduce how much of your cash is spent on just moving around the city.

Look at a Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) or Go Transit map to find restaurants, bars, hotels, or Airbnbs that are within walking distance of train or streetcar stations.

By taking transit on game day, you can avoid both surge-priced rideshares and the soul-sucking gridlock you’ll get stuck in on the way to BMO Field. The TTC can be unpredictable, but the traffic is reliably awful.

BMO Field isn’t the only place to experience World Cup madness in Toronto — public watch parties are taking place across the city. It’s a way to enjoy the energy of other screaming fans without shelling out for a full price stadium ticket.

Some of the bigger watch parties include:

Or, you could just head to the movie theatre.

Several Cineplex locations around the Greater Toronto Area will be showing TSN’s coverage of more than a dozen matches, at around $12 a ticket.

And yes, Cineplexes in Toronto serve booze.

Toronto’s food scene is known more for quality than affordability. If you’ll be in town for more than a few days, consider heading to some less expensive, though still accessible, parts of town for meals.

I’m talking about places like Little Jamaica, Little India, Danforth Avenue and the Chinatowns (yes, we have more than one).

You’ll soak up some culture, treat your tastebuds and give your wallet a well-earned rest as you enjoy the reasonable menu prices.

Want my personal restaurant recommendations? Keep reading here.

American Express cardmembers can now tap to pay on eligible transit systems across more of Canada, including:

🤓 Nerdy tip: The "same card both ways" tip is important in Toronto, where a single-fare can cover round-trips of less than two hours. Tap an Amex when you leave and a Visa on the way back and you’ll pay twice no matter how short your journey is.

Tangerine and Bike Share Toronto are launching a limited-time City Weekly Pass from June 1 to July 19 — just in time for the World Cup.

The pass costs $40 and includes seven days of unlimited 90-minute rides on classic bikes. The Bike Share Toronto system has more than 10,000 bikes and 1,000 stations across the city.

🤓 Nerdy tip: This perk is most valuable for people living or staying in bike-friendly parts of the city, and who are accustomed to riding in heavy summer traffic.

Elevated living costs are forcing many Canadians to make hard decisions about what to spend money on.

But despite the financial pressure, pet supplies aren’t on the chopping block. Yet.

Fifty-seven percent of Canadian pet parents say pet food, supplies, and healthcare are the last budget items they would consider cutting back on, according to a new survey from Rover, an online marketplace for pet care.

Survey participants said they’d rather live without:

Overall, these survey results make a lot of sense. The human-animal bond is one of life’s undeniable joys — most pets are way cooler than people — and we’ll go to great lengths to protect our fur kids, especially when times are tough.

But love doesn’t make the price tag any lower. If you’re feeling the squeeze, we have some tips that can help.

» LEARN MORE: How to cope with the high cost of pet care

Most rewards cards tell you what's worth rewarding.
This one lets you decide.

The Tangerine® Rewards World Elite®* Mastercard®* lets you choose up to three spending categories that earn 1.5x Scene+ points per dollar — and you can change those categories every 90 days.

So if your spending shifts from home improvement projects in the summer to recurring bills and entertainment in the winter, your rewards can shift too.

It's a simple idea, but a powerful one: earn more points on the purchases you actually make.

We took a look at how the card works, who it might be a good fit for, and how everyday spending can translate into meaningful rewards over time.

Read the full story to see whether this flexible rewards card matches your spending style.