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The best instant approval credit cards in Canada – MoneySense

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The approval process for a new credit card can be a daunting one, especially if you have to wait several days for confirmation before your personal card is printed and mailed to your home. Luckily, many credit cards now have instant approval, making the application process much quicker and less stressful. After filling out an application with details on your personal background, the card provider’s website runs its checks and lets you know if your application has been approved or rejected within minutes. 

If you’re approved with the information provided, your application is expedited for credit checks, card printing and mailing, and you can expect to receive a welcome package containing your card in five to seven business days. 

As a safeguard against fraud, at times an application may go under manual review, in which case the file gets forwarded for verification, sometimes taking an additional two to three business days before a final decision is made. 

As banking processes become increasingly digital, more credit card applications are moving online, and more issuers are offering instant approval cards. 

READ: The best instant approval credit cards in Canada

Best credit cards for airport lounge access 2019: MoneySense

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As a frequent traveller, lounge access can help ease a long plane journey, especially if I’m stuck with multiple connections. Last summer, I was travelling to Toronto from Hong Kong, and after a 10-hour flight to Vancouver, it was nice to have access to food and drink, a quiet place to rest, entertainment options, a business centre and—my favourite part—a shower, before continuing my journey. 

Generally speaking, you can purchase one-time access to a lounge for a bit less than half the price of a yearly unlimited access subscription through a provider such as Priority Pass. A variety of Canadian credit cards also offer appealing lounge privileges included with the annual fee, but there are differences around how access is granted and which spaces you can enter. Some cards offer unlimited access to select airport lounges, while others offer limited visits per year, so the estimated number of passes you’ll need each year may dictate which card you choose.

In Canada, the three ways you’ll typically access airport lounges through your credit card are Priority Pass, American Express Centurion and traditional airline-specific lounges, such as Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounge and the Mastercard Experience Lounges. Browse the picks below to learn about some of your top options as you consider the annual fee alongside the value of lounge benefits.

READ: Best credit cards for airport lounge access 2019

Guardian for your wrist: ECG, irregular heartbeat notification added to Apple Watch in Canada

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Customers can take an ECG reading with Apple Watch Series 4 at any time. (Apple)

As health statistics and wellness becomes a larger priority for Apple and their suite of tech offerings, the company is launching the ECG, or electrocardiogram, and irregular heartbeat notifications in Canada.

New electrodes in Apple Watch Series 4 now enable customers to take an ECG directly from the wrist. (Apple)

The features, which have been available in the U.S. last year and in the E.U. in March, comes to Canada and Singapore on Apple Watch Series 4 via a software update.

The ECG function, on Apple Watch with a Medical Device License from Health Canada, will capture an electrocardiogram when a user prompts a record upon feeling symptoms (i.e. rapid or skipped heart beat). This allows users to capture information in the moment for review by a physician. It’s important to note that the device does not check for heart attacks.

All recordings, their associated classifications and any noted symptoms are stored securely in the Health app on iPhone. (Apple)

“We’ve seen the ECG App and irregular rhythm notifications on Apple Watch have meaningful impact on our customers across the United States, Europe and Hong Kong,” Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer, said in a news release. “We are excited to bring these features to customers in Canada, giving them access to empowering information about their heart health.”

Apple Watch Series 1 or later with watchOS 5.3 sends a notification if an irregular heart rhythm such as AFib is identified. (Apple)

Additionally, the irregular rhythm notification is being rolled out to all Apple Watch users (Series 1 and later), leveraging the optical heart sensor to notify users if it detects a rhythm that can appear as an atrial fibrillation (or AFib).

Canada’s Heart and Stroke Foundation estimates AFib affects over 350,000 Canadians, adding that it causes one-third of all strokes over the age of 60.

As these devices become more common in the Canadian market, the tech giant is hoping it can equip users with tools to help healthcare professionals detect and diagnose health issues, marking a significant next chapter in Apple’s venture in health data—stored on device and private to the user.

Introducing Master Travellr

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Those of you who follow me, know I love to travel. This has been a passion project a while in the making, but I’m excited to launch the first part of my next chapter: Master Travellr.

Master Travellr is a travel and tourism website, aimed to help Canadians get abroad, off the beaten path, and experience the beauty of our country and beyond. A one-stop-shop for travel guides, tips, reviews, deals, and maximizing your loyalty points, MasterTravellr.com looks to be Canada’s destination for travel novices and aficionados. 

With my passion to explore the world, this next step is one I’ve been waiting to do right.

Thanks again for the support, and I hope you’ll join along for the journey! This is just the beginning… There’s more to come. 🙂

Check out the website: MasterTravellr.com
Follow along: @MasterTravellr on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.