Being a student is tough. Term papers, final exams, finding that special someone…and the affordability crisis!
When you’re at a point where student loans force you to choose between living your best life and a diet of Shin Ramyun, every dollar saved counts. Fortunately, one way you can help stem the spending pain is by getting access to over 450 student discounts with an SPC Card (or Student Price Card).
You may have seen SPC Card membership signup tables at your local university or college, but never thought to go over and talk to them (social interaction is so overrated). But if you were curious about SPC Cards, this article will walk you through how to get them, the discounts you can get with them, and a few credit cards that can save you even more money in your student years.
We’ll start with the basics about how to take advantage of SPC discounts and student pricing.
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What is an SPC card?
Haven’t heard of the Student Price Card (SPC card)? No problem. The SPC card is a loyalty card created specifically to help students save money. It offers special student pricing and discounts for:
- food,
- shopping,
- activities,
- travel, and
- even services like car repairs, banking plans, cell phone plans, and orthodontic visits.
Now, not all of the offers are available in all locations, some are specific to independent businesses in certain cities across Canada. Keep in mind, as well, that even the ones that are nationwide chains sometimes have restrictions ‒ so keep an eye out for that.
Where to buy SPC cards
There are multiple places you can get your SPC card. You can download their app, find one of their booths at your school, or get a CIBC bank account.
Another option you have is to go to one of their partner retailers and purchase a card in store.
SPC app for Android or iPhone
There used to be a time when SPC Cards were physical cards that you could carry around, but those days are over.
Now, it’s as simple as having the SPC app on your phone. Here’s how easy it is to get an SPC Card using their app:
- Navigate to the SPC website.
- Create an account.
- Buy a membership (it currently costs $11.99).
- Install the app on your iPhone or Android device.
Now with the SPC app, you’re all set to start saving as a student!
How to get a free SPC card
If you were balking at the $11.99 price tag, we feel you. Though you’ll easily be able to take advantage of enough discounts to outweigh the fee, we know a lot of you were wondering if there was a way to get a free SPC card. And happily for you, there is.
SPC in Canada is partnered with CIBC, offering users of its banking services SPC+ access.
All you need to do is be a student or youth client of theirs. A nice bonus of this (aside from being free) is that there is a nice little “plus” sign tacked onto the end.
What is SPC+?
SPC+ is the same as the regular SPC membership, but with the “plus” designation, you’ll also earn bigger discounts than regular members, as well as access to exclusive contests that SPC runs throughout the year.
Here’s a table outlining the difference between SPC+ and the regular SPC program:
| SPC | SPC+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of membership per year | $11.99 | Free |
| Highest discount percentage | 25% | 30% |
| Average savings per year | $250 | $340 |
| Access to contests/giveaways | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Discounts to over 450 brands | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Exclusive cash prizes, gift packs, and experiences | ❌ | ✔️ |
With CIBC, you’ll get some other benefits, too, like access to Journie Rewards, which can save you money on gas.
SPC card stores
SPC Canada is partnered with over 450 retailers, where you can show your SPC app and receive a student discount of up to 25% (up to 30% with SPC+). Here’s a preview of stores you can shop, show your SPC app and get a discount (check out this page for the full list):
Just as a note, the discounts shown here are for SPC members only. SPC+ members may have better discounts.
SPC deals on clothing
First, here’s a sampling of clothing retailers with discounts.
| SPC Card Stores | Deal & Discount |
|---|---|
| Adidas | 15% off regular and sale prices; adiClub members get 25% off |
| American Eagle | 10% off regular and sale prices |
| Ardene | 10% off regular and sale prices |
| Banana Republic Factory | Save 15% on full-priced items and an extra 5% on already reduced items |
| Bikini Village | 10% off regular price |
| Foot Locker (online only) | Get 15% off $99 or 20% off $200+ |
| Levi’s | 15% off regular and sale price |
| Little Burgundy | $10 off any purchase of $75 or more (regular and sale priced merchandise) |
| Old Navy | Free shipping on orders of $50+ |
| Suzy Shier | $10 off orders of $100+ |
SPC discounts on electronics
If you’re a student, you’ll need some electronics. A computer is going to be an absolute must.
So here are some electronic retailers with discounts.
| SPC Card Stores | Deal & Discount |
|---|---|
| Acer | 10% off |
| Apple | Save on a new Mac or iPad with Apple education pricing |
| Canon | 10% off your entire order |
| Dell | 10% off laptops and 15% off selected items |
| HP | Up to 20% off |
| Lenovo | Up to 35% off |
| Microsoft | Save up to 10% off online orders |
| Samsung | 10% off select products |
SPC student discounts for restaurants
Shopping is fun, but food is non-negotiable. So, back to caf food…
With an SPC card, it’s much easier for students to enjoy non-cafeteria food by providing discounts at restaurants and cafes across the country. A budget-friendly, guilt-free way to eat out. Just look at these food deals offered for SPC card-holding students:
| SPC Card Dining | Deal & Discount |
|---|---|
| Blenz Coffee | Free upsize on any drink |
| Burger King | 10% off any combo meal |
| Church’s Chicken | 20% off regular price individual menu items. Family orders not included (BC only) |
| Dairy Queen Orange Julius | 10% off an Orange Julius beverage |
| Extreme Pita | 10% off your purchase |
| Goodfood | $35 off your first 2 grocery deliveries |
| Jugo Juice | Free Regular Xtra Benefit with the purchase of any smoothie |
| KFC | 10% off any KFC Big Box Meal |
| Kernels | Free upsize: large Kernels popcorn for the price of a medium |
| Manchu Wok | 10% off regular priced menu items |
| Marble Slab | 10% off purchase |
| Mucho Burrito | Free chips and salsa with the purchase of any entrée |
| Nando’s PERi PERi Chicken | 10% off regular price (excludes share platters) |
| Papa John’s | 25% off regular menu priced pizza |
| Pita Pit | 10% off a purchase of $10 or more |
| Pizza Hut | 10% off regular price |
| Pizza Pizza | $3.99 cheese/pepperoni slice + dip |
| Taco Bell | Free upgrade to Fries Supreme with purchase of any combo over $6.69 |
| Thai Express | 10% off any combo meal |
| Yeh! | 10% off regular priced menu items |
Even at home
And if you’re the type of student who enjoys eating at home? Sweet.
Because if you have access to your own kitchen, you can save money on groceries simply by checking the weekly flyers and creating meal plans. (Here’s an open secret: eating at home is always cheaper than eating out).
Then there’s also the Hello Fresh up to 40% off discount to SPC Canada cardholders. They deliver pre-cut and ready-to-cook ingredients along with recipes at your doorstep. So you can skip meal-planning and grocery shopping, and still enjoy a home-cooked meal.
Are you a Canadian student in your 2nd year of post-secondary education or higher? Click here to learn more about our $2,000 scholarship.
SPC student travel discounts
When I had my frequently-used SPC card, I used it mostly to save when shopping for clothes or shoes ‒ but it came in handy a few times when I was traveling too. Very handy, actually.
Currently, SPC discounts are available at these hotel chains and booking sites:
| SPC Card for Travel | Deal & Discount |
|---|---|
| Booking.com | Up to 50% off online only |
| Choice Hotels | Up to 15% off |
| Days Inn | Up to 15% off |
| Travelocity | Up to 40% off on featured hotels |
| VRBO | Canada vacation rentals under $150 a night |
Combine these offers with the restaurant deals listed above, and your vacation (or trip home to get your mom to do your laundry) suddenly becomes nice and cheap!
Student credit cards to save even more
To save yourself some cash, the right student credit card can help. You can earn rewards on your purchases, then use those rewards to save money.
For even more savings, some prepaid cards offer rewards just for using them. There’s a great option available right now.
Here’s a credit and prepaid option to consider.
BMO CashBack Mastercard for students
If you want to get the most out of your post-secondary life, you’re going to need a darn good credit card. And the best one for students by a wide margin is the BMO CashBack Mastercard for students.
It’s simple because it’s a cash back card, but that doesn’t mean it’s not rewarding. You’ll earn 5% cash back for the first 3 months, up to $2,500 in spend as a welcome bonus in total, that’s an easy $125 that can go straight into your pocket for responsible student spending, am I right?
Now, after that expires, you’ll still get good earn rates – up to 3% cash back on your purchases. Here’s the full breakdown:
- 3% cash back on groceries (up to $500 per month)
- 1% cash back on recurring bill payments (up to $500 per month)
- 0.5% cash back on all other purchases
In terms of getting the essentially “free” money from your cash back card, you can get it in 1 of 3 ways:
- statement credit,
- deposit into a BMO bank account, or
- deposit into a BMO Investorline account.
You’ll also get some purchase protection insurance and extended warranty with this card, all for no annual fee.
As the cherry on top, you'll also get $20 in GeniusCash if you're approved for this card (and of course, as a student card, it's a lot easier getting approved for this than some super deluxe premium card). More free money – no complaints here!
$20 GeniusCash + 5% cash back for the first 3 months + No annual fee.*
Would you get an SPC Card?
For $10 for the year, it’s hard to ignore the potential volume of deals, student discounts, and savings students can take advantage of. If you’re a student, an SPC card is a clear win.
FAQ
Who is eligible for an SPC card?
SPC cards are only available to students over the age of 12. If you’re younger than this, you can’t get an SPC membership. Also be aware that you may also be required to show a valid student ID when redeeming any SPC offers, but you can just store your ID in the SPC app for simplicity.
How do I get an SPC card?
You can register for SPC membership online using the SPC card website. From there, just download the app on your phone and you’ll unlock access to all their offers, discounts, and benefits.
How much is an SPC card?
An SPC card is $10 per year, and you can set it up to automatically renew to keep everything nice and simple. And of course, you can cancel your membership at any time. You can also get a free SPC card through CIBC. Note that BMO no longer has an SPC student credit card.
What is SPC CIBC?
SPC has partnered with CIBC to offer a free SPC card membership to eligible clients. To qualify, you’ll still need a valid student ID, and you have to be a student or youth banking client at CIBC.
What kinds of retailers have discounts through SPC?
There are over 450 retailers with discounts through the SPC program. There are options ranging from clothing, electronics, restaurants, and even travel.
Are there still physical SPC cards available?
No, the program does not use physical SPC cards anymore. You can access everything you need through the SPC app.
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