rotating category

Discover and Chase 5% Rotating Categories for 2024

News /

If you have the Discover It Cash Back and/or Chase Freedom Flex (or older Chase Freedom) then don’t forget to activate your quarterly categories in March, June, September, and December, before the next quarter begins. For Q1 categories (January 2024) you can activate both Chase and Discover cards as of today (December 15, 2023) or shortly afterwards.

Discover reveals their categories on the 1st of those months, whereas Chase allows activation on the 15th. So for example, if you want to activate Q4 categories for both cards at once, you’d have to wait until September 15th at the earliest.

Discover 2024:

  • Q1 Jan-March: Restaurants & Drug Stores
  • Q2 April-June: Gas, EV Charging, Home Improvement, Public Transit
  • Q3 July-Sept: TBD (probably groceries)
  • Q4 Oct-Dec: TBD (probably Amazon and retail/Target)

Chase 2024:

  • Q1 Jan-March: Grocery Stores, Gym & Fitness, Spa Services & Self-Care
  • Q2 April-June: Restaurants, Hotels, Amazon.com
  • Q3 July-Sept: TBD (probably gas and entertainment)
  • Q4 Oct-Dec: TBD (probably Paypal and retail/Walmart)

Chase’s Q1 2024 is broadly useful. Everyone uses grocery stores and most people should have a gym membership. Many people also buy gift cards at grocery stores to increase their effective cash back rates for non-grocery purchases. Discover’s Q1 is not quite as useful, especially when the Chase Freedom Flex already gets 3x points at restaurants and drug stores.

…

Discover and Chase 5% Rotating Categories for 2024Read More »

Discover and Chase 5% Rotating Categories for 2023

News /

If you have the Discover It Cash Back or Chase Freedom Flex (or Chase Freedom) then don’t forget to activate your quarterly categories in March, June, September, and December, before the next quarter begins.

Discover makes their categories available on the 1st of those months, whereas Chase allows activation on the 15th. So for example, if you want to activate Q4 categories for both cards at once, you’d have to wait until September 15th at the earliest.

Discover 2023:

  • Q1 Jan-March: Grocery Stores, Drug Stores, Select Streaming
  • Q2 April-June: Restaurants and Wholesale Clubs (including gift cards for Costco/Sam’s/etc.)
  • Q3 July-Sept: Gas Stations and Digital Wallets
  • Q4 Oct-Dec: Amazon and Target

Chase 2023:

  • Q1 Jan-March: Grocery Stores, Target, Gym & Fitness
  • Q2 April-June: Amazon and Lowe’s
  • Q3 July-Sept: Gas Stations, Electric Vehicle Charging, and “Select Live Entertainment”
  • Q4 Oct-Dec: Paypal, Wholesale Clubs, and “Select Charities”

Chase defines “Live Entertainment” as including: amusement/theme parks, professional sporting events, ticketing agencies, aquariums, museums, theatrical productions, zoos, and more.

…

Discover and Chase 5% Rotating Categories for 2023Read More »

Review: Affinity Federal Credit Union Cash Rewards

⭐⭐⭐⭐, Credit Card Reviews /

The Affinity Federal Credit Union Cash Rewards is a high-earning Visa Signature credit card. It gets 5% cash back at bookstores, and on non-digital Amazon purchases. The card also has rotating categories where you can earn up to 7% cash back for 3 months at a time. If you’re considering something like the Barnes & Noble credit card, or an Amazon-specific card, Affinity FCU could be the superior choice.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • No annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fee
  • 5% cash back on rotating categories
  • 5% cash back with Amazon and bookstores
  • 2% cash back on groceries, dining, gas, rideshare, and streaming
  • 1% cash back on everything else

2022 categories:

  • Q1: Gas, Cellular/Wireless, Cable/Satellite
  • Q2: Gas, Gardening, Supermarkets
  • Q3: Gas, Wholesale Clubs, Fast Food
  • Q4: Unknown

Note: for 2023, Affinity may have discontinued rotating categories. TBD.

…

Review: Affinity Federal Credit Union Cash RewardsRead More »

Review: Abound Credit Union Visa Platinum

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, Credit Card Reviews /

The Abound Credit Union Visa Platinum is a rotating-category credit card which also earns 5% cash back on gas purchases. Abound Credit Union, formerly Fort Knox Federal Credit Union, is a Kentucky-based banking cooperative which allows for out-of-state applications. In general, this uncommon choice of a card is the absolute best option for paying at the pump. It’s worth a look for anyone who has a car.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • No annual fee
  • 1% foreign transaction fee
  • 5% cash back on gas
  • 5% cash back on rotating categories ($2,000-2,500 quarterly spending limit)
  • 1% cash back on everything else

Rotating categories for 2022:

  • Q1 – Health and Fitness
  • Q2 – Travel
  • Q3 – Streaming, Phone, Cable & Internet Services
  • Q4 – Amazon.com

…

Review: Abound Credit Union Visa PlatinumRead More »

Review: Langley FCU Signature Cash Back Visa

⭐⭐⭐, Credit Card Reviews /

The Langley FCU Signature Cash Back Visa credit card is an obscure Visa Signature with rotating categories. You can choose one option to earn 5% cash back for one month. This is a little more complicated than most other cards, but has the potential to earn high cash back rates. Langley FCU is a Virginia-based credit union which should be open to everyone.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • No annual fee
  • 1% foreign transaction fee
  • 5% cash back on a rotating category of your choice (changes monthly; $2,000 spending limit)
  • 3% cash back on gas (if not chosen as the 5% category)
  • 2% cash back on groceries and wholesale clubs (if not chosen as the 5% category)
  • 1% cash back on everything else

Select categories for 2024:

  • January: Groceries, Select Airlines, Drugstores
  • February: Dining, Gas and EV Charging, Department Stores
  • March: Groceries, Drugstores, Home Improvement
  • April: Dining, Gas and EV Charging, Home Depot and Lowe’s
  • May: Target, Gas and EV Charging, Streaming Services

Select categories for 2023:

  • March: Groceries, Drugstores, or Home Improvement
  • April: Wholesale Clubs, Dining, or Gas
  • May: Wholesale Clubs, Dining, or Home Improvement
  • June: Gas, Grocery, or Wholesale Clubs
  • July: Gas, EV, Rideshare, Dining, or Amusement Parks & Aquariums
  • August: Streaming Services, Internet & Cable, School Supplies, or Gas
  • September: Streaming Services, Internet & Cable, Grocery, or Department Stores
  • October: Streaming Services, Internet & Cable, Home Improvement, or Gas
  • November: Streaming Services, Internet & Cable, Groceries & Wholesale Clubs, or Electronic Stores
  • December: Streaming Services, Internet & Cable, Groceries & Wholesale Clubs, or Department Stores

…

Review: Langley FCU Signature Cash Back VisaRead More »

Review: Elan Max Cash Preferred

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, Credit Card Reviews /

The Max Cash Preferred Visa Signature is a “choose your own category” card which offers up to 5% cash back on purchases. You can choose two categories (out of 9 options) to get the 5% earn rate. It’s a slight variation on the U.S. Bank Cash+ card and may be easier to apply for. Max Cash Preferred is available at dozens of credit unions, including Spectra and Valley Bank. Card details are the same regardless of which bank you work with.

Also see: the U.S. Bank Altitude Go and the Elan Everyday Rewards+ Visa Signature.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • No annual fee
  • 2% foreign transaction fee (when paying in U.S. dollars overseas) or 3% foreign transaction fee (when paying via foreign currency)
  • 5% cash back on two categories of your choice (up to $2,000 in combined quarterly spending)
  • 2% cash back on an “everyday” category of your choice
  • 1% cash back on everything else

5% categories:

  1. Recreation – gyms and sporting goods stores (24 Hour Fitness, Equinox, Planet Fitness, Bass Pro Shops, Dick’s, REI, etc.)
  2. Fast Food (Burger King, Chipotle, Subway, etc.)
  3. TV, internet and streaming services (Charter, DISH, Netflix, Spotify, etc.)
  4. Cell phone providers (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, etc.)
  5. Home utilities (Duke Energy, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Waste Management Co., etc.)
  6. Entertainment – select tickets plus theme parks and movie theaters (Ticketmaster, StubHub, Universal Studios, Six Flags, AMC, Fandango, Regal, etc.)
  7. Furniture Stores (Ashley, Ethan Allen, Ikea, etc.)
  8. Department Stores (Bon-Ton, Kohl’s, Macy’s, etc.)
  9. Electronics Stores (Apple Store, Best Buy, Newegg, etc.)

2% categories:

  • Restaurants and Fast Food (IHOP, Outback, Red Lobster, etc.)
  • Gas Stations and Ground Transportation (7-Eleven, QuikTrip, Amtrak, Greyhound, etc.)
  • Grocery Stores and Grocery Delivery (Albertsons, Kroger, Publix, Trader Joe’s, etc.)

…

Review: Elan Max Cash PreferredRead More »

Review: U.S. Bank Cash+

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, Credit Card Reviews /

The U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature is a “choose your own category” card which offers up to 5% cash back on purchases. Unlike standard rotating-category cards, you can choose two categories (out of 12 options) to get the 5% earn rate, instead of one random category. You can also look into a close alternative, the Max Cash Preferred, for similar benefits.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • No annual fee
  • 2% foreign transaction fee (when paying in U.S. dollars overseas) or 3% foreign transaction fee (when paying via foreign currency)
  • 5% cash back on two categories of your choice (up to $2,000 in combined quarterly spending)
  • 5% cash back “on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Travel Center”
  • 2% cash back on an “everyday” category of your choice
  • 1% cash back on everything else

5% categories:

  1. Gyms and fitness centers (24 Hour Fitness, Equinox, Weight Watchers, etc.)
  2. Fast Food (Burger King, Chipotle, Subway, etc.)
  3. Ground transportation (Amtrak, Greyhound, Lyft, Uber, etc.)
  4. TV, internet and streaming services (Charter, DISH, Netflix, Spotify, etc.)
  5. Cell phone providers (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, etc.)
  6. Home utilities (Duke Energy, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Waste Management Co., etc.)
  7. Movie theaters (AMC, Fandango, Regal, etc.)
  8. Furniture Stores (Ashley, Ethan Allen, Ikea, etc.)
  9. Department Stores (Bon-Ton, Kohl’s, Macy’s, etc.)
  10. Clothing Stores (American Eagle, Banana Republic, Express, etc.)
  11. Electronics Stores (Apple Store, Best Buy, Newegg, etc.)
  12. Sporting Goods Stores (Bass Pro, Cabela’s, Dick’s, etc.)

2% categories:

  • Dining (including delivery services like Doordash and UberEats)
  • Gas (including in-store purchases at locations like 7-Eleven or QuikTrip)
  • Grocery (including delivery services like Instacart and Jet)

…

Review: U.S. Bank Cash+Read More »

Review: Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards

⭐⭐⭐⭐, Credit Card Reviews /

Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards is a Visa credit card which lets people choose a category for earning 3% cash back. There are some hoops to jump through (see below) but the card can be a decent earner. It’s a flexible card with good niche usage potential. Most people should consider the card, although the highest value is reserved for Preferred Rewards customers at Platinum Honors tier or above.

In August 2023, Bank of America expanded their 3% categories slightly. “Gas” now includes electric vehicle charging stations. “Online shopping” now includes cable, streaming, internet, and phone plans.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • No annual fee
  • 3% foreign transaction fee
  • 3% cash back in the category of your choice (6 options) up to $2,500 spent per quarter
  • 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs
  • 1% cash back on everything else

3% eligible categories:

  1. Gas and EV charging stations (default category until changed)
  2. Online shopping (including Amazon) and cable/streaming/internet/phone plans
  3. Dining
  4. Travel
  5. Drug stores and pharmacies
  6. Home improvement and furnishings

…

Review: Bank of America Customized Cash RewardsRead More »

Review: Vantage West Connect Rewards

⭐⭐⭐⭐, Credit Card Reviews /

Vantage West Connect Rewards is a Visa Signature credit card which can earn 5% cash back in select categories. Unfortunately, the card seems to be for southern Arizona residents only. If you’re eligible for the card though, it’s a strong offering for long-term use. The main downside is that 5% cash back is limited to $1,500 in spending per quarter, and you need to manually choose categories each quarter. This is the same limitation of rotating-category cards like the Discover It Cash Back and Chase Freedom Flex.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • No annual fee
  • 1% foreign transaction fee
  • 5% cash back on a category of your choice (9 options, see below)
  • 3% cash back on gas
  • 2% cash back on groceries
  • 1% cash back on everything else

5% eligible categories:

  1. Travel
  2. Restaurants
  3. Utilities (water, cell, electric, etc.)
  4. In-Store Wholesale Purchases (Costco, Sam’s Club, etc.)
  5. Department Stores
  6. Hardware & Home Improvement Stores
  7. Charitable Organizations
  8. Pharmacies & Drug Stores
  9. Amazon.com

…

Review: Vantage West Connect RewardsRead More »

Review: Huntington Voice

⭐⭐⭐, Credit Card Reviews /

The Huntington Voice Mastercard is an uncommon credit card which lets people choose a category for earning 3% cash back. This can be changed each quarter, and if you don’t change the category, then it remains the same until you decide to change it. The Voice card is similar to the more popular Bank of America Customized Cash Back Rewards. It does have some key differences, which we’ll explore in this review. The versatility of choosing one’s own category can be extremely useful. Especially with almost a dozen options at hand.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • No annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 3x points on a chosen category ($2,000 quarterly spending limit)
  • 1x points on everything else

3% eligible categories:

  1. Gas
  2. Travel and Entertainment
  3. Restaurants
  4. Discount and Warehouse Stores
  5. Grocery
  6. Utilities and Office Supply Stores
  7. Electronics, Computer, and Camera Stores
  8. Department Apparel, and Sporting Goods
  9. Auto Part and Service Stores
  10. Home Improvement Stores

…

Review: Huntington VoiceRead More »