3rd Quarter 2018 registration is now open. The credit cards below offer up to 5% cash back on specific categories that often rotate each quarter. It takes a little extra attention, but I also rack up over a hundred dollars in additional rewards per year without changing my spending habits. You can also buy gift cards with the 5% back now but spend the gift cards later.
None of these have an annual fee, so it costs me nothing to keep them around. New cardmembers may also get an upfront sign-up bonus.
From July 1st through September 30th, 2018 you can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent in the following categories:
- Gas Stations
- Lyft
- Walgreens
Enroll each quarter at ChaseBonus.com. As long as you activate by the end of the quarter the rewards are retroactive. All other purchases earn 1% back, with no tiers or expiration of rewards. Technically, you earn Ultimate Rewards points which can also be converted to frequent flier miles instead of cash. Currently, the Chase Freedom card is offering if you sign up and make $500 in purchases in your first three months.
From July 1st through September 30th, 2018 you can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent in the following categories:
- Restaurants
Enroll after logging into your online account (look on the right-hand side). 5% rewards won’t apply until after you activate your rewards, so it is best to activate now before you forget.
New cardmember bonus. If you are a new applicant and sign up via my , you will get a $50 Cashback Bonus after your first purchase within 3 months of being approved. You will also get Cashback Match for an entire year – a dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year, automatically. During those 12 months, your $50 Cashback Bonus becomes $100, your 5% cash back rewards becomes 10% cash back, and your 1% cash back rewards become 2% cash back. You can verify this on the application by clicking on “See rates, rewards and other info” and searching for this text:
Cashback MatchTM: : No purchase minimums. After the first 12 consecutive billing periods that your new account is open, we will match all of the cash back rewards you’ve earned and apply them to your account in the following one or two billing periods. If your account is closed or no longer in the cash back reward program at the time we calculate your potential award, your cash back will not be matched. You’ve earned cash back rewards when they have posted to your account by the end of the 12th consecutive billing period. This promotional offer may not be offered in the future. This exclusive offer is available only to new cardmembers.
TERMS OF CASHBACK BONUS OFFER: Get a $50 Cashback Bonus after you make your first purchase within 3 months of being approved. Promotional award will be applied within 8 weeks. The promotional award is in addition to the Cashback Bonus earned on all purchases.
. Earn 5% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods all year long. Prime membership required.
. You get to choose the two 5% cash back categories every quarter, out of a preset selection of like “Fast Food” or “Department Stores”. You have to manually choose your categories each quarter, even if you want it to stay the same. If you do not choose your categories, all purchases revert to only earning 1% cash back for that quarter.
Citi Dividend Card. This card is no longer available to new applicants, but if you still have the grandfathered card you can to get 5% cash back at airlines and movie theaters from 7/1 to 9/30. You are capped at $300 cash back for the calendar year.
Don’t settle for the “1% on everything else” that these cards offer. Get 2% cash back or higher. The following cards currently have the ability to offer cash back rewards as high as 2% or even greater. Please read my card-specific reviews for details.
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