Update 10/1/24: These Q4 5% spending categories go live today.
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There are several credit cards that offer 5% cashback in rotating categories each quarter. All of them can now be activated for Q4 2024 (October 1 to December 31), so here are their links and how to maximize them for gift card purchases in case you wouldn’t meet their respective spending limits through organic spend.
Cards, Categories, Limits & Activation Links
Chase Freedom / Freedom Flex
- McDonald’s
- PayPal
- Pet shops & vet services
- Select charities
- 5% cashback on up to $1,500 spend in combined purchases of this quarter’s categories
- Eligible retailers & exclusions
- Activation link
The easiest way to max out your 5% categories on Freedom and Freedom Flex cards in Q4 will be to buy gift cards from retailers that accept PayPal as a payment option. That includes PayPal Digital Gifts along with many other online retailers. If buying gift cards at McDonald’s, keep an eye out for McDonald’s Chase Offers that’ll stack with the 5% earnings.
Discover It
- Amazon
- Target
- 5% cashback on up to $1,500 in purchases
- Activation link
This will be a simple category to max out seeing as both Amazon and Target sell all kinds of gift cards, plus they’ll be running deals over the holiday period.
Citi Dividend
- Restaurants
- Citi Travel
- Total annual (calendar year) cash back is limited to $300 and includes additional cash back earned in connection with this offer (i.e. $6,000 total spend).
- Activation link
Many restaurants run bonus card deals over the holidays (e.g. buy $50 gift card & get $10 bonus card), so that would be the best way to maximize these spending categories on gift cards if you didn’t max out your $6,000 spending allowance in the first three quarters of the year.
US Bank Cash+
- Choose two of the following:
- Home Utilities
- Electronics Stores
- Sporting Goods Stores
- Ground Transportation
- TV, Internet & Streaming
- Department Stores
- Select Clothing Stores
- Gyms/Fitness Centers
- Furniture Stores
- Cell Phones
- Fast Food
- Movie Theaters
- 5% cashback on your first $2,000 in combined net purchases in your chosen 5% categories
- Activation link
The US Bank Cash+ categories don’t rotate each quarter, although you do get to change/maintain your selection of two categories. It’s a shame that grocery stores, drugstores, etc. aren’t eligible categories, but there are a few gift card options.
The electronics stores category presumably includes Best Buy. That means you can buy gift cards for Best Buy, Amazon and many other third party brands, plus Best Buy sometimes offers discounted gift card deals. Some department stores and clothing stores also have third party gift card racks.