There are several credit cards that offer 5% cashback in rotating categories each quarter. All of them can now be activated for Q1 2024 (January 1 to March 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
- Grocery Stores
- Fitness Clubs & Gym Memberships
- Self-Care & Spa Services
- 5% cashback on up to $1,500 spend in combined purchases of this quarter’s categories
- Eligible retailers & exclusions
- Activation link
This should be simple to max out. Some will spend $1,500 at grocery stores by default, but if not you can buy gift cards there to hit the $1,500 spending limit.
Discover It
- Restaurants
- Drugstores
- 5% cashback on up to $1,500 in purchases
- Activation link
Drugstores like Walgreens, Rite Aid and CVS have gift card racks which can be used to max out your Discover It spending. All three of these chains tend to offer gift card deals each week too, so this 5% cashback can enhance those.
Citi Dividend
- Amazon
- Select Streaming Services
- Includes the following cable, satellite, and streaming providers: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Music, Apple Music, Disney+, DirecTV Stream, ESPN+, fuboTV, HBO Max, NBA League Pass, Netflix, Pandora, Paramount+, Showtime, Sling TV, Spotify, Starz, SiriusXM, Vudu, YouTube Red, YouTube TV, and Tidal.
- 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
Amazon sells a wide range of gift cards and sometimes runs deals, although they tend to be few and far between in the first quarter of the year. Otherwise you can buy Amazon gift cards or reload your Amazon balance.
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.