Update 7/1/24: These 5% categories are now live.
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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 Q3 2024 (July 1 to September 30), 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
- Gas stations
- EV charging
- Select live entertainment
- Movie theaters
- 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 Q3 will be to buy gift cards from gas stations. Be sure to do a test purchase before spending a large amount on gift cards in-store at somewhere like 7-Eleven in case it codes as a convenience store or something like that.
Discover It
- Walmart
- Grocery stores
- 5% cashback on up to $1,500 in purchases
- Activation link
This will be a simple category to max out. Many people will spend $1,500 on groceries during those three months, but if you don’t then you can buy gift cards in-store to earn the 5%.
Citi Dividend
- Gas stations
- 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
Similar to the 5% category on Discover, many gas station chains sell third party gift cards as well as Visa and Mastercard gift cards.
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.