Update 10/1/22: These 5% spending categories are now live for Q4.
~
There are several credit cards that offer 5% cashback in rotating categories each quarter. All of them can now be activated for Q4 2022 (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
- Walmart
- PayPal
- 5% cashback on up to $1,500 spend in combined purchases of this quarter’s categories
- Eligible retailers & exclusions
- Activation link
It’ll be incredibly easy to max out the Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex 5% limits in Q4. Walmart sells a wide range of gift cards both online and in-store. Leading up to the holidays they tend to run some gift card sales online, while in-store look for seasonal gift card racks around the store as they often have gift card multipacks that include bonus gift cards (e.g. Buy 3x $25 + $10 Outback Steakhouse gift cards for $75.)
PayPal makes it just as easy to max out seeing as numerous websites – including PayPal Digital Gifts – and apps offer gift card discounts and let you pay via PayPal.
Discover It
- Amazon.com
- Digital Wallets
- Wallets that qualify include Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and Garmin Pay
- 5% cashback on up to $1,500 in purchases
- Activation link
Another easy couple of categories to max out. Amazon will run gift card deals during the holidays, while the inclusion of digital wallets means you can buy gift cards in-store at grocery stores, office supply stores, etc. and earn 5% that way.
Citi Dividend
- Restaurants
- Select Travel
- Includes airline, hotel, cruise line and travel agency purchases. Excludes timeshares, boat leases and rentals, campgrounds and trailer parks, and real estate agencies.
- 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
These will be trickier categories to max out, so hopefully you’ve maxed out any Dividend cards you have earlier in the year on better categories. Gift card-wise, the easiest way to max out any remaining allowance you have will be if the Fluz Power Portal is selling eVGCs that code as dining or eligible travel purchases.
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.