Another year is almost over. Have you used up your fourth-quarter 5x spending cap yet? In just two more weeks, it will be time to start using the first-quarter 5x categories on our credit cards. There are quite a few highlights this quarter. Chase Freedom is even offering 5x points on all mobile wallet purchases, which is very generous.
Chase Freedom
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Chase Freedom’s Q1 5x categories are gas stations, phone and internet service providers (ISP), and mobile wallets. Mobile wallets include Apple Pay, Android Pay, Samsung Pay, and Chase Pay. This is almost the easiest 5x category ever to maximize. If you have a Samsung phone, don’t forget that Samsung Pay works at most older magnetic-stripe card readers, which means it can be used at the vast majority of merchants. If you pay with your phone for purchases such as Uber and Lyft, both of which support Apple Pay and Android Pay, you can also check whether the website where you shop supports Apple Pay or Android Pay. Websites that support Visa Checkout also support Android Pay and Samsung Pay, but you need to enable the relevant feature in those two wallets.
Discover it
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In Q1, the Discover it card offers 5% cash back at gas stations and wholesale clubs such as Costco, Sam's Club, and BJ's. If you are still in your first year with the first-year Cashback Match, we recommend putting your spend on the Discover it card.
Citi Dividend
Click here to activate Citi Dividend’s Q1 categories are gas stations and car rentals. Note that Dividend’s 5% category is capped at $6,000 in spending per year, not $1,500 per quarter.
Are you ready for the new year’s credit card bonus categories?