The Chase Freedom® credit card is great for anyone who wants cash back for making day to day purchases, such as filling up at the gas station or buying groceries. To take full advantage, it’s important to stay up-to-date on the Chase Freedom categories as they change on a quarterly basis.
The Chase Freedom® 2019 bonus category calendar
The Chase Freedom® Credit Card offers a 5 percent (up to $1,500) cash back bonus on up to $1,500 in certain categories for each quarter. You also earn unlimited 1 percent cash back on any other purchases made during the quarterly period.
Quarter 1 (January 1st, 2019- March 31st, 2019)
Gas stations, tolls and drugstores
Quarter 2 (April 1st, 2019 – June 30th, 2019)
Grocery stores and home improvement stores
Quarter 3 (July 1st, 2019- September 30th, 2019)
Gas stations and a selection of streaming services
Quarter 4 (October 1st, 2019 – December 31st, 2019)
Announced in September 2018
Here’s a look at the 2018 Chase Freedom calendar for quarterly categories:
Quarter 1 (January 1st, 2018 – March 31st, 2018)
Gas stations, Internet/cable/phone services, Chase Pay, Android Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay.
Quarter 2 (April 1st, 2018 – June 30th, 2018)
Grocery stores, PayPal, Chase Pay
Quarter 3 (July 1st, 2018- September 30th, 2018)
Gas stations, Walgreens, Lyft.
Quarter 4 (October 1st, 2018- December 31st, 2018)
Department stores, Wholesale Clubs, Chase Pay
How to maximize your rewards with Chase Freedom categories
The Chase Ultimate Rewards® program is simple. Each quarter, use your Chase Freedom credit card to shop in a specified category. You’ll earn 5 percent cash back (up to $1,500) in combined purchases. The best method for maximizing rewards is to leverage the bonus categories and make as many purchases with your card as you can.
Most importantly, plan ahead. Once the bonus categories are announced, make a list of items you can purchase in bulk. For instance, if you know that stores like Walmart or Target will be included in one of the quarters, make a list of what you need, stock up and prepare for the next time this merchant is featured. This will be especially helpful for your budget during the holiday season.
Step-by-step guide to Chase Freedom rewards
You must activate the bonus categories each quarter to claim your credit card rewards. Here’s how you can do it:
There is a quarterly deadline to activate your bonus categories. You must activate the bonus by the deadline to earn bonus points for all the eligible purchases you make during the bonus period (even prior to activation).
If you have multiple Chase Freedom credit cards, each card must be individually activated.
In a nutshell
With a little bit of effort, you can start earning cash back for your quarterly purchases. If you’re not already a Chase cardholder, consider the spending benefits as well as taking advantage of the sign-up bonus.
