Zoos, sporting events and movies: How I plan to max out the Q3 categories on my Freedom Flex

Every three months, the Chase Freedom (no longer available to new applicants) and the Chase Freedom Flex® (see rates and fees) offer a set of new bonus categories that earn at least 5% cash back on purchases up to $1,500 (activation required). If you maximize this benefit, you can get a total of $75 cash back. And if you hold the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) or the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees), you can transfer your rewards into full-fledged Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which are even more valuable because you can transfer them to travel partners.

The information for the Chase Freedom has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

I've had the Freedom Flex for almost three years, and I've earned more points on it than any other card thanks to its rotating bonus categories. In previous quarters, I've racked up points at Amazon, restaurants, grocery stores, home improvement stores, PayPal and more. And since I also have the Chase Sapphire Preferred, I can transfer my points to travel partners and use them toward free flights and hotel stays.

This quarter's bonus categories are gas stations, electric vehicle charging, movie theaters and select live entertainment. These are some of my favorite categories because I live in the Denver area, where there are plenty of live entertainment venues and natural wonders to explore. Summer is the perfect time to earn extra points on these purchases since many of us will take road trips with family or escape the heat at theaters and concerts.

Here's how I plan to make the most of my Freedom Flex's bonus categories over the next three months.

Related: Why I got the Chase Freedom Flex and how I'm getting max cash back this quarter

Gas stations and EV charging

Since my partner and I both work from home, we don't use as much gas as we used to (which is great for the environment and our wallets). But our gas purchases usually spike over the summer when we often drive into the Rocky Mountains on the weekends to hike or camp. I'll pull out my Freedom Flex every time we fill up to maximize my rewards.

I don't own an electric vehicle, so I won't be able to take advantage of the bonus points on EV charging — but I applaud Chase for including both gas and electric options.

Related: Great American road trips for summer 2024

Daily Newsletter

Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter

Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts

Email address

Sign up

By signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Movie theaters

Spending an afternoon in an air-conditioned theater is a great way to beat the summer heat. I have my eye on "Inside Out 2" and "A Quiet Place: Day One," which are both showing over the next three months. I'll head to my local dine-in theater, where I can get dinner before the show — and earn 5% back on both food and tickets.

Keep in mind that anything you purchase at a movie theater (or through its website) should qualify for bonus rewards. This means not only tickets but concessions, memberships and gift cards. So, if you're considering purchasing a theater membership, now could be a great time to do it. If you think a theater gift card would make a great Christmas gift for a friend, you may as well buy it now.

Live entertainment

Learn what's included

This category is pretty broad, but it does have some exclusions. To understand what Chase considers "live entertainment," check out the merchant list.

Here's what it says for this quarter:

The Denver metro area, where I live, has teams in all the major sports and a variety of concert venues and theater companies. I plan to attend a few baseball and soccer games, concerts and theater productions this summer.

I'll also renew my memberships to my local zoo and science museum this quarter so that I can earn 5 points per dollar spent on my membership fees. Most places will let you renew early — so even if your membership isn't due until October, you can pay the renewal fee in August to earn extra points, and the membership will renew in October as usual.

Related: Why the Sapphire Presents concert series should be on your bucket list this summer

Book group events

Since we don't have kids, my partner and I can attend plays, concerts and sporting events relatively cheaply. It's usually hard for me to reach the $1,500 maximum in this bonus category, but I've found that booking group activities for my friends and relatives is a great way to boost my rewards.

This summer, I'm planning group outings with several friends to a Rapids soccer game and the local amusement park. I'll volunteer to buy everyone's tickets (using my Flex card, of course) and have them reimburse me. This is often the easiest way to get seats together, and it allows me to earn more points without paying more than I normally would.

Plan ahead

My favorite thing about the live entertainment bonus category is that you can buy tickets now for events weeks or months in the future. When it comes to plays, concerts and sporting events, I'll check the calendar for later this year and even next year. If there's something I know I want to see, I'll book it now to get the extra points.

Experiences make great gifts, too — and I love shopping for gifts early so I have plenty of time to find the perfect gift without stressing. My partner and parents were all born in the fall, so I'll use this quarter to plan birthday gifts and even some Christmas gifts. If I decide to gift experiences like hockey tickets or a museum membership, I'll be sure to purchase them with my Flex card by the end of September.

Related: 23 wanderlust-y gifts for travelers, used by expert travelers

Pay attention

Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex cardholders can earn 5% back on the first $1,500 in total purchases at gas stations, on EV charging, at movie theaters and on select live entertainment purchases through Sept. 30. After the first $1,500, you'll earn only 1% back on these purchases.

As a result, I'll track my progress carefully on the Chase site. If I reach the maximum of $1,500, I'll switch to a more advantageous card for these purchases, like my Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees).

Bottom line

The Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex's rotating bonus categories make these cards powerful tools for earning cash back or Ultimate Rewards points. This quarter's categories are perfect for family outings and road trips, and you can earn even more points by booking group activities, planning ahead and thinking about gifts.