Memorize These New 5x Bonus Categories

April 03, 2018

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2 min read

Memorize These New 5x Bonus Categories

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We already a few days into the second quarter of 2018, so before we get any further into April, I want to make sure you have mentally adjusted for which cards to use to maximize purchases over the next few months. If you have the no annual fee Chase Freedom (No longer open to new applicants) that gives 5x on select categories each quarter, you have a new line-up of 5x bonus categories to memorize (or write on the card using masking tape). Remember that if you also have a premium Ultimate Rewards card such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve, then the points you earn on the Freedom can transfer 1:1 to hotel and airline partners such as Southwest, United, Hyatt, and more.

2018 Chase Freedom Second Quarter Bonus Categories:

The Chase Freedom 2018 second quarter 5x bonus categories are:

PayPal, which can be used online, on mobile or in-app across more than 18 million large, mid-sized and small businesses around the world to make purchases or send money
Chase Pay using the app, online or in-store, at new merchants such as Shoprite and PriceRite, and online at Wal-Mart
Grocery stores, including traditional brick-and-mortar grocers, retailers that sell food and online delivery services such as Peapod, Blue Apron, Whole Foods, Fresh Direct and many more

For families, the grocery store category alone is often enough to max out the $1,500 quarterly 5x limit, but you can sprinkle in some PayPal and Chase Pay transactions to round it out. Having the Chase Pay category means you can get 5x points at Starbucks, Best Buy, PotBelly, and a few other participating locations. Honestly, I'll likely primarily use Chase Pay in the Starbucks app, but that is better than nothing.

I'm also going to make my Freedom the default card in my PayPal and Blue Apron accounts for at least the next three months to be sure I'm earning 5x points on those transactions, up to the quarterly limit.