UPDATE: This offer has expired.
A few weeks ago the bonus categories for Q1 (Jan, Feb, March) for the Chase Freedom credit card were announced, but now the full calendar year is available:
New 2014 Bonus Categories:
- January-March: Gas stations, movie theaters and Starbucks® stores
- April-June: Restaurants and Lowe’s® home improvement stores
- July-September: Gas Stations and Kohl’s®
- October-December: Amazon.com, Zappos.com and select department stores
Prior 2013 Bonus Categories:
- January-March: Gas Stations, Drugstores, Starbucks
- April-June: Restaurants, Movie theaters, Lowes
- July-September: Gas stations, Theme Parks, Kohl’s
- October-December: Amazon.com, Select department stores
Overall, no major changes an still each quarter has at least one great category to maximize the $1,500 maximum for the 5x points. While Q1 no longer has drugstores, I do think gas stations alone will be fine for most (except for those that do not have a car). Q2 is practically the same as I am sure most did not spend most of their money at movie theaters anyways. Same goes for Q3 where you still have gas stations and Kohl’s, and Q4 Zappos.com was added so only a benefit there. Throughout the year there is also the possibility that more categories will get added.
Earning Chase Freedom Points: You earn 1x per dollar spent on all purchases, plus every quarter there are rotating bonus categories where you will earn 5x points up to $1,500 spent per quarter (not per category). You also must always activate your 5x point bonus every quarter.
Using Chase Freedom Points: You can request cash back for your Chase Freedom points where 1 point = 1 cent. So if you max out your points earned each quarter you’ll earn 7,500 points on those purchases which equals $75. You can also maximize your Chase Freedom points if you have another Chase Ultimate Rewards earning card (Chase Ink Bold, Chase Ink Plus, Chase Sapphire Preferred). You can read more here.
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Looks like Chase got wise to drug stores. Bummer.
Don’t forget if you have a Chase checking account the annual bonus is 11% which beats its’ sister the Sapphire 7%……..
justSaying – where did you see that? I didn’t notice that anywhere.
https://creditcards.chase.com/credit-cards/chase-freedom.aspx
Chase Exclusives® Bonus
You will earn an additional 10% Bonus on all new points earned with your Chase Freedom card during billing cycles within the previous Year when you, as the primary cardmember, were the sole or joint owner of an open Chase checking account. Your 10% Bonus is calculated after your billing cycle with a December closing date (“Year” means the twelve billing cycle period beginning the day after your billing cycle with a December closing date through your billing cycle with a December closing date of the next year.) Your Chase checking account must be open, and your Chase Freedom card account must be open and not in default, at the end of the Year. Your 10% Bonus points will appear on your January or February billing statement. You will not earn the 10% Bonus on new account bonus points, previous 10% Bonus points awarded, or points transferred into your account. You will earn on other bonus offers, including the quarterly 5% cash back program. Bonus offer void where prohibited by law.
Sorry it is 10% not 11%…….and you do earn it on the 5X which is very sweet indeed! Freedom has to be the most underrated card out there………simple and effective!
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