Chase Freedom’s 2017 Bonus Categories Released
Chase has released an abbreviated cash back/Ultimate Rewards earning calendar for 2017.
Beginning January 1, 2017, any purchases made with the Chase Freedom credit card at gas stations and on local commuter transportation (not including parking, tolls and Amtrak purchases) will earn 5% cash-back, or my favorite, 5 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent, on up to $1,500 in combined purchases for that quarter.
For those unaware of how valuable Ultimate Rewards points can be for booking relatively free travel, do a search on our site and read some of the informative pieces detailing how versatile and lucrative Ultimate Rewards points can be.
And, as a sneak peak, the 2017 calendar lists grocery stores (but, as usual, not Target or Walmart purchases) and drugstores as the bonus earning categories for the second quarter, beginning April 1, 2017.
The third and fourth quarters are open, and will likely be announced as summer approaches.
Which, considering how cold and snowy it is as I write this, I wish were right now!
You can activate your cash back/points earning for the first quarter bonus categories now at this link.
I used to think the gas station bonus category was okay, but not overly exciting with respect to maxing out my points earning for that quarter. However, I learned last year that I can purchase grocery store gift cards at the grocery store’s convenience/gas store (which codes as a gas station purchase thus earning 5%/5 points per dollar) to pretty much max out the $1,500 quarterly spend limit.
And, Chase is obviously throwing a bone to our city dwellers by including commuter transportation in the first quarter bonus category. I’m sure taxis, subways and commuter buses/trains can easily tally close to that $1,500 quarterly amount, especially in New York, D.C., or many other metropolises.
The Freedom card’s bonus categories can really build those cash-back/Ultimate Rewards balances fast. It’s one of my top-of-the-wallet credit cards for adding to my airline and hotel points balances.
How about you, are you a Chase Freedom cardholder that maxes out the earning categories each quarter?
