Chase Releases 2016 Freedom Bonus Categories

The 2016 Chase Freedom credit card quarterly bonus categories have been released.

As you may be aware, the bonus categories earn 5% cash back, or 5 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent, on purchases up to $1,500 in the bonus categories. Any spend above that $1,500 mark, and outside of the bonus categories, will earn the typical 1% cash back or 1 Ultimate Rewards point per dollar.

The bonus categories for the period January 1, 2016 through March 31, 2016 include: gas stations and local commuter transportation. These categories are open for activation today.

Grocery stores and restaurants are the category headliners for April-June and July-September respectively. A placeholder, Holiday Shopping, is being used for October-December.

With low gas prices, a typical driver might have a hard time maxing out the first quarter’s bonus spend. However, if you can find gas stations that sell gift cards, specifically Visa gift cards, that would help.

The second quarter shouldn’t be too difficult to obtain the full $75 cash back or 7,500 Ultimate Rewards points considering the primary category is grocery stores. Depending on your monthly grocery spend that might take care of maxing the bonus category on its own. If not, grocery stores are the best place to find gift cards of all varieties to hit that $1,500 mark.

The third quarter, depending on how much you eat out, might pose a challenge, like the first quarter, for getting the full bonus. However, you can always front-load your restaurant spend by purchasing gift cards sold in restaurants to use the rest of the year.

And October-December, who knows until we get more details on the merchants Chase will select.

So there you go, as I mentioned in my post, Review: Chase Freedom Credit Card, if you max out each quarter’s bonus category spend, you’ll end up with $300 cash back or 30,000 Ultimate Rewards points. Either of which is not too shabby for simply spending on a credit card.