Chase has two credit cards with rotating 5x spending categories, the Freedom Flex and regular Freedom (which is no longer available to applicants). Each card’s 5x categories are identical and change quarterly. The 5x categories for Q1 were released earlier this month and are grocery stores (excluding Walmart & Target), Norwegian Cruise Line, fitness Club & gym memberships and hair, nails & spa services.
However, a Doctor of Credit reader noticed that the the Chase app is showing additional 5x bonus categories in honor the Freedom card’s 15th birthday. Q1’s bonus categories are insurance payments and tax preparation services and will be 5x during the month of March only. The addition of the two categories DOES NOT add to the quarterly 5x maximum of $1500…it only gives you two more options to reach it.
Quick Thoughts
This is a fairly minor, but potentially useful upgrade to the rotating 5x calendar for the Freedom cards this year. To my mind, it’s needlessly complex, given that these “bonus” categories will only be available for one month per quarter (as opposed to the other “normal” categories that are valid for three months), but having more choices on potential ways to earn 5x will likely help some folks maximize their earnings.
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Do i have a account if so it’s not me
I am not seeing the 5% insurance category for March on my Freedom Flex account.
I don’t see it either on my freedom flex.
i have insurance payments due in mid-January, then again in mid-July. Any ideas how to take advantage of the insurance category?
I don’t need the tax prep category as i just do that myself.
1) Could you go on a monthly or other split payment option for January, then full pay the balance in March? (As long as any “convenience fee” is not a deterrent)?
If you can do the above, find out if your insurance company has an annual billing option that would allow you to pay for the mid-July payment in March, as part of the annual billing.
2) Start checking other insurance companies for better rates in late February. If you find one that you are comfortable with, switch in March and full pay for the year.
i just did insurance shopping last week in anticipation of the renewal. Progressive is substantially (and I do mean substantially) cheaper than the other companies I called even after the recent renewal increase. Anyway, thanks for your suggestion, maybe debit cards from office supply stores are the only way but not really worth the hassle.
Probably not the answer you want, but you could buy 3 x $500 VGCs from grocery stores (earn the 5% cash back) in January and then use the VGCs to pay your insurance that month.
Would have been nice if they were added as another $1500 rather than just some extensions of the limit. AS it is very easy to max w/ Grocery in there so worth nothing to me.