With the Chase Freedom Flex℠ card, you can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter — just by spending in rotating bonus categories.
🔔 Reminder: This calendar is tentative, based on past trends. For official updates, always check chase.com/calendar.
🔹 Quarter 1: January – March 2025
📌 Possible Categories:
- Grocery Stores
- Fitness Clubs & Gym Memberships
🛠 How to Get Ready:
- Activate by Jan 1 via Chase.com or the mobile app.
- Stock up on groceries for New Year meal prep.
- Join or renew your gym membership — fitness earns 5%!
- Buy grocery store gift cards for Amazon, Target, or dining out.
⚠️ Pro Tip: Big-box stores like Walmart and Target usually don’t count as grocery stores — they’re categorized as “superstores.”
🔹 Quarter 2: April – June 2025
📌 Possible Categories:
- Gas Stations
- EV Charging Stations
- Home Improvement Stores
🛠 How to Get Ready:
- Activate by Apr 1 to start earning.
- Plan spring road trips and earn 5% back at the pump.
- Charge your EV using services like ChargePoint or Electrify America.
- Tackle DIY projects — think Home Depot®, Lowe’s®, and more.
⚠️ Pro Tip: Gas pumps at grocery stores or Costco often don’t qualify.
🔹 Quarter 3: July – September 2025
📌 Possible Categories:
- Restaurants
- Streaming Services
- Movie Theaters
🛠 How to Get Ready:
- Activate by Jul 1 to unlock dining and entertainment rewards.
- Dine in or order directly — third-party delivery may not count.
- Pay for subscriptions like Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu.
- Catch a movie — chains like AMC and Regal likely qualify.
⚠️ Pro Tip: Unsure if a vendor counts? Check past statements or test with a small transaction.
🔹 Quarter 4: October – December 2025
📌 Possible Categories:
- Walmart®
- PayPal®
- Select Travel Purchases
🛠 How to Get Ready:
- Activate by Oct 1 to prep for holiday shopping.
- Shop early at Walmart (online or in-store).
- Use PayPal for Etsy, eBay, and small-business checkouts.
- Book travel (flights, hotels, car rentals) with eligible merchants.
⚠️ Pro Tip: Set Freedom Flex as your default card in PayPal to ensure you earn 5%.
✅ Don’t Forget: Quarterly Activation Is Required
To earn 5% each quarter, you must activate the bonus categories. Here’s how:
- Activate at chase.com/calendar, in the Chase app, via email, or by phone.
- Rewards only apply after activation — no retroactive points!
🧠 Why These Categories?
Chase designs the categories to match seasonal spending habits:
- Q1: Fresh starts — groceries and fitness
- Q2: Spring projects and travel
- Q3: Dining, entertainment, and subscriptions
- Q4: Holidays and end-of-year travel
🎯 Planning your spending around these themes helps you earn more — effortlessly.
