How to Optimize Chase Freedom Flex, Discover it Cash Back for Q4 2022

Whether you’re shopping for the holidays or stocking up on essentials, you'll find something to like about these quarterly 5% categories.
Craig Joseph
By Craig Joseph 
Updated
Edited by Kenley Young

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These days, even small discounts can be a big deal to help offset rising prices.

From Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 2022, cardholders of the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and select Discover cards like the Discover it® Cash Back can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined quarterly spending in the following categories:

Chase Freedom Flex
NerdWallet rating 

Chase Freedom Flex℠

  • PayPal.

  • Walmart (in store and online).

Discover it® Cash Back and select Discover cards

  • Amazon.com.

  • Digital wallets.

Discover it® Cash Back
NerdWallet rating 

Both cards earn 1% back on all other non-bonus-category spending.

You must activate the 5% categories to be eligible for bonus rewards. Chase cardholders can activate bonus categories online or in the Chase app by Dec. 14, 2022, and bonus rewards can be earned retroactively. For eligible Discover cards, bonus rewards can be earned starting from the date cash-back categories are activated online.

Here are some tips to maximize your 5% bonus categories this quarter:

First things first: Reset your default payment card

No matter which of these 5%-back credit cards you have, it'll behoove you to select the card as your default payment method for the relevant bonus category.

Use PayPal a lot? Then, make sure to set the Chase Freedom Flex℠ as your preferred card.

Gonna try to pay for everything with Apple Pay instead? Set the Discover it® Cash Back as the card that comes up first when you hold your iPhone over a payment terminal.

And whether your next shopping spree is at Walmart.com or Amazon.com, make sure you've got the right credit card set as the default payment there, too.

Now for some more specific tips:

Optimizing the Chase Freedom Flex℠

Shop online — or even in store — with PayPal

PayPal is accepted at hundreds of major online retailers including Target.com, Walgreens.com, Apple, eBay and many others. It's so internet-ubiquitous that you may be surprised at what you can earn 5% back on. Netflix and Disney+ take PayPal, for example, so for this quarter, make the Chase Freedom Flex℠ your streaming credit card.

But did you know PayPal is also accepted at lots of brick-and-mortar retailers like Giant Eagle, CVS, Abercrombie & Fitch, Advance Auto Parts and Home Depot? You can also use PayPal for in-flight purchases when you fly with United Airlines. As noted above, just set your Chase Freedom Flex℠ as the preferred payment method in your PayPal wallet and follow some simple instructions to earn 5% back.

Stock up at Walmart

Whether you need groceries or are buying gifts for the holidays, Walmart has something for many shoppers. And that something will earn 5% back when you use your Chase Freedom Flex℠ this quarter at Walmart retail stores, Walmart.com and Walmart-branded gas stations. Locking in a discount on Walmart's "everyday low prices" will come in handy as inflation runs amok.

Even if you wouldn't normally have $1,500 in Walmart purchases this quarter, you could still lock in your 5% bonus by front-loading purchases of goods such as toothpaste and toilet paper. Walmart also sells a wide selection of third-party gift cards that would qualify for the 5% bonus.

🤓Nerdy Tip

Although Walmart and PayPal are featured separately as Chase bonus categories this quarter, purchases made at Walmart using PayPal will earn a total of 5% cash back. And while Venmo is owned by PayPal, transactions on Venmo won't count for the 5% PayPal bonus.

Chase Freedom® and Chase Freedom Flex℠ bonus rewards categories for 2024

Q1 (Jan. 1-March 31)

  • Grocery stores.

  • Fitness clubs and gym memberships.

  • Self-care and spa services.

Q2 (April 1-June 30)

  • Select hotel bookings.*

  • Restaurants.

  • Amazon.com.

Q3 (July 1-Sept. 30)

  • TBD (In 2023: gas stations and electric vehicle charging; select live entertainment).

Q4 (Oct. 1-Dec. 31)

  • TBD (In 2023: PayPal; wholesale clubs; select charities).

*Includes bookings made directly with the hotel and prepaid bookings through Chase's travel portal.

Optimizing the Discover it® Cash Back

Earn bonus cash back in your pajamas

It’s tough to argue against the convenience that Amazon provides. From a wide range of merchandise to fast shipping and hassle-free returns, Amazon has become the "everyday shopping" retailer for many consumers. And for the last quarter of 2022, that convenience can earn bonus cash back for eligible Discover cardholders

The Q4 bonus category includes digital downloads, Amazon Fresh orders, Amazon Prime subscriptions and more.

Nothing immediate to purchase? You can buy Amazon gift cards for later use while locking in those bonus rewards.

Reach for your digital wallet

Through the end of December, eligible Discover cardholders can be rewarded with bonus cash back when using a qualifying digital wallet for purchases.

Because eligible wallets include most of the biggies — including Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay and Garmin Pay — the possibilities for maximizing the quarterly $1,500 cap on 5% back are nearly endless. Digital wallet payments are accepted at grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, hotels and shopping malls, to name a few.

Once again, don’t forget to set your eligible Discover card to the preferred payment method in your digital wallet to make checking out a breeze. With a 5% cash-back rate, even Apple Card loyalists should be switching to Discover in their digital wallet this holiday season.

Discover bonus rewards categories for 2024

Q1 (Jan. 1–March 31)

  • Restaurants.

  • Drugstores.

Q2 (April 1–June 30)

  • Gas stations/EV charging stations.

  • Home improvement stores.

  • Public transit.

Q3 (July 1–Sept. 30)

  • TBD (In 2023: Gas stations; digital wallets).

Q4 (Oct. 1–Dec. 31)

  • TBD (In 2023: Amazon, Target).

Chase Cards from our Partners
Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card

on Chase's website

Chase Freedom Unlimited®
5.0
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

1.5%-6.5%

Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Cashback

Intro offer

$300

Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card

on Chase's website

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
5.0
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

1x-5x

5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

Points

Intro offer

60,000

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

Points
Chase Freedom Flex

on Chase's website

Chase Freedom Flex℠
5.0
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

1%-5%

Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Earn 5% on Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases.

Cashback

Intro offer

$200

Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.

See more Chase cards

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