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Who doesn’t like a friendly reminder every once in a while?  If you have any cards with a rotating 5% cash back reward, now’s the time to prep for 2021!  You should be able to activate all cards for the first quarter by this point. Scroll down to the card in your wallet for category details. These categories apply to all purchases from January 1, 2021, to March 31, 2021 unless otherwise noted.

Money flies off a tree.

Image source: Getty Images

Chase Freedom/Freedom Flex 5% Cashback

  • Select Streaming Services
  • Phone, Cable, and Internet
  • Wholesale Clubs

Because these categories are fairly broad, there’s a lot of fine print. Select Streaming Services: Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, Netflix, Sling, Vudu, Fubo TV, Apple Music, SiriusXM, Pandora, Spotify, YouTube TV. Your phone/cable/Internet and wholesale clubs rewards are somewhat easier to identify, and you can always check this list directly from Chase.

Citi Dividend 5% Cashback

  • Select Streaming Services
  • Amazon

Remember, the Citi Dividend allows you to earn the full annual cashback amount within one quarter if you’d like to. The annual limit for your 5% categories is $300 (up to $6,000 in spend).  Citi’s list of Streaming Services is larger than Chase’s: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Music, Apple Music, CBS All Access, Disney+, AT&T TV NOW, ESPN+, fuboTV, HBO Max, NBA League Pass, Netflix, Pandora, Showtime, Sling TV, Spotify, Starz, SiriusXM, Vudu, YouTube Red, YouTube TV, and Tidal.

Discover it 5% Cashback

  • Grocery Stores
  • Walgreens/CVS

The grocery stores category has been expanded to include Walmart Grocery Pickup and Delivery.  Unfortunately most other superstores, delivery services, etc. will not trigger your 5% back.  Each Discover it card can earn up to $75 back each quarter (on up to $1,500 in purchases).

a woman wearing a hat and holding a bottle

(Spend a lot at the grocery store?  Check out The Best Reward Credit Cards for Groceries and Restaurants)

US Bank Cash+

US Bank allows cardholders to pick their own categories each quarter.  Right now, you can select from the categories here.  You can pick just two each quarter, but the 5% cashback limit is higher than other cards: up to $100 back on up to $2,000 in spend. If I had a Cash+ card, I’d probably pick Electronics Stores and Sporting Goods stores for the best avenues to maximize my cashback.


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