Discover Announces Full 2020 5% Cashback Calendar

Discover has announced all of the rotating 5% cashback categories for 2020. The categories are as follows:

  • Q1 (January–March): Grocery Stores, Walgreens and CVS

  • Q2 (April–June): Gas Stations, Uber, Lyft & Wholesale Clubs

  •  Q3 (July–September): Restaurants and PayPal

  • Q4 (October–December): Amazon.com, Walmart.com and Target.com

Quarter 4 is probably the weakest, but there are usually enough Walmart and Target (and Amazon if you don’t have another good Amazon cards) to make it work. Really impressive calendar in my opinion. I also like how Discover gives us the full calendar in advance unlike Chase.

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Brian G.
Brian G. (@guest_947972)
March 29, 2020 20:12

Any data points on if samsclub.com transactions count?

John
John (@guest_1000229)
June 18, 2020 16:11

I’m still looking for this as well 🙂

googlre10
googlre10 (@guest_834899)
November 4, 2019 11:43

Q3 seems good cashback with Paypal.

Kevin N
Kevin N (@guest_834856)
November 4, 2019 10:36

Can someone confirm buying Costco gift cards online will categorize as wholesale clubs? ABOC did not when I put on $1k and only got back 1%. Beware online gift cards purchase don’t count also with Home improvement category as in the case of Home Depot and Lowe’s when used ABOC.

Celia
Celia (@guest_834912)
November 4, 2019 12:19

I have done it every time the category comes up with Discover and it counts. Best probably to test in the beginning of the quarter if you’re worried.

Eric M.
Eric M. (@guest_834349)
November 2, 2019 14:28

I liked it better when Q2 was home improvement but I appreciate the full calendar ahead of time.

SamL
SamL (@guest_834265)
November 2, 2019 09:50

I’m finding that with multiple BoA CR cards, and PR/PH, getting 5.25% on multiple categories, these 5% cards have become irrelevant.

AB
AB (@guest_834282)
November 2, 2019 10:42

I just dont see the value in parking that much money in a zero interest BofA account or a high fee investment account.

Getting a net 0.25% cash back isn’t worth it.

Avi
Avi (@guest_834628)
November 3, 2019 17:54
  AB

It doesn’t need to be in a high fee investment account. A regular Merrill Edge account will do and you can invest in anything with no additional fees.

Guy who buys stuff
Guy who buys stuff (@guest_834218)
November 2, 2019 00:48

Where’s the MS oppo for Q4? (I have a 5% AMZN card.)

Gerald
Gerald (@guest_834459)
November 3, 2019 00:51

Walmart.com sells $200 Vanilla Visas for $206.98. Not too exciting when I can get $200 Visa or MC gift cards for $200 at Staples and get 5X UR with Ink Cash.

Kevin
Kevin (@guest_837874)
November 7, 2019 19:10

good

Ryan
Ryan (@guest_833898)
November 1, 2019 13:28

What’s the general strategy for maxing out PayPal? I usually just pay myself, eat the fee and pocket the difference but there has to be a better method. I usually don’t spend enough organically online to hit anywhere near the max.

MissMBA
MissMBA (@guest_833991)
November 1, 2019 15:49

Shop online at places that allow you to pay with Paypal. Rather than check out with your credit card directly go through Paypal.

SF
SF (@guest_833998)
November 1, 2019 15:59

Previously I had thought this was an issue, but for some reason Paypal stopped charging me fees when I pay via a credit card now

Kyle ❤️
Kyle ❤️ (@guest_834032)
November 1, 2019 16:55
  SF

To pay a merchant with credit card there is no fee for the purchaser. When sending money to friends and family via credit card it charges a 2.9% fee + $0.30 per transaction.

ReverendK
ReverendK (@guest_912944)
February 18, 2020 23:26

Progressive accepts PayPal to pay insurance premiums

anthonyjh21
anthonyjh21 (@guest_833888)
November 1, 2019 13:20

The DoC demographic is traditionally very meh towards wholesale clubs which makes sense if you don’t have kids. Seeing as we have two, going on three kids I’m always happy to see wholesale clubs included and I’m sure I’m not alone otherwise they wouldn’t continue to offer it as a category.

Two other thoughts. Use Discover to buy Costco shop cards online for in Warehouse use. Discover doesn’t work with the Dosh app so you’ll not be able to stack discounts at Sam’s.

EDIT: So much complaining, yikes. I’m just happy the 5x/5% cards still exist seeing as they’re essentially loss leaders. First word problems y’all.

Sam
Sam (@guest_833873)
November 1, 2019 12:47

Just do paypal all year long. Other categories are meh.

Dubya
Dubya (@guest_833883)
November 1, 2019 13:09

Nope.

Dan
Dan (@guest_833903)
November 1, 2019 13:39

Disagree

-Anyone who leaves their house

Eric
Eric (@guest_833970)
November 1, 2019 15:18

Grocery stores are awesome to pick up VGCs. Gas and wholesale clubs are useless since I can get gas cheaper in other ways and wholesale clubs don’t take Discover.

M&M
M&M (@guest_834020)
November 1, 2019 16:34

Costco doesn’t take Discover in their warehouses BUT their website does. I buy their gift cards there and then use those when shopping at my local warehouse. Always triggers the cash back bonus without issue. Can only speak about Costco since it’s the only wholesale club I shop at.

Avi
Avi (@guest_834164)
November 1, 2019 21:49

If Costco.com counts for the wholesale clubs category, you can use your Discover card to buy Costco gift cards there.

Dg
Dg (@guest_834207)
November 2, 2019 00:30

Isn’t Costco exclusively VISA except online.

Celia
Celia (@guest_834173)
November 1, 2019 22:23

Sams club and BJs take Discover and you can use it on Costco.com

Midnight
Midnight (@guest_834194)
November 1, 2019 23:36

Sam’s and BJs should take Discover. Only Costco doesn’t

AllenW
AllenW (@guest_834241)
November 2, 2019 07:04

I welcome the gas ones. It drives the market place for cheaper gas gift cards so others can get 10-20% off.

James
James (@guest_834402)
November 2, 2019 19:31

There’s only one wholesale club that doesn’t take Discover, called Costco. The others work just fine.

Rishabh
Rishabh (@guest_833856)
November 1, 2019 12:01

Yeaaa now I can actually use discover during summer cuz I rarely eat out