Chase Freedom & Freedom Flex 5% Categories For Q1 2024: Grocery, Fitness, Spa

Chase released the 5% categories on the Freedom and Freedom Flex cards for the first quarter of 2024:

  • Grocery Stores – This is always a favorite since we all shop for groceries. Plus, you can max this out by purchasing gift cards to other retailers.
    • Excludes Walmart and Target
  • Fitness Club & Gym Memberships
  • Self-Care & Spa Services

These are not yet showing publicly, but they already appear in the Chase login. They’ll show at the public link in a few hours, presumably.
    Chuck
  • On December 14, 2023, 23:54
Tags: chase freedomchase freedom flex

View Comments (71)

  • Is it possible to use Flex for groceries on 12/31, so that the transaction posts in January and earns 5%?

  • During Q4 2023, if I use this card to buy gift cards at costco.com, would I get 5% because it is a wholesale club? Or will it be just 1% because it would be treated as just an online purchase?

    • I started using one of them for groceries last month because I maxed out my BCP card (although oddly it claimed that I got more than $360 back in rebates from groceries, and one of the purchases showed one percent.

      Sadly, I just noticed that I did $525 in grocery purchases last month, so the last $25 were only 1.1% (just two of us, but I do a lot of grocery rebates like Ibotta et al.) Will probably switch my grocery spending to CF next quarter since I have three of them and can make an effective 7.5% with my CSR. Will then downgrade the BCP (P2's card) when the annual fee is due. Can always upgrade one of my cards if I need the 6% again.

    • I'll be using both the cards for groceries. The combined $1000/month limit helps me stock up on some things since my average grocery bill is generally $600-$700 per month.

  • Groceries is excellent, but I never found it how to maximize.

    My local groceries stores Do NOT allowed purchase of gift cards with any card , only cash.

  • I just canceled my Amex gold card and will downgrade my Amex platinum card at the end of March to the Amex gold card so I don't have a credit card with a permanent bonus multiplier for groceries right now. Glad to see that my freedom card will fill that gap next quarter.

    • I have a Citi Custom Cash that gives me that permanent bonus multiplier for groceries. And for two quarters, I get more room for grocery spending from Discover and Chase FF.

  • Fitness Clubs -- any data points on whether a Lululemon 'Mirror' subscription (or Peloton) would count for this?

    • Just noticed that Peloton is not counting. It came through as "Bicycle shops" and I did not get bonus points.

      • just make sure pp does not switch for undisclosed "security/risk reasons" from your preferred card to any other linked account without warning...some on pp community forums have said they had to remove all cards except preferred to avoid surprise switches.

    • To your first question, I'd check PayPal Giving Fund for the charity you're looking to support. The donations do count at 5x for you (you'll pay with PayPal) and the charities get the full amount of your contribution. PayPal's 501(c)3 gets a write-off and good press?

      • I want to donate to animal shelter cat people. They’re 501(c)3. I’m not sure. Maybe debit card is best. I would like points but not if it comes from the very money I gave them. Unless the IRS writes it off in some fashion. But I have no idea how it goes down for charities. I figured it’s Chase that decides. Not paypal. Do all 501(c)3 have a charity merchant code by definition. Sorry for asking stupid questions.

        • There are some good articles on interchange that apply to your question! Sub out "small business" for "charity" and you'll have a good approximation of the kinds of costs they might incur and can make an informed choice about your donation.

          • Most articles are just merchant. I’ll look. Here’s hoping it’s lower. That would be really shitty to charge the same rates to people who do selfless work.

    • To your second question: Kind of, in the sense that charities still pay processing fees and banking fees (at least in many cases), so there are nonzero costs to accepting donations.

      That being said, they're still better funded because of the contribution you've made and there are some community foundations, financial partners and funds like the PayPal Giving Fund that absorb some (or all) of those particular admin costs.

        • Fees for debit cards tend to be much lower, sure. Any method of accepting donations comes with a cost though. Cheques have to be processed and cashed. Cash donations can be easy to lose. Gifts of equities can cause some paperwork. (There's really always paperwork).

          The credit card interchange isn't specifically higher during Chase's elevated bonus time though (as far as I know), if that's what you're concerned about.

          • Yes. I figured it comes out if the merchant (though hate calling charities merchant). But you think anything with 501(c) will register as a charity?

            I guess I could try as a data point?

          • When Chase offers Pay Yourself Back or a bonus on "Select Charities", it's just those listed that I'd count on receiving a bonus for. It's unfortunately limited.

            Since the 2023Q4 bonus is on PayPal though, donating to charities that accept PayPal or can be paid using PayPal is the way to go with your Freedom.

          • just make sure pp does not switch for undisclosed “security/risk reasons” from your preferred card to any other linked account without warning…some on pp community forums have said they had to remove all cards except preferred to avoid surprise switches.

          • Be the datapoint time? Remember though: The "Select charities" category from Chase is limited to the specific ones that they're partnering with. There's always an off chance something else slips through, but I would definitely not expect that to happen.

      • If you apply for the card in January, then there is a chance to double dip on the 9% next January (assuming Chase doesn't end the 12 mo grocery SUB in the next few weeks.

        • Yep that is what I will be doing in a few weeks! I applied during the 12 month grocery offer December 2022 but Chase took a month to review and approve, so didn't get the approval until January. Should give a short window to max out the 9X.

          Since the Amazon category in Q2 also stacked with grocery bonus for Whole Foods that will mean three quarters of 9X on the year grocery bonus offer.

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