Holiday season starts basically when the fourth quarter begins on October 1st. You can now start earning 5% cash back on shopping at various places such as Target, Walmart, Amazon, Department Stores, Sending money to relatives via Paypal or buying something online and more! The best categories seem to be Paypal which is almost anything and Amazon!
Chase Freedom: 5% Back on Paypal, Chase Pay, Dept. Stores
Earn 5% back on Paypal, Chase Pay, and department stores this quarter, up to $1,500 maximum.
Sign-up for a Chase Freedom Card and get a $200 Bonus you spend $500.
- Paypal: Includes transactions made using your Chase Freedom card with PayPal for purchases or sending money. Just make your Freedom Card the default payment option in Paypal and you can maximize your rewards in no time. Keep an eye out for Paypal at checkout at retailers like walmart.com, target.com, and thousands of others. Many charities and insurances accept Paypal as well. You can even send money to friends, incurring the 2.9% fee, and it’ll be worthwhile for the 5x points earned.
- Chase Pay (and Samsung): Includes purchases made using your Freedom card with your Chase Pay digital wallet during check out. This is really a terrific category given that it’s possible to use Chase Pay via Samsung Pay which can be used at almost any physical store who accepts credit cards. There are also, of course, various retailers who accept Chase Pay directly, like Starbucks, Best Buy, and Shell gas stations.
- Department Stores: Includes retailers such as Macy’s, Kohl’s, Sears, Saks, Dillards, JCPenney, and dozens more. Exclusions mentioned: Walmart, Target, and Kmart (but you can get Walmart and Target with Discover below).
Discover IT Card: 5% Back at Amazon, Target, Walmart.com
Earn 5% back at Amazon.com, Target stores, Target.com, and Walmart.com this quarter, up to $1,500 maximum. Walmart store purchases are not included.
If you don’t have a Discover IT Card you can get one here with a $75 sign-up bonus.
- Amazon.com purchases include those made through the Amazon.com checkout, including digital downloads, Amazon.com gift cards, Amazon Fresh orders, Amazon Local Deals and Amazon Prime subscriptions and items sold by third party merchants through Amazon.com’s marketplace. So yes you can get 5% on gift cards!
- Target purchases include any purchase made online at Target.com, through the Target app, or in-store at Target. Individual merchants and stand-alone stores within physical Target locations or on Target.com may not be eligible in this category.
- Walmart.com purchases include those made at Walmart.com and when shopping through the Walmart app (including Grocery Pick Up and Instore Pick Up). Purchases made in store at Walmart Stores, Walmart Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and Walmart Pay are excluded from this promotion unfortunately.
Tip: Target gift cards at Target and Target.com does not earn rewards with the REDcard, but will earn 5% with this Discover promo. I expect Target to run their annual holiday 10% off Target gift cards sale, and the Discover card will be useful for me to bring the total savings up to 15%.
If you spend a lot: With Discover you can login, then click this link to see you how far along the $1,500 limit you are.
