The Chase Freedom® Visa and Chase Freedom® MasterCard, both of which have no annual fee and $100 sign-up bonus, give you 5% bonus for up to $1,500 of spend per quarter. They just announced the 5% cash back rebate categories for 2013. You could could also register for your 2012 4th quarter Chase Freedom 5% cash rebates if you haven’t already done so. As always, you’ll earn a 1% cash rebate for all of your other card purchases. Make sure to visit the Chase Freedom Rewards Website to activate your card for the 5% cash rebates each quarter.
2012 Chase Freedom 5% Cash Back Categories(October to December 31, 2012): Register Now!
- Hotels, Airlines, Best Buy, & Kohl’s
2013 Chase Freedom 5% Cash Back Categories:
January 1 to March 31, 2013
- Gas Stations, Drugstores, & Starbucks Stores
April 1 to June 30, 2013
- Restaurants & Movie Theaters
July 1 to September 30, 2013
- Gas Stations, Theme Parks, & Kohl’s
October 1 to December 31, 2013
- Select Department Stores & Amazon.com
I would plan to spend strategically to max out these categories and buy gift cards at drug stores and gas stations for 5% cash back on other categories. This is a fee-free card, so you don’t need to worry to cancel it anytime. Either redeem the points earned for cash back or transfer the Ultimate Rewards points to the Chase Sapphire Preferred(SM), Chase Ink Bold®, Chase Ink Plus(SM) and from there to airline or hotel partners such as Hyatt or United. There’s a limit of earning the bonus on $1,500 of spend per quarter(that’s an easy 7,500 Ultimate Rewards points per quarter, or 30,000 Ultimate Rewards points per year).
 Barclaycard Arrival World MasterCard offers 40,000 bonus miles($400 off your next trip) after you $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days from account opening. It's a new premium travel rewards card with 2.2% cash back towards travel. This 40,000 bonus miles is redeemable towards $400 in cash credit towards any travel purchase, plus 4,000 miles rebated back. You could also redeem 40,000 miles for $400 straight-up cash. The $89 annual fee is waived for the first year. Barclaycard Arrival World Review |
