Discover Cash Back Calendar 2022: Cash Back in Rotating Bonus Categories
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Discover's rotating cash back categories for 2022 include restaurants, PayPal, Amazon, and digital wallets
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- Some Discover credit cards offer cash back bonus categories that change every three months.
- These include the Discover it® Cash Back and Discover it® Student Cash Back.
- You can earn 5% back on up to $1,500 in combined spending in these categories each quarter (then 1%) after you activate (from July 1 to September 30, 2022, you can earn 5% cash back at restaurants and PayPal on up to $1,500 in purchases after enrollment, then 1%).
- Read Insider's guide to the best rewards credit cards.
If you want to make the most of cash-back credit cards, there are different earning structures to be aware of. Some cards offer a flat cash-back rate for all purchases, others include extra rewards in specific categories, and a few offer increased earnings in bonus categories that rotate every quarter.
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Discover it® Cash Back
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Discover it® Student Cash Back
The Discover it® Cash Back and Discover it® Student Cash Back fall into the last category. Both earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent in combined bonus categories (then 1%) that change every three months, and 1% back on all other purchases. To earn 5% cash back, you'll first need to activate the bonus through your Discover online account, and if you enroll after the start of the quarter, the bonus will be in effect from the day you activate (from July 1 to September 30, 2022, you can earn 5% cash back at restaurants and PayPal on up to $1,500 in purchases after enrollment, then 1%).
New cardholders will also have all of their rewards matched after their first 12 months through the Discover cash back match program, which can add up quickly if you spend a lot on your card throughout the year.
We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
Discover it cash back calendar for 2022
- From July 1 to September 30, 2022, you can earn 5% cash back at restaurants and PayPal on up to $1,500 in purchases after enrollment, then 1%
- Discover will match your cash back earned at the end of your first account year
- No annual fee
- Cap on how much bonus cash back you can earn each quarter
- If the quarterly categories aren't convenient for you, you can earn more cash back with a different card
- Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match - only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year! There's no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
- New! Discover helps remove your personal information from select people-search websites. Activate by mobile app for free.
- Every $1 you earn in cash back is $1 you can redeem.
- Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 14.24% to 25.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
- No annual fee.
- Click "Apply Now" to see terms and conditions.
Discover's bonus categories for the entire year are released well in advance, so you can plan your credit card strategy and maximize rewards each quarter. Right now you can activate the bonus for the remainder of Q3 2022 (July to September), and for Q4 2022 (October to December).
Q1: January - March
- Grocery stores and fitness club/gym memberships
Q2: April - June
- Gas stations and Target
Q3: July - September
- Restaurants and PayPal
Q4: October - December
- Amazon.com and digital wallets
We've seen most of these Discover cash-back categories before, but there are two entirely new options for 2022. From January to March 2022, fitness club and gym memberships were included, and from October to December 2022, digital wallets are another new addition.
In Q2 (April to June), Target was a bonus category — and this time, it included both in-store and online purchases. Other times (such as Q4 2021), it's been limited to online purchases only at Target.com, so this was a nice addition for those who prefer shopping in person.
How to redeem Discover cashback rewards
- From July 1 to September 30, 2022, you can earn 5% cash back at restaurants and PayPal on up to $1,500 in purchases after enrollment, then 1%
- Discover matches your cash back after the first year
- Not the most rewarding cash-back card for non-bonus purchases
- Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match - only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 into $200. There's no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
- No credit score required to apply.
- New! Discover helps remove your personal information from select people-search websites. Activate by mobile app for free.
- No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 15.24% - 24.24% applies.
- Click "Apply Now" to see terms and conditions.
Discover offers more redemption options than many people realize. If you have any of its cash-back credit cards, you can apply rewards to your bill as a statement credit or request a direct deposit to your bank account, redeem them toward Amazon and PayPal purchases, or cash them in for gift cards from select retailers.
You can also donate your rewards to select charities, including:
- American Cancer Society
- ASPCA
- American Red Cross
- Carbonfund.org
- Children's Miracle Network
- Junior Achievement
- Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
- Make-A-Wish
- Operation Homefront
- World Wildlife Fund
Discover credit cards don't charge annual or foreign transaction fees, so they're a good choice if you want to minimize out-of-pocket costs and maximize rewards.
Other cards with rotating categories to consider
- No annual fee
- Generous bonus cash-back categories
- Great welcome bonus
- Booking through Ultimate Rewards portal can restrict outside earning potential
- Varying percentages and rotating calendar categories require extra attention
- 3% foreign transaction fees
- Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
- 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
- 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more
- 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 17.24% - 25.99%.
- No annual fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Flex℠ card
- Keep tabs on your credit health - Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.
If you like the idea of earning a bonus in categories that rotate each quarter, you should consider the Chase Freedom Flex card. Like its predecessor, the Chase Freedom® (no longer open to applicants), the no-annual-fee Chase Freedom Flex℠ offers 5% cash back in rotating categories after activation that are often different from Discover's in the same quarter.
With the Chase Freedom Flex, you'll earn 5% back (5x Chase Ultimate Rewards® points) on up to $1,500 spent in combined quarterly bonus categories after activation (then 1%), 5% back on travel purchases made through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% back on drugstore and dining purchases, and 1% back on everything else. Similar to Discover, you can redeem rewards from the Chase Freedom Flex for statement credits, cash back, gift cards, merchandise, and more.
If you're not sure which card is right for you, check out our comparison of the Discover it Cash Back and Chase Freedom Flex to help decide.
If you also have a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, you can turn your cash back into Chase Ultimate Rewards points and unlock more redemption options, including transferring points to Chase's airline and hotel partners, like United Airlines and Hyatt.
For rates and fees of Discover it® Cash Back, please click here.
For rates and fees of Discover it® Student Cash Back, please click here.
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards.
Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.
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