Chapter 1: Cash
In chapter one we discuss proven techniques for earning cash back on everyday purchases. Here are the cash-back credit cards discussed in Chapter 1 of the book. None of these cards have an annual fee:
- Chase Freedom. Rotating 5% cash back categories.
- Discover it. Rotating 5% cash back categories.
- Citi Dividend Platinum Select. Rotating 5% cash back categories. This card is no longer available to new applicants.
- US Bank Cash+. Select your own 2% and 5% cash back categories.
- Pentagon Federal Credit Union Visa Platinum Cash Rewards. 3% or 5% cash back on gas purchases made at the pump.
- American Express Blue Cash Everyday. 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in annual purchases.
- Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature. Unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases when you deposit your rewards into a Fidelity account.
- Citi Double Cash. 2% cash back on all purchases: 1% cash back on the statement you make a purchase, and another 1% cash back when you pay for your purchases. See this post for information on how the Double Cash works.
- American Express "old" Blue Cash. 5% cash back on up to $50,000 in annual purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, and drug stores, after spending $6,500 per year (1% cash back in bonus categories until then).
Here are links to signup for a few of the most popular cash back portals:
Here are the rotating cash back bonus categories for 2017 that have been announced so far:
Chase Freedom
- Quarter 1: Gas Stations, Local Commuter Transportation
- Quarter 2: Grocery Stores (excluding Walmart and Target), Drugstores
- Quarter 3: Restaurants, Movie Theatres
- Quarter 4: Walmart, Department Stores
Discover More/it
- Quarter 1: Gas Stations, Ground Transportation and Wholesale Clubs
- Quarter 2: Home Improvement Stores and Wholesale Clubs
- Quarter 3: Restaurants
- Quarter 4: Amazon.com, Target
Citi Dividend
- Quarter 1: The Home Depot, Home Furnishing Stores
- Quarter 2: Drugstores, Fitness Clubs
- Quarter 3: Hilton, Airlines
- Quarter 4: Best Buy, Department Stores
For reference, here are the rotating cash back bonus categories for 2016:
Chase Freedom
- Quarter 1: Gas stations and local commuter transportation (excluding parking, tolls, and Amtrak)
- Quarter 2: Grocery stores (excluding Walmart and Target)
- Quarter 3: Restaurants and wholesale clubs
- Quarter 4: Department stores, wholesale clubs, and drug stores
Discover More/it
- Quarter 1: Gas stations and ground transportation
- Quarter 2: Restaurants and movies
- Quarter 3: Home Improvement Stores & Amazon.com
- Quarter 4: Amazon.com, Department Stores & Sam's Club
Citi Dividend
- Quarter 1: The Home Depot and home furnishing stores
- Quarter 2: Drug stores and fitness clubs
- Quarter 3: Hilton and car rentals
- Quarter 4: Best buy and department stores
For reference, here are the rotating cash back bonus categories for 2015:
Chase Freedom
- Quarter 1: Grocery stores, excluding Walmart and Target stores, movie theaters, Starbucks stores
- Quarter 2: Restaurants, Bed Bath & Beyond, H&M, overstock.com
- Quarter 3: Gas stations
- Quarter 4: Amazon.com
Discover More/it
- Quarter 1: Gas and ground transportation
- Quarter 2: Restaurants and Movies
- Quarter 3: Home Improvement Stores, Department Stores, and Amazon.com
- Quarter 4: "Holiday Shopping & More"
Citi Dividend
- Quarter 1: Macy's & Home Furnishing
- Quarter 2: Home Depot & Home/Garden Stores
- Quarter 3: Hilton & Airlines
- Quarter 4: Best Buy & Department Stores
For reference, here are the rotating cash back bonus categories for 2014:
Chase Freedom
- Quarter 1: Gas Stations, Movie Theaters, Starbucks
- Quarter 2: Restaurants and Lowe's
- Quarter 3: Gas Stations and Kohl's
- Quarter 4: Amazon.com, Zappos.com, select department stores
Discover More/it
- Quarter 1: Restaurants and movies
- Quarter 2: Home Improvement Stores, Furniture Stores, Bed Bath & Beyond
- Quarter 3: Gas Stations
- Quarter 4: Online shopping, department stores
Citi Dividend
- Quarter 1: Macy's, Drug Stores, Fitness Clubs
- Quarter 2: Home Furnishing Stores, Home & Garden Stores, The Home Depot
- Quarter 3: Hilton Worldwide, Car Rental Agencies, Theme Parks, Movie Theaters
- Quarter 4: Best Buy, department stores, toy stores
For reference, here are the rotating cash back bonus categories for 2013:
Chase Freedom
- Quarter 1: Gas Stations, Drug Stores, Starbucks
- Quarter 2: Restaurants, Movie Theaters, Lowe's
- Quarter 3: Gas Stations, Theme Parks, Kohl's
- Quarter 4: Amazon.com, select department stores
Discover More
- Quarter 1: Restaurants, Movies
- Quarter 2: Home Improvement
- Quarter 3: Gas Stations
- Quarter 4: Online shopping
Citi Dividend
- Quarter 1: Zappos.com, Fitness Clubs, Drug Stores
- Quarter 2: Home Furnishing stores, Home and Garden stores, Home Depot
- Quarter 3: Worldwide Hilton properties, car rental agencies, movie theaters, theme parks
- Quarter 4: Best Buy, department stores, toy stores
