5% Categories For 2025 First Quarter

As we near the end of the fourth quarter it is just about time to turn the page for the new year. Hopefully you have already wrapped up your fourth quarter spend and are fully locked onto January 1st. If not, then get to it! For this post I wanted to share the 5% categories for 2025 first quarter and provide shortcut activation links for each.

It is best to activate each one today when they are ToP of mind so you don't forget. You wouldn't want to complete the spend and then wonder where your bonus points are. Who would do such a thing? Hi, it's me, I'm the idiot, it's me. Don't be Mark…

Update 12/16/24: We have the details for the categories for the first quarter of 2025.

Chase Freedom Flex (or OG Freedom – No Longer Available)

The categories for this upcoming quarter for the Freedom Flex, and OG Freedom, are as follows (5x earning on your first $1,500 in spend from all 3 combined):

• Grocery Stores (Excluding Target & Walmart)
• Fitness Clubs & Gym Memberships
• Hair, nails and spa services
• Norwegian Cruise line

This quarter for the Freedom Flex is pretty good. Grocery will likely be the focus for most, and it should be fairly easy to hit, especially with grocery prices these days.

Activation Link

Discover Card

Next up is the Discover card, my second favorite option solely because I have a few of them. This card earns cash back and because Discover has no transfer partners. You can earn a cumulative 5% back on the first $1,500 in spend on the following categories this quarter:

• Restaurants
• Home improvement stores
• Select streaming services

While getting 5% back at restaurants is nice, there are quite a few cards that get around that normally. Because of that I would focus on the home improvement stores portion if you frequent one. That is how I plan on maximizing our two Discover cards.

Activation Link

US Bank Cash+

This is a card I have had my eye on for a bit. I wouldn’t sign up for it directly though. The way to do it is to grab a very underrated US Bank Altitude Connect card and then downgrade it to this after the first 12 months. That is of course if you are past Chase 5/24 status and are not worried about getting back under soon. The card earns 5% back on up to $2,000 in spend each quarter, which is higher than most other options capped at $1,500. You also get to select 2 categories from their list which is a nice feature.

• Shopping
  • Furniture stores
  • Electronic stores
  • Department stores
  • Select clothing stores
  • Sporting goods stores
• Services & Utilities
  • Home utilities
  • Cell phone providers
  • Gyms/fitness centers
  • Ground transportation
• Entertainment
  • Movie theaters
  • Fast food
  • TV, internet and streaming

Activation Link

Citi Dividend

The precursor to the Citi Custom Cash, which is a really unique 5% option, was the Citi Dividend card. Unlike the Custom Cash, the Dividend works on the traditional 5% back on quarterly categories. The difference with the Dividend is that you get $6,000 per year across all quarters, so you can skip some and still maximize it. The categories for the card are as follows:

• Amazon
• Select Streaming Services
  • Amazon Prime Video
  • Amazon Music
  • Apple Music
  • Disney+
  • DirecTV Stream
  • ESPN+
  • fuboTV
  • HBO Max
  • NBA League Pass
  • Netflix
  • Pandora
  • Paramount+
  • Showtime
  • Sling TV
  • Spotify
  • Starz
  • SiriusXM
  • Vudu
  • YouTube Red
  • YouTube TV
  • Tidal

Citi Dividend brings up the rear with the least impressive of the 5% category offers. If you don't have a credit card that earns a bonus on streaming, then this may be useful. The good thing about the Dividend card is that you can skip a whole quarter and not hurt yourself because of the way it is set up.

Activation Link

5% Categories For 2025 First Quarter: ToP Thoughts

All in all, I like the 5% categories for 2025 first quarter. Well, at least for the cards I have, the Freedom Flex and Discover card. The Citi Dividend being a somewhat flop is okay, since it allows you to pick and choose your quarters a bit.

I always get excited for new quarters to kick off since it is a chance to rack up some points in a big way. Especially when the categories line up well with my needs. Let me know what you think of these quarters over in the ToP Facebook Group. Remember to activate them all now!

Hopefully we see some good Chase bonus spending offers soon too. I checked this morning and don't think they have been loaded in the system yet.