Monthly Archives: September 2026

It’s time to activate bonus categories for card that have quarterly bonuses for next quarter.  All of these cards offer bonus points or cash back on up to $1500 in purchases during the quarter.

US Bank Cash+

If you’re not already getting 5x Ultimate Rewards points by using a Chase Ink card (and even if you are!) you may want to switch the card you’re using for payment for TV/Internet/Streaming Services and Cell Phones.  You must register your card before December 15th to get the bonus cash-back in the categories you select.  As a reminder, you choose two 5% categories and one 2% category.  I’ll stick with Home Utilities and Fast Food for this quarter.  I’ll pick Grocery Stores for the 2% category just to pick something because I get a better rate from my Amex Gold Card (4x) and this quarter from my Chase Freedom cards (5x).

Discover Card

Discover’s Q4 categories are Restaurants, Entertainment and Utilities.  This is the first time ever Discover has offered 5% back for Utilities!  So if you don’t have the US Bank Cash+ card, you can bill your utilities here.  If your utility company charges a fee to use a credit card, as long as you’re earning more cash back than the fee, you still come out ahead. Register by December 15th to activate your bonuses.

What qualifies as “Entertainment”?  That’s a very good question.  Here’s what the Discover site says:

Entertainment purchases include ticket purchases at movie theaters, sports promoters (professional and semi-professional live events), theatrical promoters, concert promoters, amusement parks, tourist attractions, aquariums, zoos, dance halls, record stores, video rental locations, pool halls and bowling alleys. Tickets for or fees at golf courses, country clubs, some collegiate sporting events, charitable events, as well as cable and digital streaming and subscription services, amusement park tickets purchased on third-party sites, and entertainment and resort packages categorized as “travel” or “hotel” do not qualify.

To activate the bonus, simply log into your Discover account and click on the Activate Now button or look for the email where you can register in one click.

Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex

The Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex card categories are Grocery, Dining, and donations to the Red Cross.  I’ll likely put most of my groceries on a Freedom card since I’m already getting 5x with Dining (with Discover) and I’m always happy to supplement my supply of Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Activate these changes by visiting the Chase registration site by December 14.

In the end

Always register for the bonus categories even if you don’t think you’re going to use them.  You’ll never know when they might come in handy!