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 Gyms for this quarter.  I’ll pick Grocery Stores for the 2% category just to pick something but wouldn’t use this card at a grocery as I get a better return with my Amex Gold Card.

Discover Card

Discover’s Q4 categories are Amazon and Drugstores. Once I complete the minimum spend on my new Bank of America Atmos Summit card, I’ll use Discover for any Amazon purchases I have for Christmas.  Unlike most folks I don’t buy much from Amazon.

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 card is celebrating its birthday all year long by adding a 4th bonus category each quarter. Fortunately this also applies to the Freedom Flex.  This quarter’s extra bonus category is PayPal but that’s only valid in December.  The regular categories are Old Navy, Chase Travel and Department Stores.  I’m not thrilled that it’s so specific.

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!