Wish to trim $75 off your grocery invoice? The Chase Freedom FlexSM* card goes to assist me just do that. From Jan. 1 by means of March 31, 2024, the Freedom Flex is giving cardholders 5 % money again on as much as $1,500 in spending at choose grocery shops in addition to sure health golf equipment, fitness center memberships and self-care and spa providers. Activation is required and purchases past the $1,500 spending restrict will earn 1 % money again.
As a frequent person of this card and the first grocery shopper for a household of 4, I’m simply going to max out the $1,500 on groceries. I even have one other card (the Blue Money Most popularⓇ Card from American Categorical) that provides a barely higher return on grocery spending: 6 % money again on as much as $6,000 in annual purchases at U.S. supermarkets (then 1 % money again after that). However in a typical 12 months, I simply max out the Freedom Flex’s $1,500 grocery quarter and the Blue Money Most popular’s $6,000 annual grocery threshold, so there’s loads of room for each.
I’m not a giant spender at health golf equipment or spas, however since these classes are hardly ever maximized on different playing cards, you may need to maximize these kinds of spending forward of groceries when you have a Freedom Flex. There are many different good grocery rewards bank cards, in spite of everything.
It’s essential to notice the potential exclusions
The most important is that warehouse golf equipment (resembling Costco) and common merchandise shops (resembling Walmart and Goal) don’t qualify for the Freedom Flex’s 5 % grocery class, even if you happen to purchase groceries there. Rewards payouts are decided by the service provider class code assigned to the retailer. Walmart, as an illustration, has the identical service provider class code whether or not you’re shopping for bananas or a big-screen TV — and it’s not one which qualifies for the Freedom Flex’s grocery promotion.
Your mileage could fluctuate with smaller meals shops. A specialty bakery or cheese store is much less more likely to qualify than a neighborhood market, although I’ve by no means had any points with conventional grocery shops resembling ShopRite, Acme, Safeway and Publix. These have all certified for the Freedom Flex’s 5 % grocery promotion for me with out fail. Right here’s how Chase explains it:
“Retailers on this class embody supermarkets, retailers that provide a full-service grocery line of merchandise together with a deli and bakery in addition to smaller grocery shops. Some retailers that promote grocery objects will not be included on this class; for instance, bigger shops that promote all kinds of products and groceries, resembling warehouse golf equipment, low cost shops and a few smaller retailers resembling drugstores, and retailers specializing in only some grocery objects. Purchases made at gasoline stations from retailers who additionally function grocery shops will not be included on this class. Supply service retailers might be included in the event that they classify as a grocery retailer service provider.”
That final clarification is one other essential one. Elsewhere in the identical press launch, Chase particularly references Instacart as a supply service that qualifies for the 5 % grocery quarter. I used to subscribe to a meal equipment service (Marley Spoon) and that coded for five % grocery rewards, too. When unsure, you possibly can probably inquire with Chase customer support or try it out, maybe with a small buy first.
The bonus class competitors
In 2023, one other common card with rotating 5 % money again classes (the Uncover itⓇ Money Again card) additionally counted groceries amongst its Q1 picks. Fortunately for cardholders who’ve the Uncover product and the Freedom Flex, the overlap isn’t taking place once more in Q1 2024. Uncover’s January by means of March picks are eating places and drugstores (just like the Freedom Flex, activation is required, and the 5 % payout applies on as much as $1,500 in mixed quarterly spending). Neither Uncover nor Chase has revealed its 5 % classes for the second, third and fourth quarters of 2024, however I think Uncover will embody groceries in some unspecified time in the future.
By the way in which, whereas it received’t be any hassle for my household to maximise the $1,500 grocery restrict this quarter, if you happen to’re going to come back up brief, one possibility might be to prime off the grocery purchases you make together with your Freedom Flex with a couple of reward playing cards. That would successfully lengthen your 5 % rewards past March 31, and even perhaps to several types of retailers, since you should purchase reward playing cards at grocery shops that may then be used at all kinds of shops.
The underside line
I’m excited concerning the Freedom Flex’s Q1 2024 bonus classes. Groceries are a staple for almost each family, so this must be a simple strategy to rating some candy money again on purchases you’d have made anyway.
It at all times bugs me once I see statistics like this one, from PYMNTS.com, indicating that Individuals’ favourite cost methodology at grocery shops is a debit card. Bank cards supply much better rewards packages and purchaser protections. The easiest way to make use of a bank card is sort of a debit card — which means you pay in full to keep away from curiosity, however you additionally make the most of bank cards’ superior rewards packages and different advantages.
Have a query about bank cards? E mail me at ted.rossman@bankrate.com and I’d be completely happy to assist.
*Issuer-required disclosure assertion
Details about the Chase Freedom Flex has been collected independently by Bankrate. Card particulars haven’t been reviewed or authorised by the issuer.
