The content is accurate at the time of publication and is subject to change.
Holiday season is coming! For many of us, it is a time that we anticipate with both joy and anxiety. Holiday season means guest visits, celebrations, family traditions and, of course, presents. Starting your preparations far in advance may reduce stress. And if you have the right credit card or credit cards, you may even save some money.
Decorating your apartment for the holidays and buying gifts can be expensive. However, if you have a holiday budget, you can get a cash back credit card as well. But don't treat it as extra money, use it to maximize your rewards on something you were going to buy anyway. Here are credit cards that offer 5% cash back on purchases in specific categories:
- Discover it® Cash Back: you can earn 5% cash back on purchases at Amazon.com and Target, now through December 31, 2024, on up to $1,500 in purchases when you activate. Then unlimited 1% cash back on all purchases. The card has no annual fee.
- Citi Custom Cash® Card: you will earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to $500 spent. Then 1% cash back on all purchases. The card has no annual fee.
- Chase Freedom Flex*: you can earn 5% cash back on PayPal, at McDonald's, pet shops and vet services, and select charities from now and through December 31, 2024, on up to $1,500 in purchases when you activate. Plus, you can earn 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠. The card has no annual fee.
- U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card*: you will earn 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter on two categories you choose. Plus, you can earn up to 5% on online shopping through the Rewards Center Shopping Deals and 5% cash back on prepaid travel booked directly in the Rewards Center. The card has no annual fee.
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express*: you can earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). And you will earn 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions. The annual fee is $0 for the first year and $95 after that.
- U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card*: you will earn 6% cash back on your first $1,500 in combined eligible purchases each quarter with two retailers you choose. The annual fee is $0 for the first year and $95 after that.
As you can see, higher cash back rewards are not given for all purchases, but in specific categories only. Plus, there is a limit to how much you can earn before a standard rewards rate applies. So you should carefully choose the card that will help you maximize your rewards.
In addition to rewards, the card can offer 0% introductory interest rates and protections (like purchase protection or extended warranty).
When it comes to holiday shopping with a credit card, you can earn serious cash back if you know how to maximize your spending. The rule of a thumb is to never carry a balance when you try to maximize your earnings.
*The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Credit-Land.com: U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card, Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card, and Chase Freedom Flex®. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
