Another quarter, another chance to get free round-trip flights! We’re slowly approaching the end of lockdowns and restrictions due to COVID-19and the new quarterly categories have just been announced by Chase for it’s Freedom cards (CF and CFF). This short article will effectively cover what they are and how you can maximize the 7500 UR points earning potential.
What is the Chase Freedom Flex Credit Card?
The Chase Freedom Flex is a no annual fee credit card offering bonus cash back in categories that rotate every quarter. The sign-up bonus for this card is currently $200 or 20,000 UR points on spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months of the account opening. To learn more in detail about the card and calculate your points earning potential and see their worth, click here.
What are the Categories?
The Q2 categories include:
Gas Stations and Home Improvement Stores
Department Stores
Here is an official list of accepted Home Improvement stores – purchases at locations of which will earn you 5X UR points (or 5% cashback) which you may either use to book travel (best), redeem for cashback/statement credit (okay), or redeem as gift cards (worst):
- 1000BULBS.COM
- 3 DAY BLINDS
- ACE HARDWARE
- ALPINE LUMBER
- APPLIANCEPARTSPROS.COM
- APPLIANCES CONNECTION
- ATLANTIC PLYWOOD
- AVALON FLOORING
- BLINDS.COM
- BLUE RIDGE LUMBER CO.
- BUILD.COM
- BUILDERS FIRST SOURCE
- BUILDERS GENERAL
- CANADIAN TIRE
- CARTER LUMBER
- CONTINENTAL TRADING & HARDWARE
- DISCOUNT BUILDERS SUPPLY
- DO IT BEST
- DREYERS LUMBER & HARDWARE
- EMPIRE TODAY
- EXTECH BUILDING MATERIALS
- GROGAN BUILDERS SUPPLY
- HARBOR FREIGHT TOOLS
- HARTVILLE HARDWARE INC
- HILTI INC
- HOME DEPOT
- KELLY-MOORE PAINT
- KUIKEN BROTHERS CO INC
- LIGHTING INC
- LOWE’S
- LUMBER LIQUIDATORS
- MENARDS
- MOE DISTRIBUTORS
- MONMOUTH BUILDING CENTER
- MONTALBANO LUMBER
- MORRISTOWN LUMBER & SUPPLY CO.
- NIECE LUMBER
- NORTHERN TOOL & EQUIPMENT
- P C RICHARD & SON
- PRODUCERS COOPERATIVE
- REC TEC GRILLS
- ROCKLER
- RUGSUSA HOLDINGS INC
- SELECTBLINDS LLC
- SHERWIN-WILLIAMS
- SHOPPERS CHOICE
- SIGNATURE HARDWARE
- STINE – LAKE CHARLES
- SUTHERLAND LUMBER
- TRUE VALUE
- WEBER STEPHEN PRODUCTS
- YARDVILLE SUPPLY CO
Here is a list of places/conditions that will NOT earn you 5X/5%:
- Warehouse clubs
- Discount stores
- Grocery stores
- Merchants that specialize in home furnishings, garden and landscaping supplies
Conclusion
I genuinely feel that this is a pretty easy quarter to maximize the 7500 UR point earning potential. For those interested in cashback, that’s $75 off of $1500 spend in the three months after which it is a 1% return.
However, the true value lies in collecting the points to be transferred to airline/hotel partners for redemption. I cover how to do the following in these articles (which you may click to be redirected to):
If you’d like to sign up for the Chase Freedom Card, please read this article before doing so (as they do not easily approve people the first time).
Already own the card? Here’s how you activate the quarter bonuses.
Login to your mobile app and select Ultimate Rewards -> See 5% calendar ->Activate (green button).
On the website, you simply login and the notification will pop up to remind you to activate the offer.