New 2nd Quarter 2011 5% Rotating Cash Rewards Credit Cards

It’s time for the 2nd quarter 2011 cash rewards credit cards bonuses. Since many credit cards now offer cash back on a rotating quarterly schedule, we have to reorganize each quarter; I’ll remind you which ones we should be using!

Today is the day to switch out the old 1st Quarter 5% Rewards and maximize your cash rewards for 2nd quarter 2011 to make sure you have the right cards, you are signed up for the 5% promotions, and you know where to use them.

2nd Quarter 2011 5% Cash Rewards Credit Cards

Chase Freedom. The Chase Freedom card is done with the grocery store and drug store bonuses this quarter. However, the Chase Freedom 2011 reward is perfect for anyone ready for spring. It’s great timing for us since we’ll probably be buying some new furnishings for our vacation home. The 2nd quarter 2011 Chase Freedom 5% categories are:

• Home Improvement
• Lawn & garden
• Home Furnishings

Discover More. The Discover 5% cash back on restaurants and travel ended with the 1st quarter 2011 rewards. Discover is also focusing on springtime home improvement in addition to fashion. The 2nd quarter 2011 Discover More 5% categories are:

• Home Improvement
• Department Stores
• Clothing Stores

Citi Dividend. I’m adding the Citi card to our 5% cash back list since they recently offered a sign up bonus that many of us signed up for (although the quarterly bonuses aren’t much different from Chase and Discover this quarter). The 2nd quarter 2011 Citi Dividend 5% categories are:

• Home improvement
• Home furnishings
• Home and garden purchases

No Sign Up Needed

Here are the easier cash back categories, since you don’t need to sign up:

Gas Purchases. The Pen Fed Platinum VISA gives 5% cash back for pay at the pump gas purchases.

Target Purchases. Target purchases will keep going on the Target 5% discount credit card.

Grocery and Drugstores. I’ll be putting grocery and drugstore purchases on our Chase AARP 5% Cash Back card this quarter. I’ve been reserving that card for specific purchases (instead of using it for everything), but since we spend quite a bit on groceries, I’ll make sure to leave room to put those purchases on that card too to get the 5%.

Restaurants. The TrueEarnings Card from Costco and American Express offers 3% cash back for restaurants. That looks like the best out there right now since the rotating 5% cards are skipping the restaurant cash back this quarter.

Everything Else. All other purchases (if you don’t have the AARP card) can continue to go on the Schwab credit card or Fidelity Credit Card for 2% cash back.

How to Get Your 5% Cash Back

As a reminder, here’s my checklist for rotating cash back programs:

1. Sign up for all of the new quarterly cash back programs, even if you don’t know if you’ll use that card. To sign up, just log in to your account online and select the 2nd quarter 2011 5% cash back information. In order to earn the 5%, you have to enroll in each program quarterly.
2. Write which categories to use each card for using a marker on the front of the card. It works really well to keep the cards straight!

Sign Up Bonus Offers

If you don’t have the 5% cash rewards cards I’m using, you can sign up for them and get the $100 sign up bonus offers too:

• Chase Freedom $100 Sign Up Bonus
• Discover $100 Sign Up Bonus
• Citi $100 Sign Up Bonus

If you're looking for a new credit card, be sure to check out our credit card directory!

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