3rd Quarter 2014 5% Rotating Cash Rewards Credit Cards
3rd quarter cash back is here and it’s focused on gas and hotels! It’s time to reevaluate the cards you are carrying to take advantage of the best 3rd quarter 2014 cash rewards credit cards bonuses. Every quarter we reevaluate the cash back cards to make sure we get the highest cash back on each purchase including the credit cards that offer cash back on a rotating quarterly schedule.
As you switch out your cards, don’t forget to follow up on all your rewards and make sure you are earning the right cash back and maximizing all of your purchases.
We do the same swap every quarter, so you know exactly how it works: take out the old 2nd Quarter 2014 5% Rotating Cash Rewards Credit Cards (be sure you maximized all your 2nd quarter categories you need!) and maximize your cash rewards for 3rd quarter 2014 to make sure you have the right cards, you are signed up for the 5% promotions, and you know where to use them.
New this quarter are direct links to activate all of your 5% quarterly rewards!
3rd Quarter 2014 5% Cash Rewards Credit Cards
Discover it. The Discover 5% cash back for 3rd quarter 2014 is for gas stations! Perfect for anyone traveling by car this summer. The 3rd quarter 2014 Discover More 5% categories are:
- Gas Stations
Here’s the place to activate your 3rd quarter Discover rewards. See the entire 2014 Discover Rewards Calendar.
Chase Freedom. The Chase Freedom card will also be featuring 5% cash back on gas stations this quarter! The 3rd quarter 2014 Chase Freedom 5% categories are:
- Gas Stations
- Kohl’s
Here’s the place to activate your 3rd quarter Chase Freedom rewards. See the entire 2014 Chase Freedom Rewards Calendar and the Best Way to Maximize Chase Ultimate Rewards Points.
Citi Dividend. Citi has you covered for the rest of any summer vacations with the 5% cash back on Hilton hotels. The 3rd quarter 2014 Citi Dividend 5% categories are:
- Hilton Hotels
- Theme parks
- Movie Theaters
- Car Rentals
Here’s the place to activate your 3rd quarter Citi Dividend rewards.
No Sign Up Needed
And as always, here are the easier cash back categories, since you don’t need to sign up:
| Category | Card | Cash Back |
|---|---|---|
| Grocery Stores | Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express | 6% cash back (up to $6,000 per year) |
| Gas* | TrueEarnings® Card from Costco and American Express | 3% cash back (up to $4,000 per year) |
| Restaurants | Citi Thank You Premier Card | 3 ThankYou Points for every $1 |
| Target | Target credit card | 5% discount |
| Amazon | Amazon Visa or Citi Forward Card (college students only) |
3% cash back 5% cash back |
| Wireless and Office Supplies | SimplyCash® Business Card from American Express | 5% cash back |
| Costco | Fidelity Credit Card | 2% cash back |
| Travel | Barclaycard Arrival | Various |
| Charitable Donations | U.S. Bank FlexPerks® Business Travel Rewards Visa® Card | 3x points |
| Choose Your Own Categories | SimplyCash® American Express or US Bank Cash Plus |
3% 5% |
| Everything Else | Gift cards purchased on American Express or Fidelity Credit Card or Barclaycard Arrival |
6% 2% 2.2% |
*I left the categories on the grid for those currently in rotation. Readers requested that I leave them on as a backup for which card to use once they’ve exhausted their rotating rewards.
How to Get Your 5% Cash Back
Here’s my checklist for rotating cash back programs:
- 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 3rd quarter 2014 5% cash back information. In order to earn the 5%, you have to enroll in each program quarterly.
- 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 some of the cash rewards cards I’m using, here are the ones currently offering sign up bonus offers:
