New 1st Quarter 2014 5% Rotating Cash Rewards Credit Cards
1st quarter cash back is here and it’s obviously targeted at New Year’s resolutions! It’s time to reevaluate the cards you are carrying to take advantage of the best 1st 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 2013 4th Quarter 5% Reward cards and maximize your cash rewards for 1st 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.
1st Quarter 2014 5% Cash Rewards Credit Cards
Citi Dividend. Citi has you covered with the 5% cash back for your gym membership. If you have the option to prepay using your Citi Dividend card, you’ll get 5% cash back! The 1st quarter 2014 Citi Dividend 5% categories are:
- Drug stores
- Macy’s and Macys.com
- Fitness clubs
Discover it. The Discover 5% cash back for 1st quarter 2014 can be your new go to card for restaurant cash back. The 1st quarter 2014 Discover More 5% categories are:
- Restaurants
- Movies
See the entire 2014 Discover Rewards Calendar.
Chase Freedom. The Chase Freedom card will be back in the rotation this quarter for gas stations. The 1st quarter 2014 Chase Freedom 5% categories are:
- Gas stations
- Movie theaters
- Starbucks stores
See the entire 2014 Chase Freedom Rewards Calendar and the Best Way to Maximize Chase Ultimate Rewards Points.
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* | Upromise World MasterCard | 4% at participating restaurants |
| Target | Target credit card | 5% discount |
| Amazon | Amazon Visa or Citi Forward Card (college students only) |
3 points per dollar 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 |
| Everything Else | Gift cards purchased on American Express or Fidelity Credit Card |
6% 2% |
*In addition this quarter, 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 1st 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 the 5% cash rewards cards I’m using, here are the ones currently offering sign up bonus offers:
