A useful Chase category at last!

[GREENBACK]

I got a Chase Freedom cc last summer mainly for the instant $250 redemption. That was great but all the categories offered for the %5 percent back were for things I had no interest in. This period they are offering groceries as one of the categories so I'm definitely going to blow the dust off of it for this category. Guess it's worth having even if it's only for occasional use.

[jpg7n16]

I hope you used it last quarter when one of the categories was "gas"

[GREENBACK]

I hope you used it last quarter when one of the categories was "gas"

Gas isn't a big category for me but I probably should have used it for that.

[kv968]

I hate that one of their main categories now seems to be Kohl's. If and when I shop there I'd much rather use their CC and get 20-30% off rather than just 5% back.

[disneysteve]

I used it for gas, though Discover had the same promo so I flipped back and forth between them.

Discover is 5% for restaurants for April and May so we'll use that. They have 5% for groceries but not until May.

[phantom]

I'm excited about the groceries category this quarter too since the timing is perfect for me. There is a local gas station/grocery store combo in our area that gives you 1% off on groceries for every 10 gallons of gas you buy and $0.10 off on gas for every $50 you spend on groceries. I am up to 17% off on groceries right now, and I'll easily hit the max of 20% soon. Add the 5% cash back, and it will be like getting 24% off on groceries.

[jpg7n16]

Just remember, it's my understanding that the rebates are based on the merchants code in the CC system. So if say the gas/grocery combo is coded as "gas" you wouldn't qualify for the 5% back.


I do my grocery shopping at WalMart, which isnt coded as a grocery store, so I don't think I'll get to participate, even though I'm buying groceries. I believe I save more than 5% shopping at WalMart vs the local grocery stores.

Please someone let me know if you've found a way around this (short of the Target Card, since there's no target around here)

[kv968]

Just remember, it's my understanding that the rebates are based on the merchants code in the CC system. So if say the gas/grocery combo is coded as "gas" you wouldn't qualify for the 5% back.


I do my grocery shopping at WalMart, which isnt coded as a grocery store, so I don't think I'll get to participate, even though I'm buying groceries. I believe I save more than 5% shopping at WalMart vs the local grocery stores.

Please someone let me know if you've found a way around this (short of the Target Card, since there's no target around here)

Not that it's an ongoing thing or maybe even worth it to you, but if you apply for a Walmart card and spend $100 that day you get $20 back:

Walmart Card

[phantom]

Just remember, it's my understanding that the rebates are based on the merchants code in the CC system. So if say the gas/grocery combo is coded as "gas" you wouldn't qualify for the 5% back.

The gas stations and grocery stores are in separate locations, and I know from previous credit card statements that they're all coded accurately. So, no worries there.

I do my grocery shopping at WalMart, which isnt coded as a grocery store, so I don't think I'll get to participate, even though I'm buying groceries. I believe I save more than 5% shopping at WalMart vs the local grocery stores.

Please someone let me know if you've found a way around this (short of the Target Card, since there's no target around here)

When I buy groceries at WalMart I always get confused and start to think about which credit card gives me the most cash back for groceries before remembering that WalMart isn't actually a grocery story. It drives me crazy.

If there's a grocery store near you that sells gift cards, perhaps you could buy WalMart gift cards there and get the 5% back for buying the card. I don't actually think I've ever seen WalMart cards for sale at the grocery stores in my area though, so I'm not sure grocery stores that sell WalMart cards exist.

There's also the option of buying discounted WalMart gift cards from an online reseller, which can save you an extra percent or two. But, there's always the risk that the person who sold the card to the reseller will go use the code from the card after you buy it and before you use it, and I wouldn't take that risk to save a few bucks on groceries. I actually work for a company that resells gift cards (among other things), but I only buy our cards when I know that I will definitely be using them right away.

[hokies2688]

This month is even better than just grocery stores because you can buy the gas gift cards with no fee and save on groceries as well as gas this quarter!

[jpg7n16]

If there's a grocery store near you that sells gift cards, perhaps you could buy WalMart gift cards there and get the 5% back for buying the card. I don't actually think I've ever seen WalMart cards for sale at the grocery stores in my area though, so I'm not sure grocery stores that sell WalMart cards exist.

this is a very clever idea I don't know if grocery stores carry the Walmart cards, just like you said, but if I can find one, I'm in business! Thanks

[Slug]

Yeah, the buying gift cards at grocery stores deal is a tough one to beat if you don't mind the extra layer of work. My AMEX Blue Cash Preferred pays 6& at grocery stores year round. iTunes and Amazon gift cards for me, but there's tons of others available too. As always though, make sure you buy more than just the gift card. Dollar amounts that look like gift card purchases are flagged. They can't see what you buy, but if your total cost = a gift card purchase it may be disallowed.

[Bades]

This month is even better than just grocery stores because you can buy the gas gift cards with no fee and save on groceries as well as gas this quarter!

Amazing...Kroger has unlimited amounts of gift cards to anywhere...kind of like a 5% cash back on anything you want!

[BMEPhDinCO]

At King Soopers, you can buy a regular visa debit card as a gift card - so if you get 5% back on groceries (or really anything beyond 1%), you should buy that and use it at places like Walmart. My PenFed CC offers 3 points/$1 at grocery stores - so if I was smart (which I'm not always, I'll admit), I'd buy a visa debit card to use everywhere else and always get 3% (or 5% for gas)!

Think outside the box...and be diligent...and might be better if you aren't lazy (like me).

[phantom]

At King Soopers, you can buy a regular visa debit card as a gift card - so if you get 5% back on groceries (or really anything beyond 1%), you should buy that and use it at places like Walmart. My PenFed CC offers 3 points/$1 at grocery stores - so if I was smart (which I'm not always, I'll admit), I'd buy a visa debit card to use everywhere else and always get 3% (or 5% for gas)!

Think outside the box...and be diligent...and might be better if you aren't lazy (like me).

Have you checked to be sure there's no fee on the Visa debit card? Gift cards that work in any store usually cost at least $3 more than the face value of the card.