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At the end of last year, Discover announced the 2022 cashback calendar for Discover® Cash Back and introduced several new categories.
Most of the categories were similar to what we saw in 2021, but the issuer added health clubs and gym memberships in the first quarter and digital wallets in the fourth quarter.
“As we emerge from the pandemic, we know consumers are looking forward to shopping both in-store and online, and ready to get back to their gyms and fitness,” said Geeta Chandan, vice president of rewards and product strategy at Discover . “The category evolution this year is consistent with the broader spending shifts we’ve seen over the past year and a half.”
From October 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022, cardholders can earn 5% cashback on purchases made on Amazon.com and via digital wallets once activated (up to $1,500 on combined purchases per quarter, then 1%).
At a glance
Here’s what you need to know:
- You must activate the bonus every quarter to get 5 percent back.
- Q4 bonus categories are open for redemption and will be active from October 1, 2022 – or from the activation date, whichever is later – until December 31, 2022.
- The bonus amount is capped at $1,500 on quarterly total spending, and then the reward rate drops to 1 percent.
- All other purchases earn 1% cashback.
Discover the 5% cashback calendar for 2022
Here is a look at the Discover cashback calendar for this year:
| Quarter | Bonus Categories |
| Winter (January – March) |
|
| Spring (April – June) | |
| Summer (July – September) | |
| Holiday (October – December) |
|
In the fourth quarter, digital wallets including Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay and Garmin Pay will replace Target.com and Walmart.com. While digital wallets are an affordable payment method at many online retailers and stores, Walmart is not one of them. Since Walmart is one of the most popular retailers, this may not be the best news for some Discover it Cash Back cardholders, especially during the holiday season.
2021 Discover 5% cashback return calendar
For comparison, here’s what the Discover it Cash Back calendar looked like last year.
| Quarter | Bonus Categories |
| Winter (January – March) |
|
| Spring (April – June) |
|
| Summer (July – September) | |
| Holiday (October – December) |
|
Read on for everything you need to know about the current Discover cashback bonuses, including our 5% maximizing offer and how the Discover bonus categories compare to the Chase bonus categories.
What is included in the Amazon.com category?
In this category, cardholders can earn bonus cashback on any purchase made during the checkout process on Amazon.com. This includes spending on Amazon gift cards, Amazon Prime subscriptions, Amazon Fresh orders, and more.
In addition, purchases on the Amazon Marketplace qualify, as do purchases from physical Amazon stores (yes, this is important) such as Amazon Go.
What is included in the category of digital wallets?
This category includes both online and in-store purchases made using the following digital wallets: Apple Pay, Garmin Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. Please note that you must make these purchases using a smartphone, tablet, or other wearable device.
Tips for Maximizing Your Bonus in Q4 2022
- Consider making the most of your upcoming holiday shopping on Amazon. And if you use or are interested in using Amazon Fresh, why not stock up on Thanksgiving essentials with the service?
- If you’re having trouble hitting the $1,500 spending limit, consider purchasing Amazon.com gift cards as inventory or holiday gifts for colleagues and friends.
- Get into the habit of using a digital wallet (like Apple Pay) to make purchases. This is one of the easiest categories to use as you can practically earn an increased cashback rate on anything (provided you remember to make a purchase with your digital wallet).
Bonus Categories Discover vs. Chase
Chase is also offering a 5% cashback bonus in categories that rotate quarterly, and from October to December of this year, Chase Freedom* and Chase Freedom Flex℠ cardholders can receive 5% cashback on PayPal and Walmart purchases upon activation.
Chase vs. Discover cashback categories 2022
| Chase Freedom Flex℠ |  Discover® Cash Back |
|
| January March | Grocery stores and eBay | Grocery Stores, Fitness Clubs, and Gym Memberships |
| April June | Amazon.com and some streaming services | Filling stations and purpose |
| July – September | Gas stations, car rentals, select entertainment and musical theaters | Restaurants and PayPal |
| October December | PayPal and Walmart | Amazon.com and digital wallets |
Which card offers the best deal?
If you want to apply for any card when the last cashback quarter starts, the right option for you (strictly speaking in terms of categories) comes down to where and how you prefer to make most of your purchases before the end of the quarter. year.
In truth, it’s best to take into account everything that each card has to offer, such as welcome bonuses, initial APRs, and additional card perks, before deciding to apply. Comparing historical bonus categories across cards is also a great way to determine which card is more likely to offer bonus categories that fit your lifestyle in the future.
*Information about Chase Freedom has been independently collected by CreditCards.com. The issuer did not provide details and is not responsible for their accuracy.
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