Quarter 3 2025 Chase Freedom Flex Bonus Categories: Sufficient, yet not particularly impressive
New and Improved Take:
In 2024, I freakin' nailed it, man. I mastered the quarterly bonuses on my trusty Chase Freedom Flex® card for the first time since joining the gang back in 2011. But 2025? Not so much. The third-quarter bonuses ain't inspiring confidence, but let's dive into the deets, shall we?
Listen up, homies, because from July 1 to September 30, 2025, the Freedom Flex offers a 5% cash back at gas stations, EV charging stations, Instacart, and select live entertainment purchases. To qualify, you gotta activate and the 5% cash back applies on up to $1,500 in quarterly spending (after that, it's 1%).
Breakin' it Down: Q3 2025 Bonus Categories
Haven't tried Instacart yet? This promo probably ain't changin' that for me, since I get a higher return (6% cash back) at U.S. supermarkets with my Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. Plus, I'd rather browse the fresh produce myself. I'll saving the Freedom Flex for fueling my tank, as the best rewards rate I can earn on my other cards is 3% on the Blue Cash Preferred. But hey, I ain't driving much, so my family's only spent $419 on gas in three months.
Of course, the best strategy is optimizing the Q3 bonus categories with money you'd spend anyway. For me, that means the live entertainment category. This also made the list in Q3 last year, and I was surprised by how much I dropped on live entertainment during those three months.
Plotting a Q3 2025 Rewards Plan
My family tends to plan our shit way in advance, so a lot of our Q3 2025 entertainment is already booked and paid for. I'm gonna brainstorm ways to pre-plan some Q4 2025 and Q1 2026 activities over the next three months to grab that 5% cash back. Remember, Disney World was a total score when we took advantage of the Freedom Flex's 5% categories in Q3 2024?
However, our plans for Q4 2025 might not fit as neatly, since our only trip is likely to be Christmas with the grandparents, and we're planning a Disney cruise for Q1 2026. Few, if any, of those trip expenditures are likely to qualify as live entertainment.
In Q3 2025, I'm not expecting to hit the $1,500 spending cap (as I'm likely to do in Q2 too). But hey, it's still free money, and I ain't worried about it. Maybe I'll score $40 or $50 instead of the $75 I would earn by maximizing the $1,500 spending limit. It's still gravy.
Reflecting on the First Half of 2025
The first quarter was a breeze to maximize, since grocery stores were among the Freedom Flex's 5% categories. With a family of four, I typically spend a fuckload of dough on groceries in three months. With less than two weeks remaining in Q2, I've only spent $726 in those bonus categories, less than half the limit:
- Amazon.com
- Select streaming services
- Internet/cable/phone services (the latter only applies from June 1 through June 30)
Autopay discounts from my internet, cable, and phone providers require me to pay via a checking account, which is worth it since the discounts are greater than the 5% I would earn by using the Freedom Flex. I don't spend much on streaming services, and my Blue Cash Preferred offers better rewards on those purchases, anyway.
I could potentially stock up on toiletries, non-perishables, or gift cards from Amazon.com to maximize the $1,500 quarterly rewards cap before June 30 (they even offer gift cards from other retailers). But I'm hesitant to tie up too much money in this fashion. How much toilet paper or toothpaste do I really need? And like most Americans, I already have hundreds of dollars in gift cards lying around, which I've been intending to use. I might miss out on some rewards, but the best choice for my family is to save the money.
The Final Word
The Freedom Flex ain't quite as my style in 2025 as it was in 2024, but I still dig the card. It don't charge an annual fee, and it's my go-to card for dining (3% cash back year-round, with no spending cap). And while nothing official for Q4, that's usually pretty easy to maximize given the holiday shopping focus (for instance, PayPal was one of the categories last year).
To borrow a baseball metaphor, they can't all be home runs. It's okay to hit singles and doubles, too. Need help with your credit cards? E-mail me at [email protected] and I'd be happy to lend a hand.
*The information about the Chase Freedom Flex® has been collected independently by ourwebsite.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.
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Focusing on the Q3 2025 bonus categories, the Chase Freedom Flex® card offers a 5% cash back on gas stations, EV charging stations, Instacart, and select live entertainment purchases. To optimize this offer, consider planning entertainment activities that can be scheduled in advance.
Despite not expecting to hit the $1,500 spending cap in Q3 2025, the cash back rewards from the Chase Freedom Flex® card still provide additional income, serving as a beneficial addition to one's financial resources.
