What are some common cash back bonus categories?

Some of the most common cash back bonus categories for credit card rewards are supermarkets, gas stations, dining, and entertainment. You may also see streaming services, internet services, wholesale clubs, drugstores, or specific retailers such as Amazon, Walmart or Costco. How many of these you’ll see as bonus categories depends on the credit card, and whether or not it has rotating categories. They’re usually not all available at once, in one package, though.

Some cash back credit cards change their bonus categories frequently - usually once per quarter. But credit card companies that issue cards with rotating rewards will usually release a “calendar” of cash back bonus categories. That’s key because some credit cards will require you to activate or sign up for new bonus categories before you can start earning the bonus cash back rate on eligible purchases.

Other cash back credit cards have a tiered cash back system. This means your cash back bonus categories won’t change from quarter to quarter, and may never change at all. So when you get approved for a tiered cash back credit card, the cash back categories you have are likely the only ones you’ll see.

It’s a good idea to enter the world of bonus categories with a method in mind. Keep track of when your credit card’s bonus categories change, and set a calendar alert as a reminder to activate the new categories. You can also get more than one cash back credit card and use them according to the Island Approach. Label your credit cards by category, so you’ll know which one you should use for certain purchases – like gas, groceries, or dining out, for example – when you open your wallet.