Quarterly Bonus Calendars — Chase & Amex Bonus Categories

Plan your 2026 quarterly category spending with activation requirements, earning calendars, and strategy tips.

The Quarterly Bonus Calendar tracks the rotating 5% categories on cards like the Chase Freedom Flex and Discover it, plus the activation deadlines you have to hit each quarter. Plan your spending so you never miss a bonus category — or forget to activate it.

How it works

  1. See the current quarter's rotating 5% bonus categories at a glance.
  2. Note the activation deadline — rotating categories only earn the bonus if you activate each quarter.
  3. Line up big category purchases, and any quarterly spend cap, with the quarter they earn the most.

Illustrative: the value of activating

Spend in the bonus categoryUnactivated (1%)Activated (5%)
$1,500 quarterly cap$15$75

Illustrative — most rotating-category cards cap the 5% rate at about $1,500 per quarter.

Common questions

Do I have to activate rotating 5% categories?

Yes. On most rotating-category cards the 5% rate only applies if you activate each quarter, usually up to a spending cap; unactivated spend earns the base 1%.

What happens if I forget to activate?

You earn the card's base rate (typically 1%) instead of 5% for that quarter. Activation is free, so set a calendar reminder each quarter.

Is there a cap on the 5% categories?

Usually yes — commonly about $1,500 in combined spend per quarter; spend above the cap earns the base rate.

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