Chase’s 5% Bonus Categories for Q1 2023: Target, Grocery Stores, Fitness Club/Gym Memberships

Jaime Hanson
By Jaime Hanson 
Published
Edited by Kenley Young

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See our review of the Chase Freedom Flex℠ for the current bonus categories.

If you're an eligible Chase credit card holder and you're making New Year's resolutions, the first three months of 2023 could work out pretty well for you, spending-wise.

From Jan. 1 through March 31, 2023, holders of the Chase Freedom Flex℠ or the legacy Chase Freedom® credit card can earn 5% back on up to $1,500 in combined spending in the following categories (1% back on everything else):

  • Target.

  • Grocery stores.

  • Fitness club and gym memberships.

Cardholders must activate the bonus categories online or in the Chase app by March 14, 2023, to receive the 5% rewards for all eligible purchases during the quarter (including purchases made before activating).

Hitting the cash-back Target

This marks the first time that Target, including Target.com and the Target app, will be featured as a quarterly bonus category for Chase. In fact, in years past when grocery stores have appeared on the 5% calendar, Target has been specifically excluded.

Chase Freedom® and Chase Freedom Flex℠ bonus rewards categories for 2023

Q1 (Jan. 1-March 31)

  • Target.

  • Grocery stores.

  • Fitness club and gym memberships.

Q2 (April 1-June 30)

TBA.

Q3 (July 1-Sept. 30)

TBA.

Q4 (Oct. 1-Dec. 31)

TBA.

If Target is where you get your groceries — or if you've been eyeing, say, a pricey fitness tracker, fancy blender or expensive treadmill — you could rack up some serious cash back at one of the world's most popular big-box retailers.

🤓Nerdy Tip

Though grocery stores are also a 5% category for Q1 2023, note that you can't "double-dip" on grocery store purchases at Target. Those will earn a max of 5% back, not 10%.

Stackable grocery savings

Want to kick-start your healthy year with a new meal-prepping routine or spend the cozy winter months cooking at home? Having grocery stores (excluding Walmart) as a 5% category might be welcome news.

On top of the quarterly bonus category for grocery stores, new Chase Freedom Flex℠ cardholders who apply directly via Chase can earn 5% cash back at grocery stores (excluding Target and Walmart) on up to $12,000 in spending in the first year.

For the first three months of 2023, that translates to an incredible 9% back on grocery purchases. (It's not 10% back because the bonus is 4% on top of the baseline 1% back. So you earn 5% for the year, plus an extra 4% for the quarter.)

🤓Nerdy Tip

Chase's introductory offer of 5% back on groceries on up to $12,000 in spending in the first year is available only when you apply directly with Chase. NerdWallet features a different offer.

Financial fitness goals

Have a new health and fitness goal among your New Year's resolutions? Flex your financial muscles with up to 5% cash back on your gym or fitness club membership with the Chase Freedom® or Chase Freedom Flex℠ .

Whether you prefer to sweat it out in a spin class or find your inner Zen at the yoga studio, any merchant that's categorized as a gym or fitness club on your credit card statement should qualify. If you prefer at-home workouts, though, note that fitness streaming services like Peloton and Apple Fitness don't fit within this category.

Card details: Chase Freedom Flex℠

Annual fee: $0.

APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months, and then the ongoing APR of 20.49%-29.24%, Variable APR

Rewards:

In addition to its quarterly calendar of rotating 5% bonus categories, the card offers:

  • 5% back on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

  • 3% back on dining, including takeout and delivery services.

  • 3% back on drugstore purchases.

  • For all cardholders, through March 31, 2025, 5% back on qualifying Lyft services purchased through the Lyft app.

  • 1% back on all other purchases.

🤓Nerdy Tip

The Chase Freedom® card is no longer available to new applicants. However, existing users are still eligible to earn the 5% back in bonus categories after activation.

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