5% Cash Back Bonus Categories for Discover More Card
Everything you need to know about Discover's rotating bonus categories.
The following featured chart contains all the available information on Discover's bonus categories, including when to sign up and spending caps.
Discover announces next year's calendar every December 1st. However, the spending limits are top secret until one month before the signup date.
In 2012, Discovery drastically revamped their bonus categories. Changes include much higher spending limits ($1,500 quarterly, up from around $550), fewer categories and nine months of 5% cash back bonus at movie theaters.
Maximize your Discover card cash back bonus earnings. Stay up to date with Knowzy's "Discover Cash Back Bonus Categories."
Contents
2012 Discover Bonus Category Calendar
Discover changed their bonus category program in a big way this year. There are some good and not so good parts of it.
The good news is the spending limits went up dramatically in 2012. The caps rose from an average of $550 per quarter to $1,500. This gives you a chance to earn $75 at 5% cash back every three months.
Raising the spending limits appears to take aim at the Chase Freedom card, which also has a $1,500 quarterly cap.
Bonus category months overlapping the quarterly bonus are back in 2012. In May, you get 5% back on groceries for up to $300 ($15 maximum cash back).
Bonus Category Calendar for 2012
It's a mixed bag this year for the Discover 5% calendar. You'll have to look at your spending habits and decide if the changes worked out in your favor.
2012 Discover More 5% Bonus CategoriesTime Period | Cash Back Bonus | Categories | Sign Up Starting | Limits |
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Source: Discover | January - March | 5% | Gas, Museums, Movies | December 1, 2011 | $1,500 Spending Limit $75 Maximum Cash Back |
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April - June | 5% | Restaurants, Movies | March 1, 2012 | $1,500 Spending Limit $75 Maximum Cash Back |
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May | 5% | Grocery Stores | April 1, 2012 | $300 Spending Limit $15 Maximum Cash Back |
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July - September | 5% | Gas, Theme Parks, Movies | June 1, 2012 | $1,500 Spending Limit $75 Maximum Cash Back |
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October - December | 5% | Department Stores, All Online Shopping | September 1, 2012 | $1,500 Spending Limit $75 Maximum Cash Back |
Categories Removed in 2012
- Drug Stores
- Home Improvement Stores
- Clothing Stores
- Hotels
- Airlines
- Car Rentals
- Cruises
Categories Added in 2012
- Gas Stations (now 6 months out of the year)
- Movies (9 months out of the year)
- Museums (Q1)
- Toy Stores (Q4)
- Electronics Stores (Q4)
2011 Discover Bonus Categories in Review
This is the "classic" Discover bonus calendar. It looked much the same in previous years.
It had a standard grouping of 5% cash back categories every three months. It also had two more groups of bonus categories lasting one month each.
The spending caps were much lower than 2012's $1,500 limit. In 2011, they were as low as $200 ($10 maximum reward) and as high as $800 ($40 maximum cash back).
The same year, Chase Freedom was offering 5% cash back with $1,500 limits on rotating categories.
More bonus categories in the 2011 classic calendar meant calendar was more opportunity to earn. In 2012, many categories dropped out of the rotation, like home improvement stores and airlines.
Bonus Category Calendar for 2011
Review the chart and relive Discover's previous generation of the 5% cash back category calendar.
2011 Discover More 5% Bonus CategoriesTime Period | Cash Back Bonus | Categories | Sign Up Starting | Limits |
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Source: Discover | January - March | 5% | Airlines, Hotels, Car Rentals, Cruises, Restaurants | December 1, 2010 | $800 Spending Limit $40 Maximum Cash Back |
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March | 5% | Grocery Stores, Drug Stores | Febraury 1, 2011 | $200 Spending Limit $10 Maximum Cash Back |
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April - June | 5% | Home Improvement Stores, Department Stores, Clothing Stores | March 1, 2011 | $400 Spending Limit $20 Maximum Cash Back |
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June | 5% | Grocery Stores, Drug Stores | May 1, 2011 | $200 Spending Limit $10 Maximum Cash Back |
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July - September | 5% | Gas Stations, Hotels, Movies, Theme Parks | June 1, 2011 | $300 Spending Limit $15 Maximum Cash Back |
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October - December | 5% | Restaurants, Department Stores, Clothing Stores | September 1, 2011 | $300 Spending Limit $15 Maximum Cash Back |
Disclosure
* Knowzy has a financial relationship with Discover and Knowzy may be compensated if you sign up. We appreciate your support.
Originally Published: Thursday, March 8, 2012, 8:29 PM PT Last Updated: Wednesday, September 5, 2012, 8:56 PM PT Version 12
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