Last updated on May 2nd, 2022
Discover has revealed its full 5% Cashback Calendar for 2022. The new 2022 calendar sees a few changes to Discover’s 5% bonus lineup, with the addition of mobile wallets to Q4 2022 being the most noteworthy change.
Discover Launches 2022 5% Cashback Calendar
The new Discover 5% Cashback Calendar is here. The popular bonus calendar provides Discover It Cash Back cardholders with up to 5% cash back on eligible purchases each quarter, with bonus categories changing every three months.
Cardholders earn 5% back on the first $1,500 in quarterly spending on select categories, with those 5% back categories for 2022 being:
Grocery Stores and Fitness Club & Gym Memberships
Applies to the first $1,500 in purchases at stand-alone grocery stores, fitness clubs, or gym memberships.
Official terms: Activate to earn 5% Cashback Bonus at Grocery Stores (stand-alone) and Fitness Club & Gym Memberships from 1/1/22 (or the date on which you activate 5%, whichever is later) through 3/31/22, on up to $1,500 in purchases. Grocery Store purchases include those made at supermarkets, meat lockers, bakeries, smaller grocery stores, and grocery delivery services. All purchases made at Walmart, Target, convenience stores, wholesale clubs, discount stores, and supercenters are not eligible. Fitness Club & Gym Memberships include membership fees and purchases at health clubs. Athletic or recreation facilities may be eligible. Virtual and in-person fitness classes may be eligible. Individual merchants and stand-alone stores within fitness clubs, gyms, athletic or recreation facilities may not be eligible in this category.
Gas Stations and Target
Applies to the first $1,500 in purchases at as=stand-alone gas stations or Target stores.
Official terms: Activate to earn 5% Cashback Bonus at Gas Stations (stand-alone) and Target from 4/1/22 (or the date on which you activate 5%, whichever is later) through 6/30/22, on up to $1,500 in purchases. Gas Stations purchases include those made at merchants classified as places that sell automotive gasoline that can be bought at the pump or inside the station. Gas Stations affiliated with supermarkets, supercenters, and wholesale clubs may not be eligible. Target purchases include those made at Target.com, through the Target app, or in-store at Target. Purchases from individual merchants and stand-alone stores within physical Target locations may not be eligible for this promotion. Purchases made online or through the Target app from Target affiliates, individual merchants or stand-alone stores may not be eligible for this promotion, including, but not limited to, targetoptical.com and targetphoto.com. Target and the Bullseye Design are registered trademarks of Target Brands, Inc. Listed merchants are in no way sponsoring or affiliated with this program.
Restaurants and PayPal
Applies to the first $1,500 in purchases at restaurants classified as full-services restaurants, or on PayPal purchases.
Official terms: Restaurant purchases include only those made at merchants classified as full-service restaurants, cafes, cafeterias and fast food locations. PayPal qualifying purchases are those made through the PayPal wallet online, when you send money to Friends and Family via PayPal using your Discover Card, and point-of-sale transactions using PayPal Here. Payments made through the Xoom transfer service are not eligible for 5%. Any restaurant purchase made using PayPal will only be awarded a total of 5% Cashback Bonus.
Amazon.com and Digital Wallets
Offer applies to the first $1,500 in purchases at Amazon, or through eligible digital wallets, including Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and Garmin Pay.
Official terms: Activate to earn 5% Cashback Bonus at Amazon.com and Digital Wallets from 10/1/22 (or the date on which you activate 5%, whichever is later) through 12/31/22, on up to $1,500 in purchases. Amazon.com purchases include those made through the Amazon.com checkout, including digital downloads, Amazon.com gift cards, Amazon Fresh orders, Amazon Local Deals, Amazon Prime subscriptions and items sold by third party merchants through Amazon.com’s marketplace. Also includes in-store at Amazon Go, Amazon Bookstore, and Amazon 4-Star. The Amazon.com logo and the smile logo are trademarks of Amazon or its Affiliates. Digital Wallet purchases include those made online and in-store with your smartphone, tablet, or wearable. Wallets that qualify include Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and Garmin Pay. Using digital wallets to make purchases on Amazon.com will only earn a total of 5%. Listed merchants are in no way sponsoring or affiliated with this program.
2022 Cashback Calendar Vs. 2021 Cashback Calendar
The 2022 Cashback Calendar compares very favorably with the 2021 Calendar. As a refresher, here are the 2021 Cashback Calendar categories:
- Q1: Grocery Stores, Walgreens, and CVS
- Q2: Gas Stations, Wholesale Clubs, Streaming Services
- Q3: Restaurants and PayPal
- Q4:com, Target.com, and Walmart.com
Q1 sees a switch towards fitness, with the Discover It earning 5% back on groceries, fitness clubs, and gym memberships. Last year, the card earned 5% back on groceries, Walgreens, and CVS purchases. This change reduces the potential value for everyday spenders – but could help cardholders meet their New Year’s resolutions (or at least save them money when they start them, anyways).
Q2 2022 is equally pleasant, with Target joining gas stations as the accelerated 5% category. 2021 saw Gas stations, wholesale clubs, and streaming services, so there is some loss here – but the addition of Target (usually a Q4 category) should provide exceptional value for the Spring months.
Q3 2022 and Q3 2021 remain the same, with PayPal and restaurant purchases earning up to 5% back. These categories are perennial favorites – and provide exceptional value.
Q4 is intriguing, as it breaks away from the norms of past Discover Cashback Calendars. Amazon.com, Target.com, and Walmart.com have become so synonymous with Discover’s cash back program over the holiday season that its tough to see it go. That said, the addition of digital wallets is exceptional, as it provides a versatility that makes the Discover It useful pretty much everywhere. This one small change offers the greatest potential for the card – and makes it one of the more valuable holiday spending cards on the market.
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