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Discover Announces 5% Bonus Categories for First Quarter of 2025
With the end of the year fast approaching, Discover has revealed its bonus category picks to kick off 2025.
About Discover’s Q1 2025 5% bonus categories:
To start the year, during the first quarter of 2025, Discover It customers can earn up to 5% back in three categories: Restaurants, Home Improvement Stores, and Select Streaming Services.
First, for the Restaurants category, full-service restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, fast-food locations, and caterers are all included as are restaurant delivery services. However, dining establishments found inside other businesses, such as hotels or retail shops might not qualify. Additionally, Discover warned that businesses classified as bakeries are excluded.
Next, Home Improvement Stores include online and in-store purchases from improvement retail stores and building supply stores. Also included are lawn, nursery, and garden supply stores. In terms of exclusions, purchases made via contractors or other third parties might not qualify. Also, purchases from home furnishing sellers, home appliance retailers, and floor-covering stores are not part of this category.
Lastly, Select Streaming Services includes several video and audio streaming platforms, such as Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Max, Peacock, Paramount+, Netflix, Spotify, Apple Music, FUBO, YouTube Premium, SiriusXM, and many more. While a list of explicitly eligible services can be found on Discover’s site, they do note that other popular streaming services may also qualify. That said, subscriptions bundled with other products or services, as well as those billed by third parties might not be eligible.
As always, to earn 5% back in these categories, Discover customers must activate the offer in the Discover app or on the website. The 5% back is also capped at a total of $1,500 in combined bonus category spending, meaning that customers can earn a total of $75 back from this promotion during the first quarter.
For Q4 2024 purchases Discover It customers can still earn up to 5% back on Amazon purchases and at Target.
What they’re saying:
Announcing the Q1 2025 5% bonus picks, Discover VP Shannon Kors said, “We know how quickly everyday expenses can add up, so we’re starting the new year with cash back categories tailored to where our cardmembers are already spending. Whether Cardmembers are looking to grab a quick bite at their favorite restaurants, picking up home & outdoor essentials, or watching favorite shows and movies, they will earn 5% cash back all winter long.”
My thoughts:
Overall, these are some pretty decent bonus selections for the first quarter of the year. For me, the 5% on dining bonus is always a winner — but that’s especially true this year as I just downgraded my Amex Gold Card. And while it’s a bit early for Spring Cleaning, I actually appreciate the Home Improvement Stores category moving up to the Q1 since we ended up buying a lawnmower just before Discover’s bonus took effect last time.
Finally, while the Select Streaming Services category might sound nice, it may actually be more hassle than it’s worth. Plus, I suspect that, by introducing this option, Discover is hoping that cardholders will simply leave their It card set as the default payment for their streaming services throughout 2025 (and beyond). While it’s not that hard to change your card back next quarter, I would be willing to bet that a good number of members who do swap over to take advantage of this 5% back will indeed forget to go back.
For what it’s worth, if you want to earn 3% back on dining and streaming services year-round, I’d recommend checking out the Capital One Savor.
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