Activate Discover Card 2013 1st Quarter 5% Bonus Categories and 2012 Cashback Recap

Here we are at the end of 2012, and we are well into the planning stages of 2013. While you are busy getting ready for the big celebration tonight, take a quick moment to log into your Discover card account and activate your 5% cashback bonus categories for the first quarter of 2013.

Starting January 1, 2013 and going through the end of March 2013, earn 5% cashback on up to $1,500 in purchases at restaurants and movies.

Surprisingly, the Discover Miles card has not released any bonus categories yet for 2013. This could be that the first portion of the new year Discover will be focusing on the new IT card (more info to come later).

I was curious how I did in 2013 with my Discover card cashback earning potential, so I quickly pulled it up in my account.

5% Cashback Bonus
5% CBB-GAS, MOVIES, & MUSEUMS + $ 2.51
4Q5% CBB – DEPTSTORE/ONLN SHOP + $ 0.18
4Q5% CBB – DEPTSTORE/ONLN SHOP + $ 5.90
ShopDiscover & Promotional
DOUBLE BIRTHDAY – JAN + $ 1.43
DOUBLE CASHBACK BONUS TELECOM + $ 1.29
SHOPDISCOVER 15% – GROUPON + $ 11.85
SHOPDISCOVER 5% SEARS.COM + $ 60.00
SHOPD 5% CBB – WALGREENS + $ 0.02
SHOPDISCOVER 15% – GROUPON + $ 8.70
SHOPDISCOVER 15% – GROUPON + $ 18.60
DOUBLE CASHBACK BONUS TELECOM + $ 1.42
SHOPD 5% CBB – TARGET + $ 1.96
DOUBLE REWARDS ON BLACK FRIDAY + $ 0.78
Everywhere Else + $ 6.31

Looking at my cashback profile, you can see where we had some spending to meet the associated categories. In reality, I do not use my Discover More card all that much (only spending $1,590.02 in 2012), unless I know we will be earning a 5% bonus or via the Shop Discover portal.

A couple things to additionally note is that I moved a lot of spend this year onto several new cards we opened, including the US Bank FlexPerks cards, Hilton HHonors AMEX, and US Airways Dividend cards. I also tend to use my Discover Miles card more often that the Discover More card, especially at one of our local grocers, that ONLY takes Discover.

One other thing to note is that the majority of my cashback actually came via Shop Discover. For Groupon, in particular, it is hard to beat the 15% cashback every time I use it. In addition, that Sears purchase was from when I bought a new camera, racking up a nice $60 discount just by clicking through their portal.

How did you compare for 2012?

Save Money, Travel More!