Last Chance to Change Your 3% Category With AMEX SimplyCash Plus

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Have the AMEX SimplyCash Plus card?

Don’t forget, you only have until January 31, 2017, to switch your 3% cash back to a different category.  Depending on your spending habits, the category you choose can really have an impact on how much cash back you earn throughout the year!

If you like the category you chose for 2016, you don’t have to do anything.  It will stay the same as the previous year.

AMEX SimplyCash Categories
Choosing Shipping Expenses as the 3% Cash Back Category on Your AMEX SimplyCash Plus Card Could Make Sense If Your Small Business Spends a Lot on Shipping!

I’ll remind you of the 3% cash back categories you can choose from.  And help you decide which category is best for you!

AMEX SimplyCash Plus Categories

Link:   AMEX SimplyCash Plus Small Business Card

Link:   My Review of the AMEX SimplyCash Plus Card

With the AMEX SimplyCash Plus card, you get 5% cash back on purchases at office supply stores in the US and on your US cell phone bill, on up to $50,000 in combined purchases per calendar year.

You also get 3% cash back on eligible purchases (up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year) in 1 of 8 categories of your choice, including:

  • Airfare purchased directly from airlines
  • Hotel rooms purchased directly from hotels
  • Car rentals purchased from select car rental companies
  • US gas stations
  • US restaurants
  • US purchases for advertising in select media
  • US purchases for shipping
  • US computer hardware, software, and cloud computing purchases made directly from select providers

And because you can only change the bonus category each year between December 1 and January 31, you have just a few more days to make a change from last year’s selection!

AMEX SimplyCash Categories
Earn 3% Back With the AMEX SimplyCash Plus Card for Spending on Social Media Advertising

If you don’t change your election during the annual selection period (December 1 to January 31), your category will remain the same as the previous year.

Which Category Should You Choose?

I suggest picking a category where you don’t earn a bonus with your other cards.  Or, you could select one based on where your small business spends the most!

AMEX SimplyCash Categories
It’s Important to Choose the 3% Category That Will Earn You the Most Cash Back Throughout the Year

For example, folks who spend a lot on advertising, like real estate agents, vacation rental owners, and graphic designers, might consider choosing US advertising in select media as their 3% cash back category.  If you have an eBay business, it could make sense to choose US shipping instead.

Don’t Have the AMEX SimplyCash Plus Card?

If you’ve been considering the AMEX SimplyCash Plus card, you can earn up to $500 cash back after meeting minimum spending requirements. New applicants have 2 months from account opening to select their 3% cash back category.  If you don’t make a selection during the initial enrollment period, you will automatically receive 3% back at US gas stations.

Bottom Line

Current AMEX SimplyCash Plus cardholders have until January 31, 2017, to change their 3% cash back category.  But new cardholders will have 2 months after signing-up to make their 3% back category selection.

If you spend a lot of money in 1 of the 8 categories, like on airfare purchased directly from airlines, gas, or shipping, picking the right category has a big impact on the amount of cash back you earn throughout the year!

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