How to Get Cashback: A Savvy Shopper’s Guide to Rebates 

A staggering 96 percent of adults have said that they participate in some type of retail therapy. The same is true of 95 percent of teens.

Does this sound familiar to you? Would you like to actually get some money back from your shopping sprees?

The good news is that there are lots of ways to do this. Read on for some great tips on how to get cashback when shopping.

Cashback Basics

At first, the idea of getting cash back from your purchases might seem too good to be true. It’s easy to assume that this is some kind of scam. That’s why so many people aren’t taking advantage of the cashback offers available to them.

In reality, though, there are tons of valid offers out there. It’s up to you to claim them.

If you’re still feeling a little incredulous, it might help to learn how cashback offers work. Cashback offers exist thanks to affiliate marketing.

Many cashback sites have affiliate relationships with specific stores. These stores provide the site with affiliate links, which they can use to track purchases.

When someone makes a purchase from the store through the affiliate link, the site receives a commission. The cashback site then shares a portion of that commission with you in exchange for you continuing to use their site.

Top Cashback Sites

There are tons of cashback sites out there that you can use to get money back on all kinds of purchasing, from clothing to groceries. The following are some of the best sites you might want to consider using:

UPromise

UPromise works with over 950 stores. The majority of those stores offer five percent cashback. The site also offers a Daily Deal, where one store has an increased cashback offer, and a Daily Double, where one store doubles their cashback offer. 

You can also save money through UPromise when you shop in-person at various stores. If you link your debit or credit card to your account, you can earn cash back on gas, groceries, restaurants, and even a life insurance policy.

ShopAtHome

ShopAtHome gives you access to approximately 5,000 stores, all of which offer some kind of cashback deal. It also offers coupons for 50,000 different stores. 

When you sign up for ShopAtHome, you automatically receive a $5 bonus just for registering. You can refer others to get additional $5 bonuses, as long as the people you refer make a purchase (there’s no minimum amount) through the site within 30 days of registering.

Rakuten

Rakuten, formerly known as eBates, is one of the most popular cashback sites on the internet right now. You’ve probably heard commercials for it on the radio, podcasts, or TV. 

Rakuten is affiliated with more than 2,000 online stores. When you register with this site, you also get a $10 bonus automatically. You can earn an additional $25 for every referral you make, too.

BeFrugal

BeFrugal began as a coupon site and has since expanded to become a major player in the online cashback game. The site is affiliated with over 3,000 stores. It also has a generous referral program that gives you $5 for every referral who makes a purchase of $25.

BeFrugal is perhaps best known for its cashback rate guarantee. If you make a purchase through the site and then learn that a better rate is available through another site, BeFrugal will match the rate 125 percent.

RebateKey

We also can’t forget about RebateKey. RebateKey offers up to 100 percent cashback from certain online stores. It also provides you with tons of coupons to help you save more money from clothing retailers, jewelry stores, supplement brands, and more. It’s free to sign up, and the Google Chrome extension is very easy to install and use.

Tips to Maximize Your Earnings

Okay, you’re starting to warm up to the idea of shopping through cashback sites. You might be wondering, though, if there is anything you can do to maximize the amount of money you get back.

There definitely is! Here are some great tips that will help you earn more money from your online purchases:

Read Reviews First

There are tons of different cashback sites out there, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when trying to decide which one to use. A good way to narrow down your search, though, is to look up reviews for each site you’re thinking about using. Pay attention to the overall consensus of each one (remember, every site will have some bad reviews) and choose the one (or a couple) that seem to be generally reputable.

Keep in mind, too, that you shouldn’t have to pay any kind of membership fee to join one of these sites. If they ask for that, it’s a big red flag.

Compare Before You Buy

There’s nothing wrong with using multiple cashback websites. In fact, doing so can help you ensure you’re getting the best deal before you make a purchase.

When you’re getting ready to buy something online, consider shopping through a couple of different cashback sites before checking out. This helps you see how much cash you’ll get back from each site so that you can use the one that will provide you with the greatest return.

Use Cashback Sites for Big Purchases

It’s hard to see the benefit of shopping through cashback sites when you’re only making small purchases. One percent cash back on a $20 T-shirt isn’t going to make a big difference to you. One percent cash back on a $2,000 TV, though, will help you save a significant amount of money once your rebate comes through.

You can use cashback sites for all purchases and the money will add up over time. Take special care to ensure you’re using them for larger purchases, though, as that’ll help you to see more noticeable rewards.

You Know How to Get Cashback: Time to Start Shopping

As you can see, figuring out how to get cashback isn’t as tricky as you might think. With a little upfront work before your shopping trip, you’ll be able to keep more money in your bank account where it belongs.

Do you want to learn about other ways that you can save money and stick to your budget with ease? If so, visit the Money section of our website today to access some other great resources.