Online shopping is becoming more popular, and smart shoppers are making the most of cashback. It is a simple way to get back some of the money spent. This article goes into detail about the best cashback methods, the best platforms, and how to maximize your cashback earnings.
1. Cashback Credit Cards for Online Purchases
One of the easiest ways that you can get cashback on your online purchases is through a cashback credit card. They reward a percent of every purchase, although some do offer higher percent cash backs for online purchases. Here’s what to look for in a cashback credit card:
- Reward Rate: Some credit cards can reward you with as much as 5% cashback on specific categories, like groceries or gas. Most of the cards offering cashback on online purchases fall in the range of 1-3%.
- Welcome Bonuses: Cashback credit cards offer some welcome bonuses for those who meet the minimum spend within the first few months. The sign-up bonus often ranges between $100 to $500.
- Category-Specific Rewards: Cards such as the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa or the Apple Card reward users specifically for online purchases from their respective stores, making them ideal if you are loyal to certain retailers.
- No Annual Fee Options: Many cashback credit cards have no annual fees, so you can maximize savings without the extra cost.
Pro Tip: Pay your balance in full every month. With that balance you carry, you’d have interest charges eating at those cashback earnings you accumulated.
2. Online Purchase Cashback Apps and Sites
Cashback apps and sites revolutionized online shopping by returning to users cashback dollars or pounds for shopping through those applications. Here are the top ones:
- Rakuten: Easy to use, Rakuten gives cash back at thousands of retailers, and you simply go on the retailer’s website with Rakuten’s link once you register. They also have their periodic “Double Cashback” days, so you might get higher savings on most of your online purchases.
- Honey: Known more than anything as a coupon-hunter, Honey has another useful option called Honey Gold. Here you can collect “Gold,” Honey’s version of rewards points and redeem those toward gift cards.
- TopCashback: A site offering potentially higher cashback rates over other competing sites. Another benefit is TopCashback only pays once you are confirmed to be due through both PayPal and direct deposit payouts. What really stands this site apart, though are the different partnerships, or deals. This cash is earned when making select online purchases.
Tips on How to Use Cashback Apps Effectively
- Stack with Promo Codes: Many cashback apps allow users to use promo codes along with cashback, thereby maximizing your savings on purchases.
- Seasonal Offers: Check if the cashback website offers special rates during holidays or sales events. During these events, some items have cashback rates which are higher than normal.
- Stay Informed on Payment Schedule: Every website, cashback has their pay-out schedule, though some are monthly while other sites are quarterly. To remain informed is to enable getting your money when they’re due.
3. Online Shopping Portals and Browser Extensions for Cashback on Online Purchases
Cash back shopping portals, just like browser extensions, may as well be another convenient manner to earn cash back over purchases made online. Quite many of them alert users the money is available when in store. Here’s the steps to utilize these aids:
- Retailer Portals: Some of the major retailers like Walmart, Best Buy, and Target have their own shopping portals. They provide cashback deals specifically on their websites. Sign up for their newsletters for cashback offers.
- Browser Add-ons: There are extensions, for instance, Capital One Shopping and Rakuten’s browser add-on which will automatically inform you about cashback and apply a coupon for you at checkout. The extension will warn you if there is available cashback on the website you are visiting so you do not miss it.
- Airline or Loyalty Program Portals: If you are a loyalty program member, check if they have a cashback portal. That way, you’ll be able to earn miles on some online purchases in Delta or United Airlines, which can be done as part of their shopping portal.
Browser extensions and shopping portals work great in terms of maximum savings on a passive scale, for they only demand very low effort after one has installed them.
4. Cashback Programs Offered by Banks for Online Purchases
Many banks offer cash back programs, where you can earn back a percentage of your spending on online purchases. Such programs are usually available through a bank’s mobile app or website and work similarly to cashback websites. Here’s how to get the most from these programs:
- Activate Offers Frequently: Most banks make you activate cashback offers before making online purchases. Check the app regularly so you do not miss the chance.
- Watch for Rotating Offers: Some banks change the offers every month, so it is always good to stay updated about which retailers offer cashback on online purchases.
- Use Multiple Methods: If you have the cashback credit card combined with the cashback of your bank, then, on one purchase, your total cashback percentage might increase.
Conclusion:
There’s a cashback strategy for any shopper, depending on what kind of shopper you are, which retailers you purchase from, and how much you buy. If you do lots of online shopping, combining a cashback credit card with a browser add-on can be some of the best cashback options available, but if you are choosier about the items you buy online, apps or loyalty programs will serve you better.
With all these cashback strategies, you can get discounts and save on everything you buy. And so, now that you know all the methods, go ahead and start maximizing your savings on those online purchases today!
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