How to Earn Cash Back While Shopping: My Favorite Easy Money Tip
Years ago, a friend casually recommended this site called Ebates to me. I had seen the name pop up here and there but brushed it off as just another sketchy-looking website claiming to give you money for shopping. Sounded too good to be true, right? Little did I know that I could’ve earn cash back while shopping!
At the time, I didn’t get it. Why would a site pay me cash back just for shopping online? What was the catch? It honestly sounded like a scam. But after my friend explained that it was totally free and legit and showed me their quarterly “Big Fat Check,” I decided to give it a shot. I’ve been a Rakuten member since 2018, and I really wish I started earlier. It’s one of those things where once you see how easy it is, you wonder why you didn’t join sooner.
Ebates has since rebranded to Rakuten in 2019, but the idea is still the same: earn money back for purchases you were already going to make.
What Is Rakuten?
Rakuten is a free cash-back platform that partners with thousands of retailers like Target, Ulta, Macy’s, Sephora, Best Buy, Walmart, and many more. When you shop through Rakuten (either by visiting their site first, using their app, or with their browser extension) they earn a small commission from the retailer for referring you. And the best part? They share that commission with you.
If you’re wondering how to earn cash back while shopping, this is one of the simplest and most effective ways to do it.
How to Earn Cash Back with Rakuten
Using Rakuten is incredibly simple:
- Shop online: Visit Rakuten first, search for the store you want (like Nike or Old Navy), then click through to the store’s site and shop as usual.
- Use the browser extension: This is my favorite method. The extension pops up automatically when I’m on a participating site and lets me activate the cash back with one click.
- Shop in-store: You can also link certain offers to your credit or debit card and get cash back when shopping in person.
Different stores offer different cash-back percentages, and the rates often increase during holiday seasons, big sales, or special promotions. I’ve seen stores offer 10%, 12%, even as high as 20% back!
If you want to learn how to earn cash back while shopping, the key is to activate the offer before you make your purchase.
Important tip: Sometimes even after activating the offer, the website might not register your purchase right away. It usually shows up within a few days, but I recommend checking back after about two weeks. If the cash back still hasn’t appeared, no worries. Just go to Help > Missing Cash Back on Rakuten’s site and fill out the form. You’ll need to provide details like the store name, order date, order number, subtotal, and a copy of your receipt from your email. It only takes a few minutes, and they’re pretty quick about crediting the amount once you submit your info.
My Personal Experience
I’ve earned hundreds of dollars over the years, especially around the holidays when I’m already shopping for gifts for family and friends. That’s when the cash-back percentages tend to be the highest, and it really adds up.
And yes, Rakuten actually sends you the money. Every quarter, I get a “Big Fat Check” or PayPal deposit. It always feels like a little reward for shopping I was going to do anyway. 😉
Learning how to earn cash back while shopping made a huge difference in how I approach spending. Now it’s just part of my routine to check Rakuten first before buying something.
Why I Recommend Rakuten
At the time of writing this post, I’m not even an affiliate of Rakuten, although I would love to be one day! I just genuinely think this is one of the easiest and smartest ways to get a little something back from your everyday purchases.
If you’re looking for how to earn cash back while shopping, Rakuten is a great place to start. It’s beginner-friendly, totally free, and requires almost no extra effort.
It’s completely in line with what I promote here: saving smart, spending intentionally, and stacking up small wins that really add up. Even a few dollars here and there can total $50 or more over the course of a year.
Once you understand how to earn cash back while shopping, you’ll start seeing it everywhere, from grocery orders to gifts to everyday household items. Understanding how to earn cash back while shopping is one of those simple wins that builds up with every purchase.
Final Thoughts: How to Earn Cash Back While Shopping
If you’re someone who shops online (and let’s be real, most of us do), there’s really no reason not to give Rakuten a try. It’s free. It’s easy. And yes, it’s real.
Whether you’re doing your weekly household shopping, buying gifts, or booking travel, learning how to earn cash back while shopping helps you save money without changing your habits.
Ready to try it out? You can sign up for Rakuten here and start earning cash back today. (Not an affiliate link… yet!)
On your side,
Mrs. Money Sidekick
P.S. If you want more ideas on how to earn cash back while shopping or tips on saving money daily, check out my resources hub.
Featured image from Shopping illustrations by Storyset
