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Top 10 Sites To Earn Cash Back Shopping Online & Off

February 21, 2013 By jen 2 Comments

So, you’ve got some shopping to do. You already know to use coupons and check for sales whenever possible, but do you take advantage of Cash Back sites? If you aren’t using cash back sites every time you shop, it is like leaving free money on the table.

What is cash back?

Cash back is exactly what it sounds like, it is cash that is refunded to you by a third party when you shop at your favorite stores. It does NOT in any way affect your purchase price. In fact, you can use coupons and sales just like you are used to. Cash back simply allows you to receive a percentage of what you spent back.

Yes, the website giving you cash back is also earning commission. But who cares, you make money, they make money – it is a win-win.

How much free money?

How much you earn all depends on how much you shop and where you shop. Different retailers offer different percentages back. I have also learned that retailers also offer different deals with cash back sites. While one site might be best when shopping at Gap another is best when shopping Magazines.com. Furthermore, those percentages can change daily. The best thing to do is to check all of your favorite cash back sites before shopping and go with the highest return.

Top 10 Cash Back Sites

Top 10 Cash Back Sites for Shopping Online and Off

The ability to earn cash back while shopping online has been around for years. New to the scene are apps that offer cash back when shopping in store. These are my favorite 10 favorite cash back sites and apps for online and offline shopping. (Yes, I regularly use all 10.)

Ebates

Ebates - The leader of the pack in my book, Ebates is easy to use and pays regularly by check (I just got a check this week!). I have been a member since 2008 and have earned $411.03. That’s an average of $100 a year in cash refunded to me for purchases I would have made anyway. Some refunds where as small as pennies, while others were quite a bit larger. **Bonus** When you sign up for a new account you can choose from a $10 gift card bonus or a $5 cash bonus that will be paid to you the first time you make a purchase of $25 or more.

FatWallet

FatWallet – Like Ebates, FatWallet also offers cash back when shopping online and pays regularly. In the time I have had an account, I have earned a $233.23. Another bonus for cash back sites is that they also post deals, so you might find a coupon as well as cash back. Sign up for a FatWallet account to compare rates when you shop.

Shop At Home

Shop At Home – While I have not used this site very often, it is a very popular cash back site. What makes it unique is its 110% cash back guarantee – find a higher cash back reward on another site and Shop At Home will match it 110%. I haven’t used this feature, but if you don’t want to open multiple accounts, open a Shop At Home account.

Upromise

Upromise - If you have kids (or ever plan to have kids), you should use Upromise. I joined Upromise in 2004, long before we had kids and been saving ever since. What makes Upromise different is that instead of a regular check, the money is saved for tuition. You set up savings plans through Upromise or cash out your earnings to deposit into your own accounts. Another great thing is that you can invite friends and family to contribute to your kiddos’ account. Also, Upromise tends to have a higher payout percentage then the other rewards sites.

MyPoints

MyPoints – MyPoints is another one that I have been with forever. MyPoints is more than just rewards for shopping, you can also earn points for reading emails and taking surveys. Yes, just for looking at an email and clicking a link to confirm you read it — you don’t even have to sign up. Although if you do sign up for offers, you get more points. Another thing that is different about MyPoints is that you earn gift cards instead of cash. I have redeemed my points for Pottery Barn, Gap, Amazon, etc. (Check out my previous post about MyPoints.)

Swagbucks

Swagbucks - This is another site that offers a combination of ways for you to earn cash back. You can shop or you can surf, take surveys, complete offers etc. Like MyPoints, you will earn points for every dollar spent at a partner retailer. My favorite way to earn with Swagbucks is by surfing. How many times a day do you look something up on Google, try using Swagbucks for your searches instead and earn points. The best thing to redeem those points for – Amazon gift cards!

InBox Dollars

InBox Dollars – This site is very similar to MyPoints except that it pays cash instead of gift cards. Earn cash back for shopping or earn money for reading emails – or both! BTW if you are an online gamer InBox Dollars, MyPoints and Swagbucks are all great ways to get paid for that hobby. BONUS – get $5 for signing up.

Piggy Bank

Offline Shopping

Up to here all of the cash back sites were for online shopping, but I mentioned there are now some great options for offline shopping as well. Here they are.

Shopkick

Shopkick - I love this app! The best thing about Shopkick is that you can earn cash back just for window shopping – you don’t even have to make a purchase! (You can more earn by linking your credit card and making purchases too.) Earn points at some stores just for walking in, and at other by seeking out items and scanning their barcode — it is like a mini scavenger hunt. My favorite place to Shopkick is Target, no wonder I redeem my points for Target gift cards.

Ibotta

Ibotta – Even though this app is super new, it has already earned regular usage in my house. Using the Ibotta app, you do various tasks like taking a poll or watching a video. Then when you buy any of those products, you submit a photo of your receipt and scan your barcode to get cash back for your purchase. Payments are made by PayPal and you can cashout anytime you reach at least $5. (Check out my previous post about Ibotta.)

SavingStar

SavingStar – This site is one part cash back, one part digital coupon. To earn cash back, you must shop at stores with loyalty cards (i.e. CVS). (That’s how they track your purchases.) Before shopping, you activate deals on items you plan to purchase, then when you make a purchase (using your loyalty card), your cash back is automatically deposited into your SavingStar account. You can cash out every time you reach $5 or more.

As I mentioned, I actively use all 10 of these cash back sites and apps. I find that each has its advantages and limitations. Whether you start small, only signing up for one or two, or go big, signing up for them all, I highly recommend each of these programs. Never leave money on the table again, start earning cash back!

Bonus Cash Back Site - I recently discovered and signed up for Plink, which rewards you with cash back for eating out. It seems like a cool new site, and I am excited to test it out. Bonus – sign up now and get a $5 gift card just for joining.

Get Rewarded With CASH When You Shop + $5 New User Bonus

January 8, 2013 By jen 1 Comment

Online shopping rewards have been around for a while, and it makes shopping in your PJs even more rewarding. But now a fresh crop of shopping rewards apps are cropping up to reward shoppers for shopping IN STORE. Yeay! One of my favorite new ways to earn cash back for purchases I would already make is through Ibotta.

Ibotta is an app available for iPhone and Android that always you to earn cash rewards for purchasing specific items. My favorite part about Ibotta is that it can be used in addition to coupons and / or sales. Another great thing about this app is that you don’t have to do anything with it at the point of purchase (or even before you go shopping). So for those who don’t like to hassle with coupons (or forget them at home often), this is the perfect app for you.

Here is how it works. After downloading the free app, you can browse through the offers to see what is available. Once you see a product you like, something you might buy, you can “earn” money for that item by doing easy chores such as reading a fact, taking a poll or watching a video. After doing your chores, the offer is complete and you can redeem it at any time — all at home before or after you shop.

Ibotta App Cash Back Shopping In Store Android iPhone

Next time you go shopping and purchase said item you are ready to redeem the offer. To do so all you have to do is take a picture of your receipt and scan the bar code on the product you purchased to have the money deposited into your account. When you are ready, have the money transferred to your PayPal address or donated to your favorite school. It’s so easy.

I have used Ibotta twice in the last two weeks and already have $7 waiting to be transferred to my PayPal!

How To Earn Money Cash Back Ibotta

Ibotta currently works with 34 major retailers including Target, Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, Kroger and more. Current offers available to me include Advil, Listerine, Glad, Kleenex, Carnation Instant Breakfast, several Kellogg’s cereals, Eggos, Gerber Graduates, Huggies and more — tons of things I buy.

***BONUS*** Plus Ibotta is currently offering new customers a $5 bonus (available the first time you redeem an offer). Hurry, this new user bonus is only available for a limited time.

Even though Ibotta is no longer offing the new user bonus, I still highly recommend this free app to earn cash back!

So what are you waiting for? Download the Ibotta app now and check it out. It is so easy to use, you might as well earn cash back for buying things already on your shopping list!

Shop Your Way Rewards Personal Shopper Program Q&A

September 20, 2012 By jen Leave a Comment

Over the last couple of months, I have been telling people about how they can get started as a Shop Your Way Rewards Personal Shopper and start making money from home. If you haven’t signed up yet, I hope this post will clear up any hesitation and give you that last nudge you need to sign up.

How Much Work Is It?

The number one reason people don’t take advantage of programs like this is that they don’t have time for extra work. This program does all of the work for you – no extra work needed. Once you sign up all you have to do is ask friends and family to sign up as your “clients.” That is the end of the work. Once they sign up, you will make money off EVERY purchase they make. You don’t have to go with them to the store, you don’t even have to send them links and ideas (although it is always nice to help your friends!). When they shop and use they Shop You Way Rewards account they will earn SYWR points (which translate into store credit), you will earn 1% CASH.

After people sign up, just sit back and let them shop!

What’s In It For My Clients?

Allow me to repeat this very important point – When trying to recruit friends and family, the number one selling point is “Everyone makes money!” When they sign up as your “client” they will earn SYWR points (which translate into store credit), you will earn 1% CASH. So not only are you gaining, but you are helping them earn as well. Hello win-win situation!

How Much Does It Cost?

Because the Personal Shopper program is FREE and EASY there is no reason not to try it! Even if your only client is your mom, you will still make money when she shops! Why not try it and see?

Which Purchases Count?

Do your friends and family shop for everyday household items or prescriptions at Kmart? Is your girlfriend planning to buy a new fridge? Has grandma been looking at toys for your kiddos to find under the tree Christmas morning? ALL of those purchases count. With this the SYWR Personal Shopper program, you make money on each purchase big or small.

How Much Money?

As a SYWR Personal Shopper you will earn 1% back on every purchase made by your clients when they use their SYWR number. When you have 20 or more clients, you can earn an additional 1% commission for a total of 2%. Payments are made to you each month you earn $20 or more.

What If I Want to Make More?

Go you! For those who want to turn this program into a nice side business (great for bloggers!), recruit, recruit, recruit. Then help clients shop by sharing ideas. The SYWR Personal Shopper program makes it easy to create online catalogs full of ideas for your clients. From holiday decor to gift ideas, fashion advice to new mom help, you can “window shop” from your computer creating virtual catalogs filled with ideas. Sharing those catalogs with your clients is where the Personal Shopper part comes in. Another great way to help your clients shop is by staying in touch with the hottest deals and letting them know when big sales are going on. Again this win-win benefits your clients with awesome deals personalized for them, and you earn commisison!

What Stores Are Included?

The Shop Your Way Rewards Personal Shopper program works at Sears, Kmart, Lands’ End, mygofer, Craftsman, and Sears Outlet.

How Do I Sign Up?

Are you ready? Here you go, sign up for the Shop Your Way Rewards Personal Shopper Here! The first step is to request an invite, once that arrives (via email) follow the steps to get started. You can be up and running with brand new clients TODAY!

Anything Else?

After you sign up, I still have one last giveaway going on through September 26, 2012 for a $100 Sears gift card. So stop by this post here and enter to win!

Disclosure – I was compensated for this post, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sears Memories & Become A Personal Shopper ~ $100 Giveaway

August 10, 2012 By jen 82 Comments

How old were you the first time you “cruised” the mall by yourself with your friends? I distinctly remember, I was in the seventh grade (12 years old). My friend Rachel and I had finally convinced our moms that we were old enough to go shopping by ourselves. We pulled up in front of Sears and hopped out of the car ready for our first big-girl mall trip. I have no idea what (if any) wonderful purchases I made that day, but I remember walking through those mall doors filled with excitement as if I were going on some grand adventure instead of just the mall I had been to hundreds of times. My how the mall sparkled that day.

Sears was always one of out regular stops on trips to the mall. Whether it was back to school shopping with mom or our planned meeting spot when we got dropped off at the mall, our trips often started and ended with Sears. But it wasn’t just mall trips, remember the Sears catalog? (Of course you do.) I remember looking through it with mom circling all of the things I wanted. It was like a giant wish list.

Even my dad is a Sears fan with stories of looking through the Sears Roebuck catalog with his mom as a boy. (Now feel old. I just realized I sound like my dad telling stories about when he was a kid. Sears has been part of the American family for so long, both generations have stories of shopping in its stores!)

Even though Sears has been around forever (well, since 1906 – I looked it up), it hasn’t lost touch with the times. Moving from the mail-order catalog to retail stores, and then online shopping. Now Sears has a Personal Shopper Program that offers shoppers the ability to earn a commission when making recommendations to friends and family. How cool is that?! Think of all the times a friend has dragged you to the mall to ask your opinion on an outfit — with the Personal Shopper program by Shop Your Way you could earn commission on being a good friend!

The best part is that it is free to sign up for the program, which means anyone can become a personal shopper in just minutes. (This is another great way for my fellow bloggers to make money online by recommending products to readers.)

In order for friends and family to become your “clients,” they must first become Shop Your Way Rewards members. (No problem if they are already members, they can just link their account.) As Shop Your Way Rewards members your clients will earn points when they shop at Sears, Kmart, Lands’ End, etc., and those points translate into credit that can be spent at any of the Sears Holding companies. That means that through the Personal Shopper Program you and your client will earn money and rewards for shopping. How’s that for incentive?

With the Personal Shopper Program you can earn 1% on all purchases your clients make using their SYWR number as your client. When you have 20 or more clients, you can earn an additional 1% commission! It’s easy to become a Personal Shopper, just invite your friends and family via Facebook or email and once a month you will get paid after earning over $20.

I know readers are always asking me for tips on how to make money online, so here it is! Sign up and start earning commission today!

GIVEAWAY! In addition to signing up to start making money as a Personal Shopper, one lucky reader will win a $100 Sears gift card!

To enter – Please use the Rafflecopter form below to take advantage of your entry opportunities.

MANDATORY ENTRY MUST BE LEFT AS COMMENT ON BLOG POST BELOW– then you can check off in Rafflecopter that you did it. Otherwise, all other entries will be invalid. (Click instructions for what to comment about.)

*** PLEASE be sure to read instructions in Rafflecopter form as to what to comment about.***

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure – I was compensated for this post, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Bloggers – Earn $100 Referral Fee!

August 8, 2012 By jen Leave a Comment

I don’t do many posts that are specifically for bloggers, but this opportunity is so good I can’t not post about it. Right now Blurb, a photobook company, is offering bloggers a $100 referral fee for each new publisher that signs up as an affiliate with the program. No purchase necessary, just sign up to become an affiliate. Of course, in becoming an affiliate the company hopes you will spread the word about its products and services thereby earning a commission as well.

I have used Blurb in the past, although it has been years, and the quality is excellent.

If you are interested in learning more and/or signing up to become an affiliate, I hope you will use my affiliate link to sign up. (Yes, that means I will make $100 if you sign up.)

Sign up to become a Blurb affiliate now! ~~This offer will last throughout August so you have all month to get people to sign up.~~ Update: Blurb just sent an email saying that response has been so huge that they are killing the $100 bonus at 6 pm, it will then revert to a $10 bonus. Good luck, and let me know if you sign up under me so I can personally thank you!