Get Rewarded for Holiday Shopping: How Rakuten Can Put Money Back in Your Pocket
What If Your Holiday Shopping Earned You Money Back?
With the holiday shopping season approaching, now is a great time to learn about one of my favorite ways to earn additional rewards: Rakuten. Rakuten is a free shopping rewards service that lets you earn cash back when purchasing from participating retailers. The best part? You can often earn these rewards on purchases you were already planning to make.
How Does Rakuten Work?
It’s surprisingly simple. Before making an online purchase, visit Rakuten’s website, use its mobile app, or activate its browser extension. Find the retailer you’re planning to shop with and activate the available cash-back offer. You’ll then shop directly with the retailer as usual. Cash-back rates vary by store and can change frequently, so it’s worth checking before making a purchase.
An Opportunity for New Members
Rakuten periodically offers generous signup promotions for new members. Some promotions have offered $50 in rewards after completing qualifying purchases. The exact requirements depend on the promotion, so be sure to review the offer displayed when you register. For example, one currently advertised $50 offer requires three qualifying purchases of at least $25 each, along with installing the browser extension.
Make Your Rewards Work Even Harder
Here’s where things get particularly interesting for points-and-miles enthusiasts. You can generally pay for your purchases using a rewards credit card while also earning Rakuten cash back, effectively earning two sets of rewards from the same purchase. Rakuten also offers eligible members the option of receiving American Express Membership Rewards points instead of cash back. Those points can potentially be used toward flights and other travel through participating transfer partners. Just remember that not every purchase qualifies, and certain discounts or coupon codes may affect eligibility.
A Simple Habit That Can Add Up
Whether you’re buying holiday gifts, household essentials, clothing, or electronics, checking Rakuten before making an online purchase takes only a few seconds. It’s one of those small habits that can add up over time, especially when retailers offer elevated cash-back rates during major shopping events. And unlike opening a new credit card, getting started doesn’t require a credit application.
Get $50 Back on Your First $50 in Purchases!
Here’s an especially good reason to give Rakuten a try right now. New members who sign up through a qualifying referral link can earn a $50 cash-back bonus after making $50 in eligible purchases within 90 days. That means if you’re already planning to spend $50 on holiday gifts, clothing, household essentials, or other purchases from participating retailers, you could essentially get that $50 back! You can reach the spending requirement through one purchase or multiple qualifying purchases. Just remember that purchases must qualify for Rakuten cash back, and your bonus won’t necessarily arrive immediately.
