How to Earn Money from your Holiday Shopping

This week, I have shared how to earn money for holiday shopping by getting money back (without a lot of extra effort or extra credit cards) on most of the things you are already buying online and in-store.

Not to mention dining out!

Even if you earn cash-back on your credit card, you can get a check in the mail on top of that!

But I don’t want you to miss out in case you missed it! Here is how I make money shopping for Christmas.

Essentially, I earn free money by shopping!

We are friends, right? Ok, good! Listen up.

I get paid to shop at Lowes, Loft, Target, Anthropologie, Walmart, Kendra Scott…the list goes on and on. And I’ve never regretted signing up.

Best program to get cash back for holiday shopping?

Rakuten. I love it!

I want to share with you, in a little more depth than a few seconds on my Instagram stories, just how easy it is to get cash back for shopping with Rakuten.

How to get Paid for Everyday Shopping

I have been using it for years, not only on the holidays but year-round, and I get a check in the mail every quarter.

I use it for everyday purchases along with my holiday shopping. During the holidays the cashback % is often higher than throughout the rest of the year at a lot of the stores.

Last year I got a check for $300 back just for making purchases I was going to make anyway!

And who doesn’t want to get paid to shop?!

What else is Rakuten used for?

You guys! You can not only use it in retail stores and online, but also when you travel and dine out plus much more.

Here are some of the categories you can use Rakuten for.

How exactly does Rakuten work?

All vendors on the site pay Rakuten a commission for sending you their way, and Rakuten shares the commission with you in the form of cashback in your pocket.

BONUS: If you use my link you can earn $40 cashback bonus instead of $10 for just signing up on your own.

It is totally free to sign up and there are no membership fees or anything like that.

Think of it as a rewards program for hundreds of retailers in one spot that earns you cash back.

It is NOT a credit card and there is no application.

You can use it on your desktop through the URL or on the app on your phone.

You can also add the credit card you shop with and earn cash back when you shop in person.

A few years ago I didn’t want to go out on Black Friday so decided to give it a try.

How do you sign up for Rakuten?

So, so easy. I use it more for shopping than anything else.

I went to the website and signed up for Rakuten. You can click on the logo below if you want to try it. Again, you will earn $40 cashback added through my link if you make a purchase by or before 11/30 instead of the regular $10.

You can do this on the website or on the app on your phone.

Once in Rakuten I searched for and found a store I wanted to shop at and clicked on it.

It told me the cashback % I was going to earn and then redirected me to the store’s actual website.

Once I was on the store’s website I just shopped like I normally do and checked out with my purchase.

I did this with every purchase for Christmas that year and within the next three months it all accumulated and I got a check in the mail from Rakuten with my cashback amount.

And I have been hooked for the last 10 years!

See these matching jammies? Every year I get matching jammies for the whole family. I Bought these for all of us from my sofa, looked so cute on Christmas morning, and got money back just for buying them! If you return an item, then obviously that voids the cashback offer for that item.

Is Rakuten easy to use?

Rakuten is very simple to use.

Target, Walmart, Loft, Macy’s, Ulta, Anthropologie…most of your favorites are on there.

There is no limit to how much you can use it.  Just keep shopping at store after store and accumulate the rewards.

I am not a person who likes to go to the stores on Black Friday.  I usually am recovering from the craziness of the preparation of our Thanksgiving gathering so I like to hang around the house with my family and decorate for Christmas.

But, I DO get excited to see what deals I can find online and snag them!

When the holidays come around I want to take advantage of the Black Friday sales and the Cyber Monday deals right from the comfort of my sofa, sipping on my coffee, in my slippers.

That is my favorite way to shop.

You, too??

You can also add an extension to your preferred browser (I like CHROME) that will automatically search for any cashback offers or coupons on that website and let you know with a little popup on your screen!

I have been a member for 10 years!!  So far I have earned $814 cash back in my pocket!

Just for purchasing items through Rakuten that I was already going to buy.

 

What is the catch to shopping with Rakuten?

I know it’s easy to be skeptical of stuff on the internet.

There is no catch. Just money in your pocket for things you are already purchasing.

Get paid every three months, plus earn a cash bonus when you join and shop!

If you use my code you get $40 (until 12/8 with a qualified purchase of $40) when you go through my link on Rakuten to make your first purchase. So basically if you spend at least $40, then you get $40 back in a check PLUS all of the cash back on your other purchases. *I will also get a referral bonus right along with you so thank you for using my link!*

How much cash can I get back from Rakuten?

That depends on how much you purchase and what the percentage is for their cashback offer.

Different stores offer different percentages back to you.

It is usually a higher percentage around the holidays, but they do offer cash back year-round. So I am always earning money.

Actually, so many stores are offering 15% cash back right now.

Is there special pricing for Rakuten users?

No. Shopping through Rakuten does not affect sales offered to you. You get to take full advantage of whatever is on the store’s website that you are shopping on.

You still get to take advantage of the sale prices on the website just as if you went directly to the site using your browser bar.

Not EVERY store is on Rakuten, but most of the ones I shop at are.

I am able to shop at Anthropologie, Macy’s, Kohl’s, Kendra Scott, Northface, Nordstrom Banana Republic, Baublebar, Lowe’s, Target, Sam’s Club, Overstock and so many more.

Ordering Holiday Cards?  Shutterfly is on there!

I just got an email informing me that one of my favorite stores is offering DOUBLE CASH BACK today.  So, I will head over and check it out!

Can I use Rakuten in-store?

YES!

Once you sign up for Rakuten you can add your credit card to your Rakuten account and your cashback will apply to any store you physically shop at that is enrolled in the program.

Can I use Rakuten at a restaurant?

Yes! Here is how!

That’s what makes it so nice to have it tied to your credit card that you use so you earn cashback for everyday living.

Because we’re friends, and I love sharing with you, I wanted to let you know about this and make sure you all are taking advantage of Rakuten.

So many of my friends have never heard of it and they want to know where this has been all their lives!

Now, go to Rakuten and make yourself some money!