How to Save Using Cash-Back Sites

It’s that time of year, when stores are offering huge discounts and deals, hoping you’ll shop with them. If you’re like many people, you’ll be shopping this season from the comfort of your home, not worried about fighting through traffic only to find the item you came for is out of stock.

Here at Your PF Pro, we talk a lot about saving and not making impulse purchases. However, this time of year, there are often very good deals to be had that will save you a lot of money. For example, if you’re in the market for a TV, November is one of the best times of the year to buy one because the deals are in your favor. The same goes for certain electronics, clothes, and more.

That said, we still want to save money, even if we’re already getting our gifts (for ourselves and others!) at a discount. Since you may be shopping online anyway, you may as well get additional cash back. Using cash-back rebate sites are an absolute must if you’re shopping online. Even if you don’t find a store offering a cash back deal, many of these sites also list coupons, meaning you’ll save more than you may have expected. Here are some cash-back sites you’ll want to check out before you make your next purchase online!

How Cash-Back Sites Work

Cash-back sites are pretty straightforward. Once you find one or a few sites you want to use, you’ll register on the site. Some sites will have you install a button on your browser, so you can easily click to their site when you’re shopping, while others will encourage you to visit their site and click on a store from the site’s list of store partners.

Once you’ve clicked on a store from your cash-back site, make sure you don’t click on other store banners, just in case you lose access to your cash-back offer. You may want to stay on the page and not click out, too, because while some cash-back offers remain on the site, others don’t, and you don’t want to lose your cash-back rebate.

Once you’ve made a purchase, there is a waiting period before your cash-back rebate is processed and approved. For many sites, this is around 90 days. Once approved and processed, some cash-back sites will set a minimum amount you must accrue before you can cash out, generally around $25 depending on the site.

Some Cash-Back Sites to Check Out

A few cash-back sites you’ll want to bookmark include:

DollarDig.com – DollarDig offers cash-back rebates from hundreds of different retailers, including Blue Nile, e.l.f. cosmetics, Woot, NewEgg, and many more. DollarDig is one of my favorites to use because the site is clean, easy to navigate, and has retailers I actually use. Sign up and “like” DollarDig now, and you’ll get $5 right away – no purchase required!

FatWallet.com – FatWallet is a good cash-back site, because in addition to cash-back offers, FatWallet also shows you what coupons and discounts are available for certain items. Right now, FatWallet has a holiday section right on the sidebar, so you can track some popular holiday retailers like Wal-Mart, Amazon, and more.

CouponCactus.com – CouponCactus is slightly more difficult to navigate through, but one popular feature with CC is your ability to look for sites that offer free shipping. Keep in mind many sites will be offering free shipping during the holiday season to get you to buy from them, so this might not always be the best deal. However, shipping costs can add a significant amount, so double check with CC first to see if there is a free shipping opportunity.

How To Get The Best Deal

The best way to save money is to compare different offers available, and not just take the first offer you see. Always check RetailMeNot.com to see if there is a promotional code for your item. While you can still shop through your cash-back portal, see if there’s an additional coupon to save you even more money!

It’s important to be aware that some retailers may not let you “stack” coupons by using a promo code and a cash-back site, but it’s always worthwhile to see if it’s an option for you. If it’s not, see if your cash-back site is offering more than your promo code and stick with the better deal.

Shopping online can be an awesome experience, and offers you the opportunity to shop locally, nationally and internationally for the best deals. While getting outside and shopping among the crowds can be fun, you can often get a lot more done by getting all your holiday shopping done in the comfort of your own home. Plus, by shopping online, you’ll be able to take advantage of at least a few of these great cash-back offers!

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How do you plan on shopping this year for gifts, or are you already done with your holiday shopping?