Do you want to earn money on the everyday purchases you’re already making? Me too, which is why I recently joined Rakuten!
If you’ve never heard of Rakuten before, it’s a cash back website that allows you to save money when you shop at your favorite stores. Rakuten partners with over 2,500 major retailers like Macy’s, Target, and Best Buy. So you won’t have to change your purchasing habits at all to earn rewards.
Want to get started? Here’s a breakdown of how to make money with Rakuten to help you earn your first rewards check.
Ways To Make Money With Rakuten
Although there are several ways to make money with Rakuten, my favorite method is shopping online using their browser extension.
Shop Online With Rakuten’s Browser Extension
Rakuten’s browser extension makes it easy to earn cash back from your couch. Whenever you shop at an online retailer that offers rewards, you’ll get a pop-up notification on the side of your screen.
All you have to do is hit the purple button to activate cash back and earn rewards on your purchase. It doesn’t get simpler than that!
Rakuten’s browser extension even finds and applies coupons for you at checkout so you can save more cash. In the short time I’ve been using it, Rakuten has saved me $80, which makes a big difference in my budget.
I chose to get my $80 in rewards via check. But Rakuten can also deposit your cash back into your PayPal account or donate it to a charity of your choice.
Keep in mind that it takes some time to get your rewards. Payments are sent every three months on the schedule listed below.
But the wait will be worth it when you get that big check and see how much money you’ve saved!
Shop Online Through Rakuten’s Website
If you don’t want to download Rakuten’s browser extension, you can still shop online and earn rewards. Just start your shopping trip on Rakuten’s website and select the retailer you want to visit from the homepage.
There are tons of retailers to choose from in every category—food, travel, sports, clothing, furniture, and more. You’ll find big box stores like Belk and JCPenney on Rakuten as well as smaller, more specialized retailers like Butcher Box and The Art of Shaving.
Once you decide where to shop, you’ll be redirected to the retailer’s website. Any purchases you make will automatically earn you the cash back rate shown on Rakuten’s homepage.
The amount of rewards you get depends on the retailer. Some stores offer 25% cash back while others only offer 2%, but it all adds up to significant savings.
You can even apply for the Rakuten Cash Back Visa Card to earn extra rewards on your purchases. If you qualify, you can get an additional 3% cash back whenever you shop with Rakuten and pay with your Visa.
Shop In-Store
Not a fan of online shopping? You can get credit for in-store purchases by linking your credit or debit card to the offer you want to take advantage of. You can do this on Rakuten’s website ahead of time or on their mobile app while you’re shopping.
You can also use Rakuten’s mobile app to access in-store coupons and save more money. The app will even give you cash back for Lyft rides and meals at qualifying restaurants, so it’s definitely worth downloading.
Refer Friends
The final way to make money with Rakuten is to refer friends. Right now you can earn $40 when a friend signs up using your referral link and makes a purchase of at least $40. Your friend will get a $40 referral bonus too, so it’s a win-win!
Note, there are several good Facebook groups where people swap referrals/sign ups, here and here. Posting an advert that you’re looking for people to sign up can be a good way to get some extra money.
What’s your favorite way to make money with Rakuten? Let us know in the comments section below!
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Vicky Monroe is a freelance personal finance and lifestyle writer. When she’s not busy writing about her favorite money saving hacks or tinkering with her budget spreadsheets, she likes to travel, garden, and cook healthy vegetarian meals.
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