Cashback Websites: save money ordering takeaway

How cashback websites work

My favourite way to save money is by using cashback websites. It is how I saved £200 ordering takeaway and booking holidays. I even saved a nice amount of money buying a drone.

The beauty of cashback sites

It’s like having money in your savings account that you can’t access until you really need it:

• When I left for Australia I earned £200 cashback by booking my flights, accommodation, travel insurance, buying swimsuits and celebrating my upcoming trip with a Chinese takeaway.
• I even got cash back for the tours I booked in my first week in Sydney.
• The £200 was confirmed and released to me a few months into my trip, which was a lifesaver because I was starting to run out of money.

Cashback sites are easy to use and only adds three small steps to your booking process:

1. Click through Cashback Website to a retailer
   • Book or buy your item
2. Add confirmation date to your calendar
3. Withdraw your cash back a few weeks later

How cashback sites work

It is actually very simple. Instead of going straight to an online retailer, click through a link on a cashback site to get a percentage of your order back:

Go to your cashback site. In the UK I use Quidco. In Australia, I use Cashrewards.

1. Find the retailer or company you want to buy from.
2. Read the small summary of what you get cash back for. Offers and deals change often with new retailers coming on board. Make sure you read the offer, not just the cashback amount. Cashback usually has terms and conditions that specify the deal that the cashback site and the retailer have. Some of these conditions are very specific, like having to buy something in particular or become a new customer.
3. Click the link to access your retailer. The cashback site tracks this click using your cookies.
4. Order your item or service.
5. Within a few hours, your cashback site will let you know your transaction was tracked via email, how much you will get back and when it will be confirmed.
6. Wait for the payment to be confirmed and withdraw it.

How they make money

Cashback sites are paid a commission for directing you to a site. The commission is usually based on how much you spend. You still receive your item/booking directly from the retailer as usual, but you also get some money from the cash back provider for going through them.

The biggest drawback

It takes time for this process to be tracked and confirmed so I recommend marking down the estimated payment date in your Google Calendar. The company usually emails you once your cashback is confirmed and ready for you to withdraw.

Your savings pot

The good thing about the payment not being instant is that cashback paid a few weeks into a long trip can be very helpful.

Tip: Once the money is confirmed, withdraw it as soon as possible because some cashback sites will start charging you to keep the money.  Most cashback sites have a payment threshold – a minimum amount of money you need to earn before you can get paid. It is usually only a few dollars.

Details to keep in mind:

Before you start, here a few tips on how to approach a deal and things to avoid.

• Claiming cashback can get addictive. Make sure you are finding the best deal before you seek cashback.
• Cashback is not always guaranteed. So, don’t rely on it. It doesn’t happen very often but sometimes the retailer can’t confirm your click through so you might not get the money. Make sure you claim the money before giving up on it. Sometimes they just need proof you made a purchase.
• The cashback isn’t yours until it’s in your bank account. Cashback sites are easy to set up and many are small companies which can go bust. The ones I recommend have been running for a few years now and have a good reputation but you can never be too safe.
• Consider clearing your cookies. Cashback sites track your visits by putting cookies (little bits of information that identify you) onto your computer. So when you make a purchase, make sure you click through from the cashback site and not from anywhere else. If you’re expecting a lot of cashback, clear your computer’s cookies first to ensure the cashback is tracked.

My recommended Cashback sites:

I have pulled together all my tips and ways to join in the steps below. This includes how to get cash back for free, with no spending required and any tricky membership fees to watch out for. I have even created extra steps for those who want to become Cashback masters.