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I'm Steph, mum of three! 👋
Here, I share practical insights on making (and saving!) money. With a knack for budgeting and a passion for financial freedom, I've picked up lots of tips & tricks along the way. And I can't wait to share them with you here!
Save £100s on your shopping using CashBack websites. CashBack sites have changed the way we shop, offering a smart method to save money on purchases and put some money back into your pocket!
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CashBack Sites
A clever and profitable way to save money on the things you buy is by using cashback sites.
There are a few big sites for UK shoppers, and they operate on a simple principle: Affiliate marketing. Put simply, this means whenever you make a purchase through a link on their website, they get paid. And some of those savings are given to you, hence, they’re giving you cash back.
How Do CashBack Sites Work?
Here’s how cashback sites work:
You click on a link on the cashback site and it takes you to the shop you’ve chosen
The retailer pays the cashback site a commission for directing you to their website
This commission is a percentage of the total value of your purchase
The cashback site then shares a portion of this commission with you (the customer) in the form of cash-back
It can take some time for the cash-back to appear in your account. The cashback site needs to confirm you purchase with the retailer and ensure that the item isn’t returned. You can then choose to have it paid into your bank account, PayPal account or in some cases, as gift vouchers.
While cashback sites can be a great way to save money, remember that they should not encourage unnecessary spending. The best way to use them is to consider the cash-back as a bonus on purchases you were already planning to make.
List Of Top UK CashBack Sites
Here are some of the top CashBack sites in the UK:
TopCashback
TopCashBack is one of the UK’s leading cash-back sites. They partner with thousands of top UK brands who pay them when you shop, and they share that cash with you.
Joining is simple and can save you hundreds each year and the process to sign up and get saving is really quick.
Quidco
Quidco say they guarantee the highest cash-back in the UK. They offer cash-back for shopping at over 5,000 brands.
There are no hidden charges and the sign-up process is free and straightforward. They have over 10 million members in the UK and have paid over £500 million in cash-back.
KidStart
KidStart helps families turn everyday shopping into savings for children. How? Every time you shop at one of over 2,300 of their partners, they top up your child’s account for free.
It’s a simple way to save for your child.
Banks That Offer CashBack
Several banks offer cash-back on purchases as a way to reward your customer loyalty. These programs typically involve the bank partnering with various retailers & allow you to earn a percentage of your spending back when you use their banks debit or credit card.
The cash-back rates and retailers vary and some banks charge a fee for these services. Always read the T&Cs before signing up.
Barclays
Barclays Blue Rewards program partners with over 150 retailers. This allows you to earn money back while you spend. You’ll need to register for Barclays Blue Rewards, pay the £3 monthly fee, and pay in at least £800 a month.
Santander
The Santander 123 account offers the opportunity to earn up to 15% cash-back when you use your debit card to pay in their partnered retailers. The account costs £5 a month.
First Direct
First Direct customers can sign up to Visa Offers and get cashback when they shop at stores like Lidl, H+M, Esso and Costa. The current account is free for the first six months and costs £10 a month after that.
Lloyds Bank
Lloyds Bank offers the Everyday Offers scheme, giving customers up to 15% cash-back from stores such as Morrisons, New Look and JustEat.
The Classic Account is free and you don’t need to be paying in any set amount every month.
Halifax
Halifax offers a similar scheme to Lloyds, where customers can earn up to 15% cash-back when they shop. Harvester, Morrisons and Superdrug are just some of the retailers included in the scheme.
Natwest
Natwest offers at least 1% at any of the retailers included in the scheme. The current account costs £2 a month plus you need to have at least £1,500 going into your every month too.
Other Ways To Get CashBack
Did you know it’s possible to earn cashback without spending a single penny? *Please remember to cancel the trial before it ends to avoid any subscription charges.
Here are some UK cashback offers that’ll pay you just for signing up for a free trial.
Experian Credit Score
Sign up to Experian’s free credit score service and you’ll get £6 cashback via TopCashback. You’ll be able to check your score with no charge and there’s no ongoing cost.
Currensea
Successfully apply for this overseas spending debit card and you’ll earn £10 cashback via TopCashback. You don’t need to use the card.
Experian Boost
Experian Boost is a service which promises to add a few points to your Experian credit score by factoring in regular payments such as your Council Tax bill and streaming subscriptions. You can get a free £4 for signing via Quidco.
Money Supermarket Credit Monitor
Another service that lets you check your credit score for free, this time from comparison site Money Super Market. You’ll get £3.50 for signing up via Quidco.
TSB
Open a new TSB Spend & Save or TSB Spend & Save Plus current account and get cashback between £30 to £60 via Quidco. You can’t already have any other TSB accounts.
Oh My Dosh free trials
There are a number of trials you can sign up for with Oh My Dosh. The ones listed are not requiring you to pay anything upfront.
Examples include: Amazon Prime, Lionsgate+ via Prime, MGM via Prime, Crime and Investigation Play via Prime, ITV Hub via Prime, Discovery Kids via Prime, Shudder via Prime, Paramount+ via Prime, Nielson Shopping panel, Clearscore, Ancestry (14 days), and GKF (complete a survey to get the cashback).
You can sign up here.
How Much Do CashBack Sites Pay?
While cashback sites won’t make you rich, they can provide a nice bit of extra cash for purchases you were going to make anyway. It’s always a good idea to compare cashback rates on different sites to make sure you’re getting the best deal.
The amount of money you can earn from cashback sites varies widely and depends on several factors:
Retailer: Different retailers offer different cashback rates. Some might offer 1% cashback on your purchases, while others might offer 5% or even more.
Purchase Amount: The more you spend, the more cashback you can earn. If a retailer offers 5% cashback and you spend £100, you’ll earn £5 back.
Special CashBack Promotions: Cashback sites often run special promotions where they increase the cashback rates for certain retailers for a limited time. During these promotions, you can earn significantly more cashback than usual.
Type of Purchase: Some retailers offer different cashback rates for different types of purchases. For example, a retailer might offer 1% cashback for electronics and 3% cashback for clothing.
CashBack Membership Level: Some cashback sites offer premium memberships that come with higher cashback rates. These memberships usually require a monthly or annual fee so make sure it’s worth it for you before signing up.
Does CashBack Cost Anything?
Typically, using a cashback site doesn’t cost you anything. These sites make money by earning commission from the retailers they partner with. When you make a purchase, the retailer pays the cashback site a percentage of the sale, and the cashback site then shares a portion of that commission with you.
However, there are a few things to be aware of:
Premium Memberships – Some cashback sites offer premium memberships that come with benefits like higher cashback rates or faster payouts. These memberships usually require a monthly or annual fee.
Minimum Payouts – Many cashback sites have a minimum amount you need to earn before you can cash out. If you don’t use the site often, it might take a while for you to reach this minimum.
Inactivity Fees – Some cashback sites charge an inactivity fee if you don’t use your account for a certain period of time. Check the site’s terms and conditions to avoid any unexpected charges.
Withdrawal Fees – While rare, some cashback sites may charge a fee when you withdraw your cashback to your bank account or request a check.
*Remember to always read the terms and conditions of any cashback site you use to make sure you understand how it works and to avoid any potential fees.
CashBack FAQs
TopCashBack, Quidco and KidStart are popular cashback sites in the UK. There are others that offer cashback, these three are currently the most popular.
There is no 1 best site. Cashback sites often have varying offers and it depends what you’re purchasing as to the cashback you’ll receive. Look at TopCashBack, Quidco and KidStart. These are popular cashback sites in the UK.
Here’s how cashback sites work:
1. Click on a link on the cashback site and it takes you to the shop you’ve chosen
2. The retailer pays the cashback site a commission for directing you to their website
3. This commission is a percentage of the total value of your purchase
4. The cashback site then shares a portion of this commission with you (the customer) in the form of cash-back
While there are no real disadvantages to saving money on an item you’re buying already, there are a few things to be aware of.
1. Premium Memberships These memberships usually require a monthly or annual fee.
2. Minimum Payouts Some cashback sites have a minimum amount you need to earn before you can cash out. If you don’t use the site often, it could take a while for you to reach this minimum.
3. Inactivity Fees Some cashback sites charge an inactivity fee if you don’t use your account for a certain period of time. Check the site’s terms and conditions to avoid any unexpected charges.
4. Withdrawal Fees While rare, some cashback sites may charge a fee when you withdraw your cashback.
Cashback is not usually free money. Cashback is a saving you can make when you’re spending your own money. However, there are some ways to get free cashback offers without spending a penny. Find those here.