How Cashback Shopping and Discounted Gift Cards Can Help You Save Money: A Complete Guide

Cashback shopping is a powerful tool for saving money, but did you know that combining it with discounted gift cards can amplify your savings even further? Using cashback websites while purchasing discounted gift cards allows you to maximize your purchasing power and reduce costs on everyday items. In this article, we’ll walk you through how cashback shopping works, how to purchase discounted gift cards, and the best strategies for combining the two methods to save the most money.

Step 1: Understanding Cashback Shopping

Cashback shopping is a simple way to earn money back when you make purchases online or in-store. Cashback websites and apps partner with retailers to offer a percentage of your purchase back to you in cash or rewards. Here’s how cashback shopping works in detail:

1. Sign Up for a Cashback Website or App: The first step is to sign up for a cashback platform, such as Rakuten, TopCashback, or Swagbucks. These sites partner with thousands of retailers, offering anywhere from 1% to 40% cashback on purchases.
2. Browse or Search for Retailers: Once signed up, you can browse the cashback site for participating retailers or use the search function to find specific stores. Popular retailers include Amazon, Walmart, Macy’s, and Best Buy.
3. Click Through the Cashback Link: After selecting a retailer, click the cashback link on the website. This redirects you to the retailer’s site, where you can shop as usual. The cashback site tracks your purchase and credits your account with a percentage of what you spend.
4. Accumulate Cashback: The more you shop through the cashback site, the more cashback you earn. Some sites pay out once you reach a minimum threshold, while others offer monthly or quarterly payouts.
5. Redeem Your Cashback: You can withdraw your cashback earnings via PayPal, direct deposit, or gift cards, depending on the platform. Some sites offer higher payout rates for redeeming as gift cards.

Pro Tip: Install the cashback site’s browser extension so you never miss an opportunity to earn cashback. The extension will notify you when you’re on a site that offers cashback, ensuring you activate it before making a purchase.

Step 2: The Power of Discounted Gift Cards

Buying discounted gift cards is a lesser-known but highly effective way to save money. Many platforms allow people to sell their unused gift cards for less than face value, and savvy shoppers can purchase these cards to save on everyday purchases. Here’s how to make the most of discounted gift cards:

1. Choose Trusted Platforms: To get started, use reputable websites to buy discounted gift cards. Some of the best platforms for discounted gift cards include:
   • Raise: Offers a wide variety of discounted gift cards from major retailers.
   • CardCash: Allows users to buy discounted gift cards and exchange unwanted cards for cash.
   • Gift Card Granny: A gift card aggregator that compares discounted gift card prices from multiple vendors.
2. Buy Cards for Regular Purchases: Purchase gift cards for stores you frequently shop at, such as grocery stores, gas stations, or restaurants. For example, you might buy a $100 grocery gift card for $90, instantly saving 10% on your groceries.
3. Check Expiration Dates and Restrictions: Before buying a discounted gift card, review the terms and conditions. Some cards may have expiration dates or restrictions on how they can be used, so always check the fine print.
4. Sell Unwanted Gift Cards: If you have gift cards you don’t plan to use, consider selling them on these platforms to recoup part of the value and reinvest in a card you’ll actually use.

Pro Tip: Look for discounted gift cards that offer higher savings around holidays or during seasonal promotions. These periods often feature deeper discounts, helping you maximize your savings even more.

Step 3: How to Combine Cashback Shopping with Discounted Gift Cards for Maximum Savings

The real magic happens when you combine cashback shopping with discounted gift cards. By stacking these two methods, you can double (or even triple) your savings on a single purchase. Here’s how to use both techniques together effectively:

1. Buy a Discounted Gift Card First: Before making a purchase, visit a site like Raise or CardCash to buy a discounted gift card for the store where you plan to shop. For instance, if you’re planning to shop at Walmart, buy a discounted Walmart gift card. This instantly gives you savings, as you’ll be spending less than the card’s face value.
2. Use Cashback Sites for Your Purchase: After securing your discounted gift card, visit your cashback website and search for the retailer. Click through the cashback link to be redirected to the store’s website.
3. Apply the Gift Card at Checkout: When you’re ready to check out, use the discounted gift card as your payment method. Since you’ve already bought the gift card at a discount, you’ll save money upfront, plus you’ll earn cashback on the full amount of the purchase.
4. Earn Cashback on the Full Price: Cashback sites calculate the cashback based on the total amount of your purchase, even if you pay with a discounted gift card. This means you’re effectively earning cashback on a discounted price, maximizing your savings.

For example, let’s say you buy a $100 gift card for $90 and make a purchase for $100 using the gift card. If the cashback rate is 10%, you’ll earn $10 in cashback, bringing your effective total to just $80—a 20% overall savings.

Pro Tip: Some cashback sites offer additional bonuses when redeeming cashback as gift cards. Check if your cashback site offers extra value for gift card redemptions, which can further increase your savings.

Step 4: Shop Smart with Sales and Promotions

To truly maximize your savings, combine cashback shopping and discounted gift cards with retailer sales and promotions. Many stores offer periodic discounts, and you can stack these deals with your cashback and gift card strategies.

1. Watch for Sales: Plan your purchases around big sales events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Amazon Prime Day. These events often feature discounts of 20% to 50%, which you can combine with discounted gift cards and cashback offers.
2. Use Store Coupons and Promo Codes: Many cashback websites allow you to use coupon codes or store promos along with earning cashback. Search for valid coupon codes before checking out to increase your savings.
3. Take Advantage of Cashback Boosts: Cashback sites frequently run “double cashback” promotions or offer higher cashback rates during special events. Keep an eye on your favorite cashback platform to take advantage of these boosts when they happen.

Pro Tip: Sign up for store newsletters to receive exclusive coupons and early access to sales. Many retailers also offer a discount for signing up, which you can apply on top of your cashback and gift card savings.

Step 5: Redeem Cashback for Gift Cards

Another effective way to maximize savings is to redeem your cashback earnings for gift cards. Many cashback platforms allow users to cash out their earnings as gift cards, often with an added bonus. For instance, redeeming $25 in cashback as an Amazon gift card may give you $27 worth of credit, providing even more value.

1. Look for Bonus Gift Card Offers: Some cashback sites offer bonuses when you redeem your cashback for specific gift cards. For example, Swagbucks may offer 10% more value if you redeem your SB points for a Starbucks gift card instead of cash.
2. Reinvest Gift Cards into Regular Purchases: Use your cashback gift cards for stores you regularly shop at, like Amazon or Target. By using gift cards for essential purchases, you effectively reduce your monthly expenses.
3. Combine Gift Cards with Future Cashback Purchases: If you earn cashback in the form of a gift card, you can use that gift card in future cashback-eligible purchases. This creates a cycle of savings, allowing you to continuously reinvest your earnings and maximize your discounts.

Pro Tip: If you prefer to get cash, PayPal is usually the best option for redeeming cashback. However, check for bonus gift card options, as some may offer higher value than PayPal payouts.

Conclusion: Start Stacking Cashback and Discounted Gift Cards Today

Using cashback websites and discounted gift cards together is a powerful strategy for maximizing your savings. By following the steps outlined in this guide—signing up for a cashback site, purchasing discounted gift cards, and combining them with sales—you can reduce your expenses significantly on both everyday and special purchases.

With just a few smart strategies, you can keep more money in your pocket while shopping for the things you need. Start implementing these tips today to make the most of cashback shopping and discounted gift cards in 2024!