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INTRODUCTION
Everyone is looking to save more money, especially if you are planning a wedding. Want to find easy ways to save money while shopping online? Try Rakuten. I have used this tool for several years and have earned hundreds of dollars in cash back. Rakuten is a must-have tool for women who want to keep more money in their pockets while shopping for everything from essentials to holiday gifts. In this blog post, I'll show you how Rakuten can work for you!
WHAT IS RAKUTEN
Rakuten is a free cashback platform that rewards you for shopping at your favorite stores. It partners with hundreds of retailers—think Walmart, Target, Instacart, Macy’s, Nike, and Temu—to give you cash back on purchases. You can shop through the Rakuten app or browser extension and watch your savings grow whenever you shop online!
HOW TO START USING RAKUTEN
To start using Rakuten, check out this link and make a FREE account. Then, download the app and browser extension to find deals and earn rewards. Once you log in, you can choose how to receive cash back quarterly with PayPal, a check, or credit card points with Amex. If you link your American Express Gold or Platinum card to Rakuten, you’ll earn Amex Membership Rewards points instead of cash back. These points can double during promotions and holiday sales, making your rewards even easier.
Once you set up your account, log onto Rakuten, find the store, click the store link, and start shopping. When you download the browser extension, a pop-up for Rakuten will appear whenever you are in a store where you can receive more cashback savings. Then click the link on the pop-up and start getting cash back while you shop. Then, you will get an email that your savings went through after your purchase. That's it. No scams. No hidden fees. Just savings for free!
HOW RAKUTEN HELPS YOU SAVE MONEY
1. EARN CASH BACK OR CREDIT CARD POINTS ON PURCHASES
Rakuten gives you a percentage of your total spending in cash, check, or Amex credit card points. I do cash back to PayPal. You can also have a check mailed to you. Those savings add up whether you’re shopping for groceries, clothes, or wedding essentials. However, if you have difficulty paying off credit cards or are struggling to pay off debt, please avoid using credit cards and stick with the cash-back option.
2. RAKUTEN LINKS YOU TO HUNDREDS OF STORES TO EARN CASH BACK
Rakuten partners with many retailers, so you will likely find your go-to stores and services. Popular options include:
- Shopping: Macy's, Walmart, Target, Temu, JCPenny, Old Navy, PetSmart, CVS, Groupon
- Groceries: Kroger, Instacart, Safeway, Food Lion
- Wedding: The Knot Invitations, Zola
3. RAKUTEN OFFERS COUPONS FOR EXTRA SAVINGS
Rakuten provides access to various coupons and promo codes to maximize savings with stores and products. Whether shopping for home goods, travel, or experiences, Rakuten helps you save extra by automatically applying the best deals at checkout.
4. DOUBLE CASH BACK DURING HOLIDAYS
My favorite part of shopping with Rakuten is the double (or triple) cash back during the holidays. Rakuten often offers double cash back during these peak shopping seasons to help you save even more. Shopping around Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or the 4th of July can increase the money you get from your planned shopping.
5. RAKUTEN HELPS YOU EARN “THE SAVINGS TRIFECTA”
Rakuten lets you earn 3 times the amount of savings, or the “saving trifecta.” What is the saving trifecta? The savings trifecta is where you save money in 3 different ways. With Rakuten, you can save money by shopping on the site to earn cash back from your purchase. Next, you can use a coupon for your purchase to save money. Lastly, you earn cash back when you use a cashback credit card like this one from Fidelity to get 1-2% cash back on your purchase.
CONS TO RAKUTEN
While Rakuten is fantastic for saving money, there are a few minor drawbacks:
- Some stores in Rakuten may stop offering cashback or change their rates unexpectedly.
- With Rakuten's program, you must choose between earning cash back or credit card points—you can’t have both.
- Some stores, like Amazon or Etsy, are on Rakuten but don’t always offer cash-back options, so you have to double-check every time.
However, these few drawbacks aren’t a big deal compared to the savings you can get from Rakuten. I’ve been using this site for several years and have earned hundreds of dollars from shopping online. I regularly tell my family and friends about it because of how much I save with Rakuten.
HOW I USE RAKUTEN TO SAVE MONEY
Rakuten is my secret weapon for saving money on everything from groceries to holiday shopping. Here's how I use this amazing tool to save money.
1. LOG ONTO RAKUTEN WHEN SHOPPING ONLINE
For example, when I shop at Macy’s, I log onto Rakuten and then start shopping through its platform, clicking the website, the extension browser, or the app.
2. LOOK FOR COUPONS
Rakuten has several coupons available, but I also check Honey, RetailMeNot, or Capital One Shopping for online coupon codes. Rakuten doesn’t let you use these other coupon sites or tools simultaneously, but you can copy the coupon code from the other websites.
3. PAY WITH CASH BACK CREDIT CARD
I use a cash-back credit card to save more money on my Rakuten purchases. Sometimes, I will use the Amex Platinum card to earn points towards a trip. However, I pay off the credit card balance as soon as possible. If you use credit cards, please ensure you can pay off the ENTIRE balance by the end of the month to avoid getting trapped in the debt cycle. If you can’t pay off your debt, then avoid credit cards and use a debit card for purchases.
4. SHOP RAKUTEN DURING HOLIDAY SALES
I love shopping during Black Friday and post-Christmas sales when Rakuten offers double or triple cash back.
5. TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY ABOUT RAKUTEN
Once you learn how easy it is to save money on Rakuten, you want to share it with friends and family. Share your referral link with friends and family, and you’ll earn bonus cash back when they sign up and make a purchase. It’s free, easy, and a great way to spread the savings.
CONCLUSION
Rakuten is an excellent tool for effortlessly saving money, whether planning a wedding or working towards financial freedom. Sign up for FREE with this link and start earning cashback today!
IN SUMMARY
How to Use Rakuten to Save Money
- Make an account on Rakuten for FREE.
- Set up to receive either cash back or Amex credit card points.
- Download the Rakuten app and browser extension.
- Log onto Rakuten when shopping online.
- Earn double or triple cash back on holiday sales like Black Friday or Cyber Monday.
- Use coupons or cash-back credit cards with your purchases to save more money.
- Earn money quarterly through check, PayPal, or Amex points.
- Share Rakuten with friends and family so they can save money, too.
Are you ready to start saving more money with Rakuten?
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