HOW DO I USE EBATES TO MAKE MONEY?
What’s better than shopping the sales? Making money while doing it!
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What is Ebates?
Ebates recently changed their name to Rakuten, but for the sake of this post I’ll still refer to them as Ebates, it’s just a lot catchier in my opinion.
Click here to visit the Ebates website.
Ebates is an online site and app that gives you cash back for making purchases from your favorite retailers. They have everything from Macy’s, Amazon, Walmart, and more.
Who is Ebates for?
Ebates is for anyone who buys stuff (online and in-store) and wants to save money getting cash back.
Who isn’t it for?
People who don’t like saving money.
How does Ebates work?
Using your email or Facebook account you sign up to Ebates.
Search for your favorite retailers by alphabetical order or by what they sell (clothing, furniture, books, health, etc.)
In the photo below you can see Ebates will list if there are coupons available and the percent cash back being offered at the present time. Sometimes they will only have coupons or differing cash back amounts based on category.
E.g. Amazon is currently offering 4% cash back on Amazon devices, 3% on baby, and 2% on automotive.
This is the screen that comes up after you click on the “Shop Now” button. Ebates automatically opens up a shopping trip # for you so they (and you) can keep track of your earnings.
How does Ebates work in store?
What does it cost to use Ebates?
Ebates is 100% free. I know I know. I was skeptical when I first heard about them too.
We’ve been a member of Ebates since 2012 and get a “Big Fat Check” sent to us on a regular basis.
Related money saving posts:
* Top ways to get cash back and extra savings
* 10 Passive income ideas to get cash flowing
Ebates encourages consumers to shop at the retailers listed on their site by posting new deals everyday.
When people shop through Ebates, Ebates gets a cut from the retailer and consumers get a cut too. Everyone is getting something so it’s a mutual benefit all around.
How will I get paid?
You can choose to be paid by check or PayPal.
When will I get paid?
Ebates sends checks every 3 months and as long as your balance is at least $5, they will send the check in that pay period. If not it will just carryover to the next pay period until you reach the $5 minimum.
How much money can I make?
It all depends on how often you shop and how much you spend.
Some people get thousands of dollars back a year because they use Ebates, stack their promos, and use it every chance they get.
As you can see below, we currently have $88.90 in cash back money for this quarter.
Think about getting the Ebates cash back button on your browser.
If you use any of the following browsers, an Ebates button will pop-up on your screen when there are discounts/cash back available on the site you’re on.
- Internet Explorer (IE), version 11+
- Firefox, versions 15+
- Chrome, versions 21+
- Safari, versions 6+
- Edge, all versions
We have the buton set up on our laptop because there have been a few times where I have forgotten to go to Ebates first.
I actually cancelled an order I once made and redid it through Ebates to get my $5 cash back.
Hello! We were trying to pay off our credit card debt at the time and every bit helps.
What happens if you make returns on cash back items?
Your cash back will be taken back by Ebates.
What if I’m missing cash back?
Click on Help>Missing Cash Back. Fill out the form (store, date, order #, total, email confirmation) and Ebates will look into it for you. I’ve never had a problem so can’t say how long a research inquiry takes.
What are the cons of using Ebates?
I went over all the good things in this Ebates tutorial, so what about the bad?
If you’re like me and like discounts and deals, you might be encouraged to shop more.
The payout dates
You might earn a lot of cash back in April (2nd quarter), but have to wait until August 15th to get paid.
Our Ebates cash back money is extra money so I don’t mind if we have to wait a little bit. It’s always a nice surprise every 3 months.
FINAL THOUGHTS
If you’re working your way to get out of debt or just want to save money you should sign-up to Ebates.
Take your cash back money to put towards your debt or save up for vacation.
For a limited time get a $10 signup bonus with your first qualifying purchase using this Ebates welcome link!
The best part, earn $25 for every person who signs up to Ebates using your own referral link! Just click on the “Refer and earn $25+” link after you sign up.
You make money and your friends and family start saving money too.
If you enjoyed my Ebates walkthrough please pin for later! Happy saving!
