By Kelly Hodges
A few weeks ago I wrote about the promo code as a great way to SAVE money while shopping online. With the holiday gift-giving season quickly approaching, I thought now would be a good time to talk about how to EARN money while shopping online. Yes, you read that right, and as you’ll see it couldn’t be any easier to do!
Thanks to cash back websites, all it takes is a simple click of the mouse to earn actual money while shopping online. Ebates is a site I like to use (so I’ll use them as the example), but there are others out there as well such as ShopAtHome, Mr. Rebates, and Pennyful, and they all basically operate the same way.
So how does it work? Well, Ebates has contracts with many online retailers (over 1200 according to their website). Whenever a customer buys something at one of these online retailers through the link on the Ebates website, the store gives Ebates a commission for referring the customer, which is usually a percentage of the sale price. Ebates then keeps track of all the commissions each member earns and then once a quarter sends each member a check (or if you have a PayPal account they will deposit it directly in there). You will literally get a check in your mailbox for whatever you’ve “earned” shopping online, and according to their website they have already paid out over $55 million to members.
Here are a few examples of the current cash back that is being offered through Ebates for various online stores as I write this:
Lands End 6%
HP 5%
Kohls 4%
Snapfish 20%
Gap 10%
Home Depot 3%
Target 3%
These percentages will fluctuate, as the site often runs specials such as double cash back and things like that, but this at least gives a sense of some of the potential for earning. If you do a lot of shopping online you can see how this could add up quickly.
So what do you have to do to get in on this action? It’s simple. Just register for a free account at Ebates or one of the other cash back sites. You’ll earn a $5 bonus just for creating an account. Then each time you shop online go to the Ebates page first, and then click on the link to the online retailer you plan to shop at. The site will direct you there and automatically apply the cash back to your account once you make the purchase. Then just sit back and wait for your check to come in the mail… it’s so easy!
So in the busy holiday months to come, use the promo codes to save and the cash back sites to earn while shopping online. From the comfort of your own home you will spend less time and money then you would in the stores…and that’s a great gift you can give yourself!
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Any opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author, and do not in any way represent the views or opinions of her employer or any other person or entity.
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