By ignoring the burgeoning industry of cash-back apps, especially with the growing popularity of shopping online, you’re leaving money on the table. “Consumers often overlook the benefit cash-back apps offer because they may see it as minimal return on their purchases,” Woroch says, “or they may simply forget to take the steps to earn money back.” “Given that the average mobile order was just over $125 as of 2021 and the average online order was $177 according to Statista,” Woroch says, “earning 1 to 6 percent cash back with a digital tool each time you shop is an easy way to make some money back on what you’re buying.” Viewed by some consumers as too good to be true or even slightly scammy, the world of cash-back apps has come a long way. Cash-back apps have modernized frugal habits like clipping coupons from the Sunday newspaper, making it easy to save money and, in some cases, practically gamifying the art of being a savvy shopper. Ready to get in on the cash-back action? Here are some of the best ways to use cash-back apps and browser extensions to maximize earnings on everyday purchases. One of the apps that’s particularly useful on this front is Dosh, according to Ben Reynolds, CEO and founder of investment firm Sure Dividend. “Dosh is very convenient because you can simply link your credit card to your Dosh account and get cash back from shopping at Pizza Hut, Walmart, or other popular businesses and brands,” he explains. Dosh works at thousands of places, allowing users to earn cash back when shopping, dining, and traveling. When you swipe your credit card at participating businesses, Dosh deposits cash back into your Dash account. When your Dash account exceeds $25, you can transfer it to your bank, PayPal, or Venmo. “The apps refresh every day, so it’s often worth it to open your app each day to be informed about new deals,” says Iinuma. “Write out your shopping list with the app open so that you can take advantage of any deals on your regular purchases.” “Spend some time researching and learning the various ways you can earn cash back through stacking,” urges Reynolds. “This means you use more than one cash-back app, in addition to printed coupons and paying for the purchase using a credit card that provides cash rewards. Don’t be afraid to find multiple ways to save money buying groceries, gas, and more.” Maximizing savings by stacking requires a bit of homework, though. You must thoroughly understand the order in which the cash-back apps are applied, and link your store loyalty cards to those apps. For further study, look for websites, online forums, and articles dedicated to detailing the art of cash-back stacking. Most of the special cash-back events Porwal is referring to happen during major holidays, when retailers up the ante to compete for your business. During peak shopping seasons, app users can earn double—and on rare occasions, triple—their cash-back rewards. “Capital One Shopping, for example, automatically tries to apply coupon codes for you and alerts you if there’s a cheaper item available,” says Segal. “It sends helpful reminders to help you save even more money while being easy to use.” “By going to this site first, you will be able to compare the best cash-back sites and apps to use to get the most out of your purchases,” she says. “You can also use this site to search for a particular store you’ll be shopping at. Cashback Monitor also lists the cash back sites and apps available to be used at that store, as well as the percentage of cash back each app is offering at the moment.” “You might find an item that you can save money on. But if you aren’t going to use it, you’re wasting money on products that will go to waste,” says Reynolds. “Focus on purchasing things that are necessary or that you do use.”
“It’s not a lifestyle-changing amount of income, but every little bit helps,” says Nick Loper, founder of Side Hustle Nation. “If you’re a fan of free money (and who isn’t?) cash-back apps are a no-brainer. They won’t make you rich, but it’s money that can certainly come in handy.”
