Depending on how much you spend, it’s possible to claim back hundreds of pounds every year through cashback websites – here is how they work and what you need to be aware of
Cashback websites give you money back when you use them to click through to certain retailers and make a purchase.
Depending on how much you spend, it’s possible to claim back hundreds of pounds every year – and the best part is, you’re just getting money back on purchases that you would be making anyway. To get cashback, you just need to search for the retailer you’re looking to buy something from through the cashback website.
It’s important you click through to the retailer by the link on the cashback website, otherwise your purchase may not track and you could miss out on the cashback. Once you’ve made a purchase, it can take a few days or weeks for the cashback to show in your account – so keep in mind that this isn’t always a quick way to make money. This is because cashback websites need to verify your spend, and allow for cancelled or returned orders.
The cashback you’re offered is either done as a percentage of your spend, or a set rate. For example, Topcashback is currently offering 50% cashback on Holiday Extras Airport Parking, or if you take out a new broadband deal through comparison website Uswitch, Topcashback will give you £125.
Quidco is giving up to 20% cashback on Just Eat orders, or £80 back when you book a break with Jet2Holiday. Of course, you should only take advantage of a cashback deal if you were planning on making that purchase anyway. Topcashback estimates that members earn £345 a year on average.
Cashback sites earn money by retailers paying them a commission when someone makes a purchase. A percentage of this is then shared back with you in the form of the cashback. It is free to sign up to cashback sites, but be aware that some offer a premium level which you need to pay for.
These typically offer better rates of cashback and a larger range of promotions, but may not necessarily be worth it if you don’t do a lot of online shopping. Quidco Premium is charged at a rate of £1 of the cashback you earn each month, while TopCashback Plus costs up to £5 of what you earn each year.
You also need to be aware that you may not be offered the cheapest deals on cashback websites – always make sure you compare prices elsewhere first. For example, if you’re offered 10% cashback on a purchase that cost you £20, you’d get £2 back – but if you were able to find the same item elsewhere for £15, then you wouldn’t be better off with the cashback deal.
We’ve found a way to bag a discount on an already-reduced 4K smart TV. The 50” Hisense 4K UHD smart TV is currently down to £279, which Argos says is its ‘lowest’ price ever. This is the same price offered by Amazon, but Argos customers can get it cheaper thanks to a deal from TopCashback. The discount site is giving new members a £15 sign-up bonus, as well as cashback on each purchase. This reduces the Hisense TV even further to £257.03 for new Argos customers or £261.68 for existing Argos customers. Existing TopCashback members can also get in on the action, with the TV reducing to £272.03 for new Argos customers or £276.68 for existing Argos customers.
Follow these steps to claim your discounted smart TV:
- Shoppers can sign up to TopCashback here
- Search for Argos and click ‘Get Cashback Now’
- Shop and checkout as usual
- Cashback will then track and appear in your TopCashback account within seven working days of purchase
- The cashback will become payable and available to withdraw and spend after Argos has paid TopCashback the commission for the purchase