If you’re looking to save money on your online purchases, check out the cash back site RebatesMe before you order. Find out everything you need to know here.
For more ways to save money, check out all of our frugal posts.
If you know me, you know I love saving money. I mean, my full-time job is this frugal lifestyle blog, where I teach you how to save and live affordably.
So, of course, when I’m shopping online, I don’t just place an order. I make sure to use a cashback site.
If you aren’t using a cashback site, like RebatesMe, for your online purchases, you’re leaving money out there. The site will give you a percentage back when you shop at certain websites or book hotels online.
You don’t get the savings right away. You have to pay upfront, then you get that percentage back into your account, which you can easily cash out to your bank account.
Keep reading to find out more.
RebatesMe is just one of the cashback sites we use. It’s great for online savings, but it can’t be combined with in-store shopping.
So, check out our list of cash back apps you can use when you do in-store shopping.
RebatesMe: Everything you need to know about the cashback site
Affiliate links are included in this sponsored post and Drugstore Divas may make a small commission if you use them.
How Does RebatesMe Work?
RebatesMe has partnered with over 10,000 stores, hotel chains, and travel partners to offer cash back to its users. When you place an order with one of these merchants via the RebatesMe website or mobile app, you earn a percentage back.
That percentage can differ across merchants. It’s not a standard percentage rate. Also, sometimes the merchants offer an incentive for you to shop during a certain period, so that percentage can increase or decrease depending on when you shop.
You can get cash back if you shop with these merchants, but you don’t always get the same cash back. Still, it’s free money for you.
RebatesMe is free to sign up for and free to use. There’s no upfront or hidden cost for you. All you have to do is open the website or mobile app, make sure you’re logged in, and go to the merchant site through the search bar. Click the large, green “shop now” button and the merchant website will open a new tab. Then, just place your order as you normally would.
You’ll see a pending amount for cashback after you’ve paid or stayed (if it’s a hotel booking) and that cashback will be available in your account after.
Quick note: Check out RebateMe’s terms and conditions for the exact timeline of this since it can change.
Once you hit a certain monetary threshold, you can cash out your available cash back to PayPal, check, gift card, and more.
You can also earn cashback by referring your friends. If they sign up as new members, you both get a bonus.
RebatesMe Browser Extension
To make your saving even easier, you can download the RebatesMe browser extension. When you’re shopping on a partner site, you’ll be alerted about the cashback you can earn.
So you don’t even have to think about it. Just install the browser extension, online shop as you usually do, and the helpful browser will let you know about any potential savings.
Deal For New Sign Ups
If you are a new member, you’re in luck. New members get a $5 welcome bonus in their account, which they can cash out after their account hits a certain threshold.
So, that’s free money right off the bat. And who doesn’t love free money?
Can You Use RebatesMe With Coupons?
If you’re reading Drugstore Divas, there’s a good chance you love coupons. I mean, we started as a coupon blog back in 2009. You know, I love coupons too.
The answer to this is both yes and no.
Yes, you can use RebatesMe with coupons, but only if those coupon codes are listed on the RebatesMe website. That means the site and the partners have negotiated allowing cashback with that specific promo code.
If you find a coupon code on another website that wasn’t authorized by the partners and RebatesMe for use on its site, you may not get cash back.
So, instead of wasting your time looking for coupons online, just go to the RebatesMe site. It’ll list all the coupons for you, which is a savings in addition to the cashback that you can earn.
Just note that the coupon will lower your total, so it will lower your total cashback too. You earn cashback on what you actually pay pre-tax, not on the original price.
When Is The Best Time To Use RebatesMe?
Anytime you’re shopping online is a great time to use RebatesMe.
But, it’s a little more nuanced than that.
I like to use it when I’m booking our vacations. Hotel prices are usually set and you ordinarily can’t get a discount on them.
So, a way to save on your hotel stay is by using RebatesMe. Since you can get a percentage of your hotel stay back, that feels like a savings overall.
If you have a hotel loyalty program number, you can still use that when you’re booking your hotel. So, you get credit for all your nights stayed, just like you would if you booked through the hotel’s website, so, you’re not losing anything by booking this way. You’re only gaining. And then you can use that extra savings while you’re on your trip.
Just keep in mind that you don’t actually see the money posted into your RebatesMe account until after your trip. They wanna make sure that you do stay and don’t cancel before you get your cash back.
RebatesMe Anniversary Promotion
RebatesMe might be a new site to you, but it’s not new. It has been around for 13 years. And it’s currently celebrating its 13th anniversary with a promotion.
Head to the site and spin a wheel for a chance to win a prize. (I won an extra 5% cash back, but you could also win prizes and someone will win a $500 grand prize.) When you use the cashback site during the month of August and make $30 in qualifying purchases, your prize is activated.
There’s a good chance that you’re shopping online right now between last minute summer vacation trips and back to school shopping. So, hitting that threshold will be so much easier than it seems.
Have you used RebatesMe yet? Let us know your experience in the comments.