Want to learn how I’ve earned $100s in cashback over the past couple of years, without adding any extra work to my routine, without taking any kind of surveys, and without signing up to any annoying emails OR cashback credit cards?
It’s the easiest way I’ve found to make extra money just by buying things I was going to buy anyway.
I’m talking about Rakuten (formerly Ebates), and honestly, I feel like no one told me about it soon enough. I first signed up a couple of years ago because a friend swore she got actual cash from it not weird gift cards, not points she had to spend somewhere specific just straight-up PayPal deposits. And… she was right.
Here’s how it works:
You sign up for Rakuten (free and if you use this link, you get a $10 bonus after your first purchase). Then, whenever you shop online, you either go to Rakuten’s site first and click through to the store you’re buying from, or you install their browser extension. The extension is my favorite it literally pops up when you’re on a site that offers cashback, and all you have to do is click “Activate.”
That’s it. You don’t pay more. You don’t have to collect codes. You just get a percentage back in cash and every few months, they deposit it into your account.
Some of my favorite wins:
- I booked a hotel through Booking.com and got 4% back. That was like €16 for doing nothing extra.
- Bought Christmas gifts at Etsy and got 3% back.
- Even my contact lenses from a German optical site triggered cashback.
It’s such a tiny, effortless thing, but if you shop online even a couple of times a month, it really adds up. I’ve earned a few hundred dollars total, and I swear I’ve done zero extra work for it.
Why I love it as an expat/traveler:
When I’m booking flights, hotels, or even buying clothes to survive another German winter, I just activate Rakuten and feel like I’m getting a secret discount. Lowering travel costs without lifting a finger? Yes, please.
If you want to try it, you can sign up here to get the free $10 bonus after your first qualifying purchase (usually anything over $25). Seriously, future you will thank you.
💛 Sav

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