If you’re like me, you hate shopping. More likely, you’re not like me, and you fall somewhere on the Don’t Mind It → Can’t Live Without It spectrum. Wherever you fall, I’ve got a way to make shopping slightly more enjoyable with just a few mouse clicks. You can save money today using Rakuten!
What it is
Rakuten is an e-commerce and online retailing company that is basically a database for cash back and coupons. After creating a free account, the user can browse the portal for opportunities to earn cash back on purchases they would have made in the first place. Free money!
Best of all, you won’t sacrifice any other store coupons already applied to your cart. For example, say you need a new pair of brown work shoes because your frugal self has worn a hole all the way through the sole of your current ones…like ALL THE WAY through. So you’re browsing the Kohl’s website and find a reasonably priced pair that should last at least until your planned early retirement. You’re in luck…Kohl’s just so happens to have a 15% off coupon to apply. (Seriously, if you ever buy anything from Kohl’s at full price, you’re doing it wrong). Rakuten allows you to use the 15% coupon AND still give you whatever deal it currently offers for Kohl’s!
How to use it
Using Google Chrome, browse to Rakuten.com. If you don’t already have the extension installed, you’ll get hit with this pop-up:
I highly recommend installing the browser extension, as it remains active during all your browsing sessions. It operates in the background, waiting to alert you to money-saving opportunities.
To install the extension, click: Add to Chrome. This takes you to a landing page with a brief synopsis, customer reviews (43,000+ averaging 4.9 out of 5!), and a bunch of technical jargon. Click: Add to Chrome, and in the ensuing pop-up notification, click: Add Extension.
Once the installation is complete, you should see a gray puzzle piece icon to the right of your web browser field. You may need to click on the icon to see that the Rakuten extension is installed. I suggest pinning it so the Rakuten logo shows up on its own.
Just create an account and get to shopping!
How to save money today
Once you have created a Rakuten account, there are two main ways to earn cash back: 1) shop directly through the portal on Rakuten.com, or 2) browse to your preferred store’s website and let the Rakuten browser extension work its magic, notifying you if there is cash back available.
Option 1 is a fairly easy way to sort by category and see what cash back deals they currently offer. You can even browse for gift cards! Option 2 is better served for those that already have a store or two in mind for their particular purchase. I tend to use a mixture of these two strategies depending on what I am shopping for.
So you make a few purchases and take advantage of some sweet cash back deals…now what?
Rakuten will notify you each time you earn cash back and keep a running total in your account. Once you accumulate $5 in cash back, they will send you your Big Fat Check (either deposited into your PayPal account or an actual paper check), which they pay out quarterly. If you’re like me, you’re not buying too many big ticket items and it may take 3 months or more just to accumulate the $5. But I’ve accumulated over $100 in cash back using Rakuten in just about 2.5 years since I signed up, so there’s definitely cash to be had. Rakuten does not charge a fee or take a commission on your purchases (at least not from you), so it costs you absolutely nothing to use.
But wait, there’s more!
Want some free money? Use this link to sign up for a Rakuten account and make a purchase of at least $25 either directly from Rakuten.com or from any qualifying website with the browser extension activated and get $10 credited to your account. (Full disclosure, I’ll receive $25 cash back too. Thanks in advance).
Better still, once you’ve created your account, you can refer others for the same deal: $25 for you and $10 for them (once they make a qualifying purchase).
Conclusion
As I stated in the intro, I’m not a fan of shopping. As Mrs. FIby35 can attest, I list “browsing” as one of my least favorite activities of all time. But cash back browser extensions like Rakuten make a bit of a game out of buying the things I would regularly buy anyway by getting free cash back, even if it’s only 1-2% of the purchase price.
Like any coupon or discount, it doesn’t do you a whole lot of good if you’re going out of your way to buy things you didn’t need just for the sake of getting a discount. But when used strategically and with restraint, Rakuten can certainly help you save money today.
