This 1-Click Trick Has Saved Me Thousands on My Holiday Shopping (With Proof!)

The holidays are wonderful, but let’s be honest—they can also be expensive. Between gifts, decorations, and festive get-togethers, the costs really start to add up. That’s why I get so excited when I find a way to save a little extra without giving up any of the fun!

And this particular trick? It doesn’t just save me money—it actually pays me for shopping. I know that sounds too good to be true, but I promise, it’s 100% legitimate. I’ve been using it for years, and it’s earned me some serious cash back on things I was already planning to buy.

So before you start your holiday shopping, let me show you how this simple 1-click button can help you earn money on every purchase — and even give you a $50 bonus when you sign up through my link. Your wallet (and maybe your gift list!) will thank you.

How To Get Paid Back When You Shop Online

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could actually get paid for buying things you were already planning to buy? That’s exactly what cash back shopping does—and it’s one of those rare tricks that feels too good to be true until you try it.

Here’s how it works: when you shop through a site like Rakuten, the retailer pays Rakuten a small commission for sending them your business. Instead of keeping it all, Rakuten shares a portion of that commission with you — in real cash.

It’s simple, automatic, and it works at thousands of online stores. You can even combine your cash back with coupon codes and holiday sales, so your savings really start to stack up. Once you try it, you’ll wonder how you ever shopped online without it!

I’ve been using Rakuten for years and have earned thousands of dollars back on purchases I was going to make anyway. Whether you shop online a little or a lot, this is one of those rare tricks that truly anyone can use.

How Much Can You Earn with Cash Back?

If you’re wondering how much you can actually earn with cash back shopping, the answer might surprise you! Depending on where you shop, you can earn up to 20% (or more!) back on your purchases—and that adds up fast, especially during the holidays.

And because you can stack these cash back rewards on top of sales, coupons, and promo codes, it’s like giving yourself an extra discount every time you shop.

To give you an idea of how powerful this can be, here’s a peek at my own results. Over the years, I’ve earned more than $2,000 in cash back just by clicking one little button before checking out:

No, you’re not seeing things—I’ve really earned over $2,000 back on things I was already going to buy!

I’ve earned cash back on everything from appliances to vacations, and chances are your favorite stores offer it too.

An example of the available cash back offers.

How to Earn Cash Back on All Your Online Shopping

By now, you’re probably wondering how to actually do this cash back shopping thing. Don’t worry—it’s quick, easy, and totally free. Once you’ve got it set up, it’ll work quietly in the background every time you shop online.

Here’s how to get started — it only takes a few minutes to set up.

Pro Tip: You’ll get $50 back when you spend at least $50 on your first cash back purchase. That’s like getting your first holiday gift for free!

Step 1 – Create Your Free Account

There are a few different ways to earn cash back while shopping online, but my go-to is Rakuten.com.

Rakuten is one of the biggest and most trusted cash back sites, which means you can earn money back from almost any store you already shop at. It’s simple, safe, and it’s the one I’ve personally used and recommended for years.

The first thing to do is create your free Rakuten account.
(And like I mentioned above, you’ll get a $50 bonus after your first $50 purchase when you use this link or the button below!)

Step 2 – Add the Rakuten Cash Back Button to Your Browser

This is the step that makes saving money automatic — no remembering, no extra clicks, no missing out. Once you’ve created your Rakuten account, add the Rakuten Button (their free browser extension) to Chrome, Safari, or Firefox.

(Not familiar with extensions? They’re like little helpers that live in your browser — sort of like adding an app to your phone, but for your computer.)

👉 Add the Rakuten Button here and you’ll never forget to activate your cash back again.

Step 3 – Shop & Save!

Now comes the fun part—shopping! When you visit a website that offers cash back, a little Rakuten notification will pop up to let you know how much you can earn — which makes it a little addictive (in a good way). Just click “Activate” and keep shopping like normal. That’s it—no codes to remember, no extra hoops to jump through.

Here’s what it looks like once your cash back is active:

Rakuten will even go the extra mile and find coupon codes for you automatically, which means you can save even more without lifting a finger. When you’re checking out, it’ll suggest any available coupons and apply them for you in one click.

Step 4 – Get Cash Back

After you make a purchase, Rakuten will send you an email confirming that your cash back has been tracked. You can also log in to your Rakuten account anytime to see your pending rewards.

Then comes the best part — payday! Rakuten sends out payments every three months, either straight to your PayPal account or as a paper check (your choice). It’s like a little “thank-you” surprise for the shopping you were already planning to do.

Ready to try it yourself? Here’s a quick recap to help you get started.

Here’s a quick video overview of how cash back shopping with Rakuten works:

That’s really all there is to it! Follow these simple steps, and you’ll be earning cash back on your holiday shopping before you know it. (And if you have any questions, just ask in the comments below — I’m always happy to help!)

The only thing that would make this trick better is if I had learned about it sooner! While I can’t go back and change that, you can bet I’ll be using it to save even more from here on out.

Do you have any favorite tricks for saving or earning extra cash during the holidays? I’d love to hear them in the comments!

NEW! Can you guess the 5-letter word related to today’s post?