We all love finding ways to save money, especially on things we already buy. From groceries and clothes to phone bills and holidays, you could be earning cashback on nearly everything you purchase online.

It’s one of the easiest ways to make your money go further — no gimmicks, no tricks, just money back in your pocket for doing what you already do.

If you’re looking for real money-saving tips that don’t take extra effort, cashback is one of the smartest habits to start.

What exactly is cashback?

Cashback is when you earn money back after buying something through a cashback site. It’s a reward for shopping through their link rather than going directly to the retailer.

Here’s how it works. Retailers pay cashback sites a small commission for sending them customers. Instead of keeping all of it, these sites share a portion with you. That’s your cashback.

It’s completely free to join, and you don’t pay a penny to take part. You just need to shop through the cashback site each time.

It’s one of those easy ways to make money online that really works once you get into the habit.

Why I started using cashback sites

I first tried cashback while renewing our home insurance. Our renewal quote had jumped up, so I went online to compare prices.

I stumbled across a money-saving expert’s tip about earning cashback on insurance and couldn’t believe it. Someone had managed to get paid to take out a policy because their cashback was higher than the cost of the insurance!

That got me curious. I signed up for a cashback site, searched the insurer we wanted, and saw they were offering £75 cashback. Our quote was £150, so half came back just for using a special link.

No extra work. No hidden fees. Just smart shopping.

It was the easiest £75 I’ve ever made.

How to start earning cashback

Getting started takes minutes. Here’s how to begin earning cashback and save money online:

1. Join a cashback site – TopCashback and Quidco are two of the best options in the UK.

2. Search for the retailer – Enter the name of the shop or service you’re about to use.

3. Click their link – Always shop via the cashback site so your purchase is tracked.

4. Complete your order – Checkout as normal, but make sure to stay on the same browser tab.

5. Wait for the cashback – It’ll appear as pending, then become available to withdraw after a few weeks.

You can cash out straight to your bank, PayPal, or in the form of gift cards.

It’s that easy — you can start making money from home in minutes just by changing the way you shop online.

If you’re not sure which cashback platforms are best, take a look at my full guide to the best cashback sites in the UK. (You'll find lots of referral links with welcome bonuses in that article too!)

Everyday things you can earn cashback on

The great thing about cashback is how versatile it is. You can earn cashback on almost everything you buy online, including:

• Fashion and beauty orders

• Groceries and home essentials

• Insurance and finance products, such as ISAs

• Broadband, mobile, and utilities

• Travel and flights

• Food delivery and takeaway apps

• eBay, Screwfix, and B&Q purchases

• Subscription boxes and digital services

Basically, if you buy it online, check for cashback first. It’s one of the underrated ways to save money on everyday expenses.

You can save money in the garden shopping on gardening websites, save money on flights and booking holidays, and even save money taking out car insurance.  I've even saved by booking my MOT at Formula One in the past!

To sign up and see what you can start getting money back on click my TopCashback referral link at https://www.topcashback.co.uk/ref/victoriasully

Real examples of cashback wins

Once I realised how many brands offer cashback, I started checking everything — and the results have been brilliant.

• Insurance renewal: £75 cashback on home insurance.

• Mobile phone deal: £32 cashback on a Tesco Mobile contract.

• Online shopping: Cashback on eBay, Boohoo, and ASOS orders.

• Freebies: £1.52 cashback for signing up for a free Graze Box trial.

• Travel: Cashback on flights and car hire for family trips.

It’s become part of my regular money routine now. Every time I shop online, I open the cashback site first. Or, to make it even easier, I have three browser extensions in Chrome to automatically tell me if I can get cashback!  The browser extensions I use are for TopCashback, Quidco and Widilo (who are rebranding to be called Budgey). 

It’s such an effortless way to make extra money from things you already buy.

How families can benefit from cashback

For families, every little saving adds up. Cashback is ideal because it works on things you already spend money on — nappies, clothes, school supplies, and even family holidays.

Imagine earning a few pounds back every time you shop for essentials. Over a year, that could add up to hundreds of pounds without changing your spending habits.

These small wins make cashback one of the most practical money-saving tips for families who want to stretch their budgets further.

You can even set up a dedicated “cashback pot” in your savings account to collect everything you earn and use it for Christmas or birthdays.

To sign up and see what you can start getting money back on click here...

Tips to maximise your cashback

To make the most of cashback and ensure every purchase counts, keep these simple tips in mind:

• Always check before buying. Even quick purchases like takeaways can earn you money.

• Use the browser plugin. Cashback extensions remind you when an offer is available.

• Compare rates. Different cashback sites sometimes offer better deals for the same shop.

• Stack deals. You can often use voucher codes or discount coupons and still get cashback.

• Refer friends. Earn extra bonuses when people sign up using your referral link.

Once you start combining offers, cashback quickly becomes one of the best ways to save money online.

How much can you earn?

There’s no limit to how much cashback you can make. It depends on how often you shop and the type of purchases.

Some people earn £50–£100 a year without trying. Others make hundreds by combining insurance, broadband, and big online purchases.

When I started, we earned over £100 cashback in just one week. That included switching home insurance, buying a new phone contract, and a few regular online orders.

Even if you only earn £10 a month, that’s £120 a year — for free.

Is there a downside to cashback?

The only slight drawback is the wait. Cashback can take several weeks or months to clear while retailers confirm your purchase.

But once you get used to it, it’s actually quite fun watching your pending balance grow.

It’s like having a quiet little savings pot building up in the background while you go about your usual spending.

Smart ways to use your cashback

Cashback can be a powerful tool for saving or budgeting. Here are some ideas:

• Save it up for Christmas or birthdays

• Add it to a holiday fund

• Use it for emergency savings

• Reinvest it into your monthly budget to offset bills

Treat it as bonus money for being organised, and you’ll soon see why cashback is such a hit among savvy spenders.

---

Final thoughts

If you’re serious about saving money and looking for easy, no-effort ways to boost your budget, cashback is a great place to start.

It’s free, simple, and surprisingly addictive once you get going.

You can’t always control how much things cost these days, but you can control how you spend — and earning cashback is one of the smartest money habits to add to your routine.

Start small, stay consistent, and watch your balance grow.

Because earning cashback on the things you already buy isn’t just possible — it’s one of the easiest ways to save money online and make money from home without changing a thing.

To get started today, check out my favourite cashback sites at TopCashback and Quidco - happy saving!

 

Save

Save