• 4 MIN READ
How to Increase Your Chances of Getting Cashback Offers
August 29, 2023
Who doesn’t like getting something back after making a purchase? Consumers are usually excited about the chance to earn back a portion of what they spend after buying goods or services. This initiative, called cashback, refers to the strategy of credit and debit card companies who, as a mark of their appreciation, return a portion of the transaction value to their customers. Essentially, it’s a way for companies to say “thank you” to their customers. This article looks at the various cashback options and how to make the most of these tempting offers with the help of a few lifehacks.
How Cashback Credit Cards Work
Cashback is a way to save money while making purchases. If your credit card offers cashback, you can get a percentage of the cost of your purchases back in cash. And the more you spend, the more money you will receive. For example, if you use a credit card that offers 1% cashback and you spend £500, you will get £5 back.
You can get cashback on different items, from groceries to clothes and electronics. Some credit cards offer cashback on certain products or at certain retailers, while others offer cashback on everything you buy. To get the most out of cashback, people choose a credit card with a high cashback percentage and use it for all their purchases.
The Main Types of Cashback Schemes
You may have heard that cashback isn’t just money but can be bonus points, discounts, and even charity. Let’s see the four main kinds of cashback schemes that you may be able to get from your financial provider.
Bank Account Top-Up
The first possible option is to top up a bank account. Talking about cashback or reward programmes, when a credit card user gets these privileges, they are automatically credited to the bank account linked to the card. This ensures easy access and utilisation of cashback or reward.
Reward Statements
Caution should be exercised when dealing with cashback credit cards, especially in terms of advertised benefits. In contrast to the promise of immediate cashback, many cards provide a rewards system in the form of points. With regular use of the card, these points accumulate and can later be redeemed for discounts or cash returns. Thus, even though rewards are not given in cash, sometimes users have the opportunity to turn their accumulated points into money.
Rewards in the Form of Vouchers
Instead of traditional cashback, some credit cards offer rewards in the form of gift cards or vouchers. As users accumulate points or rewards, they can redeem them for gift tokens or certificates that mirror the value of their collected rewards.
Philanthropic Contributions
A laudable initiative by some companies allows card users to direct their rewards to charitable causes. In addition, an increasing number of modern online services support environmental endeavours. Users can take advantage of platforms that offer “green” cashback for virtual card transactions and online services. In such models, their savings are used for making green projects. Although the card user will not receive a personal refund, they will feel that their money is also being channelled to a good cause.
Ways of Maximising Cashback on a Credit Card
Cashback is a simple way to save money, as you don’t have to do anything other than make your regular purchases. However, if you want to get more money back, there are methods you can consider.
Reviewing the Terms and Conditions
Depending on the credit card provider, you’ll have different terms and conditions. Be sure to read them before applying for a card. Some cards may only offer cashback when you make purchases at certain participating stores, and if you don’t shop there, the card will have little effect. In addition, some cards may only offer cashback once a minimum monthly spending limit has been reached.
Finding a Card That Offers Cashback on Your Biggest Expenses
Start by analysing your budget or spending patterns and identify the categories you spend the most money on. This could be groceries, eating out, fuel, travel, entertainment, or anything else. To maximise cashback, look for a credit card that offers maximum cashback or bonuses on these major spending categories.
Using Several Cards
Using multiple credit cards can complicate your personal financial planning, but it can make it easier to maximise cashback. You could get one card with rewards on everyday groceries and another with rewards on fuel purchases. If you examine your budget and goals, you’ll be able to choose the most appropriate combination of cards.
If you think that managing multiple credit cards at the same time is too complicated, consider getting a card that offers bonuses or increased cashback in two or more categories you spend a lot of money on.
Shopping Smartly
Let’s imagine that you’ve chosen categories that you could use the cashback on, for example, fuel or bill payments. Once you’ve done this and chosen the right card, be sure to use it to pay for these expenses instead of using an alternative payment method.
Similarly, if your card offers higher cashback for online purchases, it is recommended that you make the majority of your purchases online rather than in shops to maximise rewards. If you understand the specific requirements of a credit card rewards programme, you will be able to qualify for the highest possible cashback.
Look for Extra Earning Opportunities
Before you open the credit card, try to find one with a good sign-up bonus. In addition, some credit cards have limited-time offers that allow you to get bonus cashback. There may be cashback programmes on hotels and flights during summer or restaurants, flowers, or holidays. Before you spend money on something, look at the most cost-effective way to do it.
Possible Requirements to Qualify for Cashback Offers
The requirements to qualify for cashback vary depending on the credit card and the specific programme. But there may be:
- a minimum spending requirement
- a requirement to make purchases in specific categories
- a requirement to pay your balance in full
Make sure you can meet all the requirements before you sign up for the card. Also, some credit cards charge an annual fee that offsets the savings from cashback rewards, so research the different offers.
Final Thoughts
We have covered how to use cards with cashback and how to maximise the benefit to the user. But financial service providers can benefit from it too. Cashback is a gesture that reinforces a positive customer experience, embodying a valuable loyalty scheme.
Even if the amount of cashback is nominal, the opportunity to receive something in return for their spending resonates with shoppers. This pleasant experience encourages them to use their card frequently for subsequent transactions, perceiving cashback as an additional privilege or deduction on their cumulative spending.
At Payrow, we are actively working in the background to bring more features to life. Our business cards are just around the corner. We know every business needs cards — we’re working on a very cool and modern program that will include virtual cards for maximum flexibility. Stay tuned!
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