Do you plan on doing a lot of online shopping this season? Same.
Between kid gifts, teacher gifts, last-minute “oh-no-we-forgot” gifts… it adds up fast.

Every year around this time right when I start making my Black Friday lists and stalking Cyber Monday deals I go back to the same little trick that has quietly saved me hundreds of dollars over the years.

It started a few Christmases ago when I was deep in the holiday shuffle… juggling kids’ wish lists, teacher gifts, sports gear, and trying to stay on budget (you know how that goes). I remember placing a Target order late one night—one of those “order online, pick up tomorrow before basketball practice” situations—and after checking out, I got this little pop-up from Rakuten saying I had earned $6.42 back.

Six dollars and forty-two cents.

At the time, it didn’t feel like much… but by the end of that holiday season, I had earned over $80 in Cash Back just from doing what I normally do: shopping online and picking up in store. And the best part? The deposit just landed in my PayPal like a little surprise bonus I didn’t have to work for.

Since then, I’ve gotten Rakuten payments for everything from sneakers for the kids, to jeans for back-to-school, to random mid-season sports gear. I even earned Cash Back on a hotel once—something I didn’t even realize Rakuten offered.

Now it’s become a holiday tradition for me:
Before I buy anything, I check Rakuten.
And I swear, every time that Cash Back hits, it feels like winning a tiny lottery.

So with Black Friday and Cyber Monday just around the corner—and the online shopping madness that comes with it—I’m sharing my favorite holiday shopping secret with you… because if you’re going to shop anyway, you might as well get paid for it.

And yes, it also works for online orders with in-store pickup—which is huge if you’re like me and love ordering online, then swinging by between basketball practices.

How Online Cash Back Works (Step-by-Step)

Here’s how simple it is:

1. Create a free Rakuten account.

2. Search for the store you’re about to shop at (like Kohl’s, Target, Sephora, etc.).

3. Click “Shop Now” from Rakuten to be sent to the store’s website.

4. Shop like normal and check out.

5. Your Cash Back tracks in your Rakuten account.

Rakuten also lists promo codes and coupons, so instead of Googling “XYZ store coupon code” and clicking around random sites, you can just check the offers right there and still earn Cash Back.

How In-Store Cash Back Works

Yes, you can earn Cash Back in person too—perfect for those last-minute holiday runs. I have never done this but going to try this year because sometimes you have to leave the house to shop 🙂 

Here’s how:

1. Download the Rakuten app.

2. Add your credit/debit card securely in the app.

3. Browse in-store offers and link the ones you want to use (for example, Sephora or JCPenney).

4. Shop in the store and pay with your linked card.

5. Cash Back is automatically added to your Rakuten account—no receipts to upload.

You can find in-store Cash Back at places like:

• Sephora

• JCPenney

• Bed Bath & Beyond

• Cost Plus World Market

• And more