How to Get the Most Back From Your Christmas Shopping

Ad: this post contains affiliate and referral links, so I may earn a small commission or bonus if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

Christmas is the time of year most of us spend the most, on presents, food, decorations and the things we forgot until the last minute. A lot of that money goes out the door with nothing coming back. It doesn’t have to.

This isn’t about spending more to earn rewards. It’s about getting a little back on shopping you were always going to do. Here’s how I’d go about it.

1. Make your list first

Before you open a single website, write down what you’re buying, who it’s for and your budget. Cashback only helps if you stick to the plan. If a reward tempts you into buying something extra, you’ve lost money, not saved it.

2. Use a cashback site every time you shop online

Cashback sites pay you a share of the commission a shop pays them. You click through from the site to the retailer, shop as normal, and the cashback is tracked. I use a few, because they don’t all cover the same shops or pay the same rates:

• Rakuten (Ad / referral link)
• TopCashback (Ad / referral link)
• Quidco (Ad / referral link)

3. Compare before you click

The same shop can pay different rates on different sites, and the rates change. Before you buy something bigger, check two or three and click through the best one. It takes a minute, and on a larger order it’s worth it. Also check the terms, because some items or categories are excluded.

4. Do it in the right order

• Open the cashback site or app first.
• Click through to the shop from there.
• Add to basket and pay in the same session.
• If you’ve already got items in your basket, close it and start again from the cashback site.
• Be careful with voucher codes from other websites, because some cancel cashback.

5. Use the new member bonuses

Many cashback sites offer a bonus when you join. For Rakuten, new UK members can currently get £25 after spending £50 excluding VAT (about £60 at the till). The spend has to be across more than one purchase, at retailers other than Amazon, within 90 days. Terms change, so check the current offer before you join. Christmas shopping is an easy way to meet the spend without buying anything extra.

6. Don’t forget the everyday bits

Christmas isn’t only presents. There’s the food shop, the drinks, the wrapping and the treats. A few tools can help here:

• Airtime Rewards (Ad / referral link) links to your bank card and tracks cashback at lots of shops automatically, so there’s nothing to remember.
• Shopmium (Ad / referral link) gives money back on everyday brands when you scan your receipt after buying.
• Jam Doughnut (Ad / referral link) gives instant cashback when you buy gift cards for shops you were going to use anyway.

7. Keep your order emails

Cashback can be declined, or take weeks to confirm. Keep your order confirmation emails and note which site you used, so you can chase it if it doesn’t show up.

8. Remember when the money lands

Cashback isn’t instant. It shows as pending first, then confirms once the shop has processed the order and the returns period has passed. For Christmas shopping, that can mean the money doesn’t arrive until January or later. Don’t rely on it to pay for Christmas itself. Think of it as a small bonus for the new year.

9. Watch out for returns

If you return an item, the cashback on it is usually cancelled. So if you’re not sure about a gift, it’s better to check before you buy.

10. Put it to work

When the cashback lands, give it a job. Put it towards a debt, a savings pot or next year’s Christmas fund, so it doesn’t vanish into everyday spending. I keep track of this kind of income in my free Side Hustle Tracker, which is in the free Side Hustle Starter Kit.

A quick checklist

• Write your list and budget first.
• Open the cashback site before you shop.
• Compare rates for bigger orders.
• Keep your order emails.
• Expect the money in the new year.

For more ways to earn and save a little, see my side hustles page and my guide to side hustles for mums in the UK.

I’m not a financial advisor. I’m a mum sharing what’s worked for me and what I’ve learned along the way. This is general information, not personalised financial advice. Always do your own research or speak to a qualified professional before making big financial decisions. Results aren’t typical and aren’t guaranteed, and offers and terms can change.