Combine Coupons, Cashback, and Rewards for HUGE Savings

Ready to shop smarter? Discover how to combine cashback apps, coupons, and rewards programs to save money like a pro. Triple your savings with these simple, actionable tips!

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Alex Smith, CSCS, Shopping Expert

Posted on: December 18, 2024

Updated on: December 18, 2024

Shopping online is one of my favorite things to do - it’s easy, convenient and I figured out ways to save money by stacking discounts.

By combining cashback apps, coupons, and rewards programs, you can turn your online shopping experience into a major savings machine, without breaking a sweat.

In this article, I’ll walk you through the art of stacking discounts so you can shop like a pro. Big savings + more money in your pocket = Win/win.

Why Stop at One Discount? Here’s How to Get More

Here’s my top tips on the art of stacking discounts online to help you save money.

Start With Cashback Apps

Before you shop, I always recommend activating a cashback app - it’s the foundation of stacking. Anytime you purchase a product, these apps give you a percentage of your purchase back, turning everyday shopping into easy savings.

Here are a few of my favorite cashback options:

rakuten brand logo

Rakuten

Easily one of the most popular cashback tools out there, Rakuten partners with thousands of retailers. You can either shop on their platform or activate the browser extension to start earning cash back on your purchases.

Bonus: Rakuten often runs sign-up bonuses for new shoppers.

TopCashback brand logo

TopCashback

I’ve had a lot of success with TopCashback, and they’re known for offering some of the highest cashback rates in the industry. This platform works well on bigger purchases.

Ibotta brand logo

Ibotta

Known for grocery shopping in-store, Ibotta also offers cashback for online purchases - mainly at popular retailers, such as Walmart, Target, Best Buy and Macy’s. It’s really useful for everyday essentials, electronics and beauty products.

honey brand logo

Honey

Most shoppers know about Honey and how they automatically add coupons that work at checkout. But did you know Honey can track cashback for select retailers through its Honey Gold rewards program? Yea… you can earn points at popular stores like eBay, Nordstrom, Sephora and Macy’s, which can be redeemed for gift cards.

Already using cashback apps? Check out our guide on spotting hidden discounts online for even more ways to save!

Find and Apply Coupons

Once you’ve signed up with a cashback app and you’re activated, the next step is to stack on promo codes!

There’s a bunch of different ways to do this, but I’m going to share my tried and true methods.

Find influencers On TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, or Their Personal Website

tiktok instagram and youtube social icons

This is one of the easiest ways to find discount codes that work. All you have to do is search the product you want to purchase and add “coupon” or “discount” at the end of your search query on TikTok, Instagram or YouTube.

You’ll often find a few influencers that have exclusive discount codes that will save you money on your first purchase.

Join A Couple Consumers Email List!

Consider signing up to our email list - Shop Savvy, where we share our exclusive discount codes with our loyal subscribers. Additionally, we provide more ways to save while shopping online (and in-person) that you won't find on our website. It’s free to join!

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Browser Extensions + Coupon Sites

coupon browser extensions

There are plenty of browser extensions that pick up coupon codes for you and automatically apply them at checkout. For browser extensions, my favorites are Honey and Capital One Shopping. All you have to do is set up an account and download the extension on your browser.

For coupon code sites, the most trusted one is RetailMeNot, but there are hundreds of others you can check out. The only downside with coupon code sites is that the discount codes aren’t always up to date.

Pay With a Rewards Credit Card

The final step is to use a rewards card to save on top of the coupons and cashback - the ultimate triple savings stack!

Most people pay with their regular credit card when shopping online. It’s a rookie mistake to say the least.

If you really want to save money, it’s time to look for a card that you can earn cashback (like 2% on all purchases) or bonus rewards for shopping categories (ie: online purchases, groceries, or dining)

My favorite cards include

Chase Freedom Flex®

Chase Freedom Flex®

Why It’s Great:

  • 5% cashback on rotating categories (e.g., groceries, PayPal, Amazon).
  • 5% on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
  • 3% on dining and drugstores.
  • 1% on all other purchases.

Perfect For: Shoppers who like maximizing rewards in changing categories.

Citi® Double Cash Card

Citi® Double Cash Card

Why It’s Great:

  • 2% cashback on everything (1% when you buy, 1% when you pay).
  • No category tracking required.

Perfect For: Straightforward cashback without the hassle.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Why It’s Great:

  • 6% cashback at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year).
  • 6% cashback on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
  • 3% cashback on gas and transit.

Perfect For: Families and grocery shoppers.

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Why It’s Great:

  • 3% cashback on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and groceries.
  • 1% on all other purchases.
  • No annual fee.

Perfect For: Foodies and entertainment enthusiasts.

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card

Why It’s Great:

  • 5% cashback at Amazon and Whole Foods for Prime members.
  • 2% at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores.
  • 1% on all other purchases.

Perfect For: Frequent Amazon shoppers.

Stack Rewards Programs

If you like a store and you shop there often, scroll down to the bottom of their page and look for a “referral program.”

A referral program often offers their existing customers a chance to share the store with their friends and family.

You’ll get a tracking link or a discount code, which gives the person you’re referring a percentage off and gives you cash back or store credit, plus you help grow the brand you love - Win/Win/Win!

And sometimes these brands have a rewards program, which means every time you make a purchase, you’ll earn points or credits. Save up enough and you’re looking at a pretty sweet deal in the future.

Pro Tip: If you’re close to earning a loyalty reward, time your purchase to tip you over the edge and cash it in later.

Time It Right: Add Sales and Promotions to the Stack

Ready to really save like a pro? Wait for a major sales event to shop.

Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Prime Day, Holidays, or even end-of-season clearance sales are the perfect opportunity for stacking deals.

Some retailers often allow cashback, rewards, and promo codes for you to layer on top of their sales prices.

Track Your Savings and Get Paid

If you’re going to stack and save, you better do it right. After you shop, you’re going to want to monitor your accounts.

Regularly check your cashback account to confirm your rewards are pending and eventually get paid out. Some platforms, like Rakuten, pay quarterly.

Monitor your credit card reward statements to see your bonuses add up.

And, don’t forget to redeem the loyalty points or cashback that you earned once you hit the minimum payout threshold.

Bonus Tip: Set up email alerts or use apps like Fetch Rewards to scan receipts for bonus points and rewards after you shop.

Final Thoughts: The Art of Stacking = Smart Shopping

Combining cashback, coupons, rewards and loyalty programs is the best path for big savings. Once you get the hang of it, it’s like getting paid to shop.

My advice:

Start small - use one cashback app and one rewards card for the next purchase you make online. Then, try adding a promo code. Before you know it, you’ll feel like Mr. or Mrs. Thrifty.

About the Author

Alex is an entrepreneur, dad, husband, former college football coach with a Certification in Strength and Conditioning (CSCS). He's your regular consumer and started A Couple Consumers with his wife Tami. Together, they shop and buy products from trending brands thinking it will improve their lives. They decided to create product reviews from products they've been using for years to help other consumers shop - revealing the truth. A savvy shopper and a keen eye for reputable brands, you'll find his personal stories with these products ranging from his wellness journey to fashion to home & lifestyle to stuff for his dog Lou and his kids. He enjoys strength training, football, time with his family and a good laugh.

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