The summer savings continue at Rakuten, one of TPG’s favorite online shopping portals. Rakuten will reveal a new deal every Wednesday through August, including 22% cash back at Viator on July 23, and $400 cash back at SoFi on July 30.
We love Rakuten because it helps users earn easy cash back on everyday purchases (in the form of a mailed check or a deposit in your PayPal account every quarter) and because you can opt to earn valuable American Express Membership Rewards points instead of cash back.
Here’s what you need to know about Rakuten’s summer deals.
Rakuten summer deals
With Wednesday’s deal, you can get 22% cash back (or 22 Amex points per dollar spent) on eligible Viator purchases. Viator sells transfers and tickets to tours and activities around the world, so this could be a great way to save on your next adventure.
The Viator cash-back offer is not available on theme park purchases and virtual tours. It will be paid out on completed tours only.
Rakuten will unveil a new bonus offer each Wednesday. Next Wednesday, July 30, members can earn $400 cash back (or a whopping 40,000 Amex points) with SoFi, which offers loans, bank accounts, insurance and more. Check back next week for more details.
How to use Rakuten
Using Rakuten and other shopping portals is a great way to earn rewards on everyday purchases, but you can also leverage them to save on your next trip. Rakuten partners with several travel brands, like Priceline and Travelocity; there’s also Rakuten Travel, a booking platform for hotels in Japan.
With travel costs rising and exchange rates falling, booking hotels and activities through shopping portals that offer cash back can help recoup some of your travel budget.
Just be sure to read the fine print before shopping through Rakuten with any merchant, as earning rates often vary by category and exclusions may apply. For instance, Expedia is offering 8% cash back right now on activity bookings only; you’ll get 3% back on hotels and vacation rentals, and only 1% back on car rentals.
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And remember to only use coupon codes found on the shopping portal, as others can void your rewards.
Lastly, Rakuten is offering unlimited $30 referral bonuses from now through Sept. 30. If you already use Rakuten, have your friends sign up with your referral link. That way, you’ll both earn $30 after they make $30 in qualifying purchases in the first 90 days.
Bottom line
If you don’t use a shopping portal for your online purchases, you’re leaving valuable rewards on the table. Some portals offer cash back, while others let you earn airline miles or valuable transferable points.
We recommend using a shopping portal aggregator to make sure you’re getting the best return on your purchase.