Online shopping platforms are an excellent opportunity to accumulate miles and points for purchases you already intend to make. By merely clicking on a designated link, you can gain bonus points or cash back alongside the rewards you would usually acquire through credit card usage. Occasionally, companies are so motivated for you to acquire their products that it is advantageous to buy through an online shopping portal, even if the item isn’t immediately needed. Numerous such promotions are available at the moment, but they are time-sensitive and could be removed at any time, so it’s wise to act swiftly.
In the past, I discussed similar opportunities, and these types of deals often resurface from time to time. I’m capitalizing on all the ones I qualify for because I can’t turn down points at these rates.
Rakuten features a $50 (5,000 point) refer-a-friend incentive.
The deals I’m highlighting are advantageous for both new and existing Rakuten users. If you haven’t joined Rakuten yet, the company has an appealing refer-a-friend program that can be combined with these offers. New Rakuten members can sign up through a refer-a-friend link and earn an extra $50 bonus upon completing their first purchase of at least $50. While I generally suggest unlocking this bonus with a straightforward gift card purchase, you can also combine it with any of the mentioned offers for an even greater reward.
Receive 95% cash back or 95x points with Rakuten.
At present, Rakuten is providing 95% cash back or 95x points on purchases at select retailers. It’s crucial to review the “terms & exclusions” section linked to each offer to understand which purchases qualify, as these can vary by retailer. Even if you don’t find immediate value in these services, the points opportunity is tough to overlook.
Rakuten permits you to earn points instead of cash back, which can turn these subscriptions from essentially free to potentially lucrative. For example, I recently took advantage of this offer with Surfshark. You could spend $113.13 on the most expensive eligible plan and earn either $107.47 back or collect 10,747 Amex or Bilt points.
To benefit from this, sign up for Rakuten if you haven’t yet, click the link to the Surfshark page, and ensure you see the 95% cash back offer. Then, proceed to be redirected to Surfshark’s website. The key details of this offer include cash back being available only for new Surfshark customers on their first purchase, limited to one per member.
To optimize points, purchase the two-year plan (with three additional free months, totaling 27 months) for the Surfshark One+ bundle. The price should be $113.13, and you can pay with any credit card. Shortly after your purchase, the transaction will appear as “pending” in your Rakuten account, initially showing a $0 amount, but it will be updated to reflect the correct amount later.
Reasons I’m excited about purchasing points at this price!
I love gathering points and strive to earn them cost-effectively, whether through credit card sign-up bonuses or maximizing spending returns. I’m also open to purchasing points directly if the price is favorable. If I can obtain transferable points for significantly under 1.2 cents each, I see it as a deal worth pursuing. For instance, I’m currently earning Bilt points via Rakuten, indirectly accumulating Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan points or World of Hyatt points at this value, which is tough to beat.
If you can utilize these services, the calculations improve even further. Companies provide such attractive returns on spending to acquire new clientele, hoping the substantial rewards motivate individuals to try the service and maintain it long-term, or at least forget to cancel the auto-renewal.
I’ve recently taken advantage of several Rakuten promotions that are offering 85-100x points per dollar spent, and I’m pleased with the value provided.
Final thoughts.
Rakuten is currently presenting 95% cash back (or 95x points) on purchases from three different services, and you can astutely take advantage of multiple offers. If you appreciate transferable points, acquiring them for 1.0-1.1 cents each is an excellent bargain, assuming you don’t assign any value to the services themselves. The math gets even better if you haven’t registered as a Rakuten member yet, since you can earn an additional $50 bonus (or 5,000 points).
Are you benefiting from any of these Rakuten promotions?