Pairing coupons with credit card cash back
Quick insights
- Stacking rewards allows you to combine multiple discounts and cash back opportunities on a single purchase.
- You might use credit card shopping portals and merchant offers to earn extra cash back on everyday spending.
- Layering these options with traditional coupons may help you increase your savings.
While clipping paper coupons is a classic way to save, you may be leaving money on the table if that's your only strategy. By combining promo codes with the cash back you earn on your credit cards, you might be able to increase your savings. Let’s dive into how you could stack these different methods to get more value out of your everyday online shopping.
The basics of reward stacking
Reward stacking, sometimes called double or triple dipping, involves using more than one saving method on a single transaction. Instead of using a store coupon or your credit card's standard cash back rate, you can combine them to maximize your return.
When you pair your baseline cash back earnings with other discounts, you might be able to reduce your out-of-pocket costs by redeeming your credit card points or cash back for a statement credit.
Utilizing credit card shopping portals
Some credit card issuers offer their own online shopping portals. These portals connect you to online retailers and offer bonus cash back for clicking through their specific links before you shop.
For example, if you're planning to buy a new laptop, you'd sign in to your credit card rewards portal first. Clicking the link to the electronics store through the portal might earn you extra cash back on top of the standard rewards you already earn with your card.
Activating merchant offers
Another option you might consider is card-linked merchant offers. These are targeted, limited-time promotions provided by some credit card issuers in partnership with select retailers.
You'll typically find merchant offers in your credit card issuer's mobile app or website. Once you've activated an offer and made a qualifying purchase with your linked card, you'll generally receive a statement credit for the discounted amount.
Layering promo codes and coupons
To get more from your cash back and savings, look for digital coupons or promo codes to apply at checkout. Some retailers allow you to enter a discount code even if you've clicked through a shopping portal.
Read the terms and conditions, as some portals only allow you to use promo codes that are explicitly listed on their site. However, when they do align, combining a store coupon with your credit card cash back perks could lead to valuable discounts.
Ways to stack rewards for online shopping
To see how this works in practice, imagine you're buying a new pair of shoes. Here's how you might stack your savings:
- Activating a merchant offer: Adding an offer to your credit card could lead to a statement credit for the specific retailer.
- Using a shopping portal: Click through your credit card's shopping portal to reach a store's website, to earn bonus cash back on a transaction.
- Applying a promo code: Enter a digital discount code at checkout and pay with your cash back credit card.
By combining these methods, you might lower the final price while still earning valuable cash back on the purchase.
The bottom line
By strategically pairing traditional coupons with credit card shopping portals and merchant offers, you could increase your savings. You might consider reviewing your credit card benefits before your next online purchase to see how much cash back you're able to stack.
