PAY DAY
Watch Martin Lewis reveal three ways to get cashback on Christmas spending worth £100s
WATCH as the MoneySavingExpert explains exactly how to make money on shopping
MARTIN Lewis has revealed how shoppers gearing up for Christmas can get hundreds of pounds back on their spending.
The MoneySavingExpert told views on ITV that you can make Christmas shopping pay for itself, leaving you feeling a little better off come January.
1
Speaking on This Morning, he outlined three cashback rules that each shopper should follow to earn hundreds - if not thousands of pounds.
Martin said: “Christmas is coming, it’s the big high spend period of the year.
"The period before Christmas and just after Christmas is when we spend most amount of money.”
However, he had a warning to share too.
Read more on Martin Lewis
He said: “This is not an excuse to spend more than you normally do."
Instead he explained that if you are going to be spending anyway, you can recoup some of the cost.
Spending on cards
Martin first explained how to get cashback on cards.
Most read in Money
He said: “Plastic will pay you to spend on them. It can be credit cards or or debit cards.”
The money expert first recommended the American Express every day credit card which is giving 5% of cashback on spending in the first five months of opening the card, up to a maximum of £125.
Not everyone will get the credit card as it can be quite tough on credit scoring, Martin advised.
Martin Lewis reveals how parents can get free cereal for their children at major supermarket
He also shared another warning when using credit cards for cashback.
The expert said: “The most important thing when doing this, is that you don’t want to pay any interest so you must pay the card off in full every month.”
Second, Martin told how the American Express gold card is another great option. If you spend £3,000 in the first three months it will £115 of Amazon or M&S vouchers, plus you get other perks such as airport lounge passes.
Besides credit cards, shoppers can also get cashback when using a debit card.
Martin recommended the Chase debit card which you get via the Chase app.
You don’t have to switch bank accounts to get the card and it doesn’t credit check you. You load it up with money and then get cashback as you spend.
Martin said: “It’s so easy, 1% cashback up to £180 a year.”
Cashback sites
The second way to get cashback is through specific websites such as Quidco or TopCashback.
Normally sites get paid affiliate links when shoppers are directed to retailers. Cashback sites instead share the revenue with their users.
Martin said: “Some people make hundreds or thousands of pounds a year by shopping through these sites.”
However he warned that sometimes you don’t get cashback on a transaction though tracking issues or other reasons.
Martin added: “Always focus on getting the right product for you, then see if you can get cashback on top of it.”
Mobile rewards
The third way to make cashback, as detailed by Martin Lewis, is through an app called Airtime Rewards.
He said: “This is the icing on the cake.”
You link the app it to your mobile phone account and when you shop over 200 retailers between one and 15%.
The money back then gives a discount on your mobile phone account.
By using all three of the cashback methods, shoppers can make hundreds of pounds from shopping that you would be doing anyway.
Martin also shared a warning as we approach the festive period.
He said many people start with a “lust list” for Christmas.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Instead he advised that people should think “how much money do I have to spend this Christmas” and then work out what’s the best possible Christmas they can have on that amount of money.
The guru added that now is the time to also make a ‘no unnecessary present pact”. This means agreeing with wider family or friends and others that you won’t buy presents just for the sake of it, spending more money than needed.
How to bag a bargain
SUN Savers Editor Lana Clements explains how to find a cut-price item and bag a bargain…
Sign up to loyalty schemes of the brands that you regularly shop with.
Big names regularly offer discounts or special lower prices for members, among other perks.
Sales are when you can pick up a real steal.
Retailers usually have periodic promotions that tie into payday at the end of the month or Bank Holiday weekends, so keep a lookout and shop when these deals are on.
Sign up to mailing lists and you’ll also be first to know of special offers. It can be worth following retailers on social media too.
When buying online, always do a search for money off codes or vouchers that you can use and are just two sites that round up promotions by retailer.
Scanner apps are useful to have on your phone. app has a scanner that you can use to compare prices on branded items when out shopping.
Bargain hunters can also use B&M’s scanner in the app to find discounts in-store before staff have marked them out.
And always check if you can get cashback before paying which in effect means you’ll get some of your money back or a discount on the item.
Topics