If you’re looking to turbocharge your points and miles earning strategy, shopping portals are one of the most underutilized yet effective tools to help you rack up rewards quickly. Pair them with the right credit card offers, and you’ve got a recipe for earning extra points, miles, or cashback on every purchase you make online.
Here’s a breakdown of how shopping portals work, how to maximize their value, and the art of stacking rewards.
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What are Shopping Portals?
Shopping portals are websites or apps that allow you to earn additional rewards by starting your shopping journey through their platform. Think of them as middlemen between you and your favorite online retailers. When you make a purchase, the portal earns a commission and shares a portion of it with you in the form of points, miles, or cashback.
Some popular shopping portals include:
- Cashback Portals: Rakuten (formerly Ebates), Top Cashback, Swagbucks.
- Airline Portals: United Mileage Plus Shopping, Delta Sky Miles Shopping, American Airlines AAdvantage eShopping.
- Bank-Run Portals: Chase Ultimate Rewards Shopping. Citi Bonus Cash Center, Amex Offers, Capital One Shopping.
How to Use Shopping Portals
- Log in: Start by logging into your chosen shopping portal (airline, hotel, or cashback).
- Search for Retailers: Use the portal to search for retailers you want to shop with (e.g., Macy’s, Best Buy, Sephora)
- Click Through: Click on the retailer’s link from the portal. This ensures your purchase is tracked.
- Shop as Usual: Complete your purchase on the retailer’s website.
Pro Tip: Use browser extensions like Cashback Monitor to compare rewards rates across multiple portals quickly.
The Art of Stacking Rewards
Stacking rewards is the ultimate hack for earning maximum points and miles. Here’s how to do it:
Choose the Right Shopping Portal
Compare rates across portals to determine which offers the best rewards for your purchase. For example, if Rakuten offers 5% cashback and the Unite Mileage Plus portal offers 5 miles per dollar, decide whether you want cashback or miles (Rakuten can also convert cashback into Membership Rewards points).
Pair with Credit Card Bonuses
Use a credit card that offers bonus points in the category you’re shopping.
Examples:
- Use Amex Gold for 4x points on groceries if the portal links to a grocery delivery service.
- Use a co-branded card (e.g., United Explorer Card) for extra miles when shopping through that airline’s portal.
- Use the Capital One Venture X for 2x points on all non-category purchases.
Leverage Amex Offers, Chase Offers, or Citi Merchant Offers
Before shopping, check for targeted offers on your credit cards. These often provide statement credits or bonus points for purchases at specific retailers. For instance:
- “Spend $100 at Macy’s, get $20 back” via Amex Offers.
- “Earn 10% back on purchases at Best Buy” via Chase Offers.
Look for Retailer Promotions
Many retailers run seasonal or limited-time promotions on shopping portals. For example:
- “Earn 15x points per dollar on purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue”
- “Double miles promotion for Valentine’s Day Shopping”
Combine with Coupon Codes
Most shopping portals allow you to use coupon codes in addition to earning rewards. Search for promo codes before completing your purchase to save even more money.
Best Shopping Portal Strategies
- For Beginners: Start with Rakuten for its simplicity and the ability to earn Membership Rewards points if linked to your Amex account.
- For Frequent Flyers: Focus on airline portals to boost your miles for free flights.
Why Shopping Portals Are a Game Changer
Let’s say you’re buying a $500 laptop. Here’s how the rewards cand add up:
- Rakuten Shopping Portal: 10% cashback=$50 or 5,000 Amex Membership Rewards points.
- Amex Card Bonus: 1x or 2x points= up to 1,000 Membership Rewards points.
- Amex offer: Spent $500, get $50 back.
That’s $100 in savings and/or 6,000 Membership Rewards points on a single purchase.
Tips for Success
- Track Your Purchases: Keep receipts and monitor your portal account to ensure your rewards are posted correctly.
- Stay Organized: Use tools like Cashback Monitor to compare rates or download the portal’s browser extension for reminders.
- Be patient: Some rewards take 4-8 weeks to post, especially with travel booking.
Final Thoughts
Shopping portals and stacking rewards aren’t just for big spenders, they’re for savvy travelers who want to stretch their points and miles. By taking a few extra minutes to plan your purchases, you can earn rewards on money you’ve already spent and turn everyday shopping into your next free flight, hotel stay, or luxury experience.
What’s your favorite shopping portal or stacking strategy? Share in the comments below!
Do you want to learn how to travel without spending a fortune? We recommend reading this article.