Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us and terms apply to offers listed (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate credit cards to write unbiased product reviews.
- Stores incentivize signing up for a store credit card, but check your cash-back credit card’s offers first.
- Coupon portals can direct you to stores offering rewards, which you can stack with credit card rewards.
- When you get cash-back certificates from stores, mark your calendar for when you can use them.
Thanks for signing up!
Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you’re on the go.
It can be hard to stick to a back-to-school shopping budget, especially with the high cost of living and inflation.
If you’re looking for extra ways to save when you hit the stores this season, Andrea Woroch, a consumer and money-saving expert, shared tips on how to stack rewards (both from the stores you shop at and from a cash-back credit card) with store coupons to double your savings. Here’s what she recommended.
1. Sign up for store rewards programs
Before heading out to do any back-to-school shopping, Woroch recommends signing up for a store’s reward program.
“Once you’re a part of a store’s reward program, you can earn free rewards for purchases you make, even if you don’t have a store credit card,” she says.
A big reason stores offer these extra discounts and perks to members of their programs is because it creates customer loyalty and gets people back to the store to shop.
“It’s free to sign up for and you get money back as you spend,” Woroch says.
Woroch says you should save your rewards for the back-to-school season and stack them with extra coupons to get the most out of these reward programs.
2. Use a coupon portal to find deals
In addition to coupons, you can also stack cash-back rewards to earn money on your purchase by using a cash-back portal like Coupon Cabin.
“You can search for coupons on those platforms by looking up a store’s name,” Woroch says. “Plus, the site also shares cash-back deals that you can take advantage of.”
3. Save store-issued cash-back offerings
When you’re shopping, Woroch recommends holding on to any cash-back certificates you get at check-out, both online or in-person.
“These cash reward certificates are often eligible for purchases at a later date,” she says. “Add those dates to your calendar so you can use these cash notes and save money.”
“If you find items on sale already and a store coupon, you can often stack these cash certificates on top of those offerings, too,” she says.
4. Check your credit card’s store discounts
While Woroch only recommends opening a store credit card if you shop at the retailer often, she does say that cardholders often receive bonus rewards or discounts that might not be available to other customers.
However, she says that your everyday credit card might already offer you discounts for stores you love to shop at.
“Log into your credit card’s portal and see if they are offering any cash-back or discounts for stores you like to shop at,” she says. “They might have discount codes that you can use.”
If you have a cash-back credit card, Woroch recommends logging into your credit card’s shopping portal and seeing if there are any bonus cash-back offers for retailers you frequent. “Stack that offering with any coupons or discounts for added savings,” she says.
Jen Glantz is the founder of Bridesmaid for Hire, a 3x author, the host of You’re Not Getting Any Younger podcast, and the creator of the Pick-Me-Up and Odd Jobs newsletter. Follow her adventures on instagram: @jenglantz.