A savvy shopper has revealed how he has saved over £650 by simply using specific websites when he does his shopping. Whenever Anthony Fagan, 30, makes a purchase – whether a small buy on eBay or a larger amount such as buying new insurance – he does it via TopCashback.
Clicking the link on the site and app has earned him hundreds of pounds in the last year alone. “I first heard about TopCashback years ago through TV ads but didn’t actually start using it until 2021 or early 2022,” Anthony, who lives in Northern Ireland and works as a forecasting manager, said.
“A colleague of mine, who’s very financially savvy, always used it before major purchases. He shared a referral code with me where if I signed up and spent £10, we’d both get £30. I thought, why not? I had something coming up, so I used his link, and it was as simple as that.
“At that stage, Virgin Media was offering £133 cashback for signing up. I also picked up close to £200 for signing up for life insurance. Other examples include an HSBC balance transfer credit card that gave me £30 cashback, car insurance with £40 cashback, and smaller savings from Argos, eBay, JD Williams, and Ticketmaster.
“The big-ticket items like insurance and broadband are where I save the most.”
Anthony uses his earnings to buy more things, for example using it recently for Christmas presents.
“I always click, even if it’s just a few pence,” he explains. “Sometimes they run promotions, like giving £10 cashback for purchases over £5. Even if it’s half a percent, I’ll use the site. My cashback is mostly redeemed as direct payments to my bank account, though I’ve used vouchers before, like for Halfords. It’s usually spent on whatever we need at the time, often for things like home improvements.
“Cashback gives a little something back on necessary purchases like insurance or broadband,” he adds. “These big-ticket items are expensive, so getting cashback makes them easier to stomach. If a provider offers cashback, I’m more likely to choose them.
“It’s straightforward to use. Sign up using a referral code to earn a bonus. You can pay £5 annually for a premium membership that offers higher cashback rates, which is worth it if you make large purchases. Referrals are a great way to earn. Right now, you can earn £35 for each referral, and the new user gets £10.
“Search for a retailer on the site, click through their link, and make your purchase as normal. It tracks automatically, and the cashback accumulates. Small amounts add up, especially for big-ticket items like insurance. The site also lets you buy vouchers, like for Asda, where you can earn cashback on everyday expenses. Over a year, it can total £50 to £100.
“Big names like Matalan, Nike, Marks & Spencer, Lego, O2, and Curry’s often have great offers. For example, Matalan has 25% cashback right now. It’s not a solution for financial struggles, but it helps ease the burden of necessary expenses by giving something back.”