For a variety of reasons, online shopping has increased dramatically over the last few years… which opens the door to more opportunities to earn American Express Membership Points. As someone who makes a majority of my purchases online, earning extra points is a no brainer, especially with no extra work! Let’s look at what Rakuten is, how I have personally used it, and what your redemption options are.
What Is Rakuten?
Rakuten has been around for years and used to be called “Ebates”… it is essentially an online shopping portal that allows you to earn cash back or American Express Membership Points in exchange for using their portal. Rakuten has marketing deals with companies that pay Rakuten a percentage of sales for using their portal, which Rakuten then passes along a portion of it to your as the consumer. Companies have been using online marketing and targeted advertisements for years…this just allows you to profit on something that is already occurring!
How Do You Earn Money From Rakuten?
Earning points or cash back from Rakuten is extremely simple, especially if you download their plugin to your favorite browser. Rakuten will then find the best available coupons, as well as activate your percentage back before you check out. Your percentage back will vary on both website and day with most falling between 1%-5% back… if you multiple this by the 2 cents per point that Membership Points are worth, this can easily be a 3% to 11% Return On Investment for simply using their portal with your American Express Card. I personally have earned approximately 50K Membership Rewards Points since April!
Redemption Options
Rakuten gives you two options for redeeming your benefits, cash back or American Express Membership Rewards Points. I personally choose the AMEX Membership Rewards Points for a couple of reasons:
- If you use your AMEX card you are going to earn a minimum of 1 point + the additional points for using Rakuten… essentially allowing you to double your earnings
- Choosing AMEX points allows you to save points for YOLO trips which often provide outsized value as opposed to cash back.
Your other option for redemption is receiving a check for the cash back you earned. If you don’t have an American Express card or prefer cash back, this is also a great option!
Both checks and membership points are sent 4 times a year, typically around the following dates:
| Purchases posted between: | Payment sent by: |
| Jan. 1 and March 31 | May 15 |
| April 1 and June 30 | Aug. 15 |
| July 1 and Sept. 30 | Nov. 15 |
| Oct. 1 and Dec. 31 | Feb. 15 |
Do you use Rakuten? If not, be sure to sign up via the following referral link to earn a free $40!! Rakuten Promo
The Points Authority: Mastering The Points Game 