How to get FREE MONEY when you shop – top hacks to save £100s with TopCashback and Quidco

Credit: Getty Images MONEY-SAVING Brits are pocketing hundreds of pounds a year by making one tiny tweak to their daily shopping routine, and it costs absolutely nothing. Whether you’re booking a sun-soaked summer getaway, renewing your car insurance, or just ordering Friday night’s takeaway, you could be leaving serious cash on the table. You can rack up over £100s in free cash each year by making purchases through cashback sites Credit: Alamy Sign up to TopCashback, and start getting paid every time you shop! The secret? Cashback sites. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! Heavyweights TopCashback and Quidco pay you money back every single time you shop through them. Retailers pay these sites a commission for sending shoppers their way, and instead of keeping it all, they pass the dough straight back to you. Here are the top hacks and tricks to rinse every last penny out of TopCashback and Quidco. 1. Never buy insurance or broadband direct This is where the massive free cash lives. Never buy car insurance, home insurance or broadband directly from a provider’s site. The hack: Switching providers via TopCashback or Quidco can net you anywhere from £25 to £100+ in cash on top of finding a cheaper policy. Most read in Money 2. Play the ‘match game’ (price guarantees) Cashback sites are locked in a fierce battle to offer the highest rates, and you can exploit it. TopCashback offers a Highest Cashback Guarantee – if you find a higher rate on Quidco, they will match it. The hack: Keep all your cashback sites accounts open. Always spend 10 seconds checking different sites for the best rates before buying. 3. Take the supercharged ‘Gift card boost’ When your cash lands in your account, don’t just transfer it straight to your bank account – grab a boost instead. The hack: Sites like TopCashback and Quidco let you withdraw your balance as digital gift cards (like Amazon, Tesco, M&S, and Costa) with extra bonuses attached. Often payouts as digital gift cards (e.g., M&S, Tesco, Costa, Argos, Currys, B&Q) come with extra bonuses ranging from one to 20 per cent depending on the retailer and your membership tier 4. Stack it up to triple your cash Why settle for one discount when you can stack three? Click through TopCashback or Quidco to launch the shop. Pay using a cashback credit or debit card (like Chase or Amex). Ensure you’re logged into the retailer’s loyalty scheme (like Boots Advantage or Tesco Clubcard) at checkout. The hack: You score affiliate cashback, card cashback, and store points on the exact same item. Grab ‘Free Money’ sign-up & referral bonuses Both Quidco and TopCashback often run sign-up promos. You can bag an instant £10 to £25 free bonus just for creating an account and hitting a small spending milestone (often between £5 or £10). Once you’re in, send your custom referral link to your family, partner or friends, and both Quidco and TopCashback will hand you £10 to £25 for every friend who signs up. TopCashback vs Quidco FeatureTopCashbackQuidcoBest forEveryday online shopping, fashion & techUtilities, mobile contracts & insurance switchesRetailers5,000+ brands5,000+ brandsPayout guaranteeHighest cashback guaranteeDouble the Difference guaranteeBonus payoutsUp to 20% extra via gift cardsUp to 20% extra via gift cards The three golden rules of cashback Clear your cookies: Always clear your browser cookies or use a browser extension before clicking through so your purchase tracks properly. Watch voucher codes: Only use discount codes supplied directly on Quidco or TopCashback. Using an external code off Google can invalidate your cashback track. Treat it as a bonus: Cashback isn’t 100% guaranteed until it hits “payable” status, so treat the payout as a nice extra gift rather than guaranteed income.