Course to Paradise

Tag: travel

  • 9 Secret Cash Back Sites That Pay You Up to 40% Extra on Black Friday 2025

    9 Secret Cash Back Sites That Pay You Up to 40% Extra on Black Friday 2025

    Before you hit “checkout” on your cart, stop and think twice. If you’re still shopping in 2025 without using a cash back site, you’re leaving hundreds of dollars on the table.

    Black Friday is already packed with massive deals — the best time of the year to shop — but stacking cash back on top literally makes a world of difference. These sites can turn your Black Friday haul 20–40% cheaper without any extra effort.

    In this article, I’m sharing the 9 best cash back sites and apps that deliver the highest real savings in 2025. Most pay you through PayPal, Venmo, direct deposit, or gift cards once you reach a tiny minimum (usually just $5–$20). Here are the top 9, ranked by reliability, payout speed, and how much extra cash you’ll actually pocket. (Pro Tip: compare cash back rates on different websites before you make the purchase.)

    These websites focus on “cash” back. If extra rewards are your bread and butter, stay tuned for the next article on the top shopping portals/rewards programs in 2025 that pay you in extra points/miles instead of straight cash back.

    1. Rakuten (the undisputed king)

    • Partners: 3,500+ stores (Macy’s, Walmart, Nike, Apple, etc.)
    • Typical cash back: 1–15%, spikes to 20–40% on Black Friday
    • How you get paid: Big fat check or PayPal every 3 months (they literally mail you a check if you want)
    • Why it’s great: Highest double-cash-back events of the year, foolproof browser extension, and a $40 welcome bonus after your first $40 spent.

    2. TopCashback (highest rates, zero catch)

    • Partners: 7,000+ stores including Apple, Samsung, Adidas
    • Typical cash back: Often 1–3% higher than Rakuten on the same stores
    • How you get paid: No minimum for PayPal, ACH, or gift cards – cash out $0.01 if you want
    • Why it’s great: Passes 100% of the commission to you (most sites keep a cut), making it the highest-paying portal in the U.S.

    3. Capital One Shopping (set-it-and-forget-it)

    • Partners: 30,000+ sites including Amazon, Target, Best Buy
    • Typical cash back: 1-15% + auto-applies coupons
    • How you get paid: Gift cards or statement credits
    • Why it’s great: Free browser extension works in the background, finds better prices, and stacks with your credit card rewards.

    4. Honey (now part of PayPal)

    • Partners: 40,000+ stores
    • Typical cash back: Honey Gold points → redeem for gift cards
    • How you get paid: Gift cards (Amazon, Walmart, Target, etc.)
    • Why it’s great: Automatically tests every coupon code at checkout + quietly earns you Gold points that turn into free money.

    5. RetailMeNot

    • Partners: 20,000+ stores + huge Black Friday “Cash Back Day” boosts
    • Typical cash back: 2–20%
    • How you get paid: PayPal or Venmo (usually within 45 days)
    • Why it’s great: Massive coupon library + legit cash back that often jumps 10–20% during November events.

    6. Ibotta (grocery + online hybrid beast)

    • Partners: Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Sam’s Club, hundreds more
    • Typical cash back: 1-25% online, plus any-receipt bonuses
    • How you get paid: PayPal, Venmo, or gift cards as soon as you hit $20 (often faster with bonuses)
    • Why it’s great: Works for online pickup/delivery orders and in-store – perfect for stacking on Black Friday grocery runs.

    7. BeFrugal (underrated gem)

    • Partners: 5,000+ stores
    • Typical cash back: 1–40% + exclusive coupons
    • How you get paid: PayPal, Venmo, check, or gift cards ($15 minimum)
    • Why it’s great: Frequently beats Rakuten and TopCashback by 1–5% and has a $20 sign-up bonus right now.

    8. Swagbucks (the all-in-one earner)

    • Partners: 10,000+ stores
    • Typical cash back: 1–12% in SB points
    • How you get paid: PayPal cash or gift cards (as low as $3)
    • Why it’s great: Shop + do quick surveys or watch videos to stack even more – people routinely cash out $50–$200/month.

    9. Fetch Rewards (receipt snapping simplicity)

    • Partners: Any online or in-store receipt (Walmart, Amazon, Target, etc.)
    • Typical cash back: 25-5,000+ points per receipt, plus brand-specific offers
    • How you get paid: Gift cards from $3
    • Why it’s great: Just snap your Amazon or Walmart receipt and get points even if you forgot to click through a portal – the ultimate safety net.

    Pro Move for Black Friday 2025

    Use CashbackMonitor.com or the browser extension “Cashback Tracker” before every purchase – it instantly shows which of the 9 sites above is paying the highest rate for that exact store in real time. Stack that with a cash-back credit card and you’re looking at 10–50% off everything.

    Start with Rakuten or TopCashback for pure online shopping, add Capital One Shopping extension for autopilot, and throw Ibotta or Fetch on top for receipts. Do that this Black Friday and you’ll literally get paid hundreds just for shopping like normal.

    Happy stacking – your wallet will thank you!

  • Credit Card Benefits for Military Personnel that May Surprise You

    Credit Card Benefits for Military Personnel that May Surprise You

    Active duty military personnel are entitled to many credit card benefits, thanks to the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) and Military Lending Act (MLA). In this article, we’ll explore some of the top credit card benefits for active-duty military personnel and their families that can provide the most value.

    1. Waived Annual Fees

    If you are an active duty military personnel, you may already know this: many of the credit card issuers like American Express, Chase, Citi, Bank of America, and US Bank would waive annual fees for you. Some banks, like Chase, automatically apply MLA benefits when they can verify eligibility through the DOD database. Other issuers, like Citi, may require you to submit a copy of your orders and a certificate from the MLA Database.

    One bank that’s slightly different is Capital One. While they also waive annual fees for your credit cards, these credit cards have to be opened before you became active duty. I have recently encouraged my brother-in-law to open up the Capital One Venture X Card, as he is about to join the military in a few months. Once he’s Active Duty, he’ll be able to enjoy this premium travel rewards card and its amazing perks while having the $395 annual fee waived.

    2. Fee Waivers Also Apply to Dependents of Active Duty Personnel

    Yes, spouses of active-duty personnel can have credit card fee waivers applied to their accounts as well. This includes premium credit cards with exclusive benefits and rewards, which typically carry significant annual fees. For example, the annual fee for the American Express Platinum Card has recently been increased to a whopping $895! Luckily, it’s waived for military personnel and their dependents.

    If you didn’t know this before and had annual fees charged to your accounts, you can also call the credit card issuer and they’ll likely waive the annual fee retroactively and apply the credit to your account.  

    3. Fee Waivers for Authorized Users too (You’re welcome, Mom!)

    Here’s a lesser-known benefit: active-duty personnel and their spouses can add authorized users, even those not affiliated with the military, and the annual fees for these authorized user cards are also waived.

    Take the American Express Platinum Card for example. Adding an Amex Platinum authorized user grants them many of the primary cardholder’s travel benefits, such as lounge access, elite hotel and car rental status, and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit. Currently it costs $195 for each authorized user card, but luckily for you and your authorized user, that fee will be waived. Your mom can thank you later for the elite hotel status or lounge access, while using the luxury metal card as an authorized user.

    4. Annual Fees Waived For Multiple Cards

    Credit card issuers make this benefit seamless. Once your first card with a provider like American Express, Chase, or Citi has its annual fee waived, any additional cards you open with them will also have their fees waived automatically, without needing to contact the issuer or submit further paperwork.

    5. Waived Foreign Transaction Fees

    When deployed or with a copy of OCONUS PCS Orders, some banks will eliminate the foreign currency transaction fee on credit cards (and/or debit cards) (usually 1-2% of purchase price). Banks’ policies may vary so please contact your bank to learn more.

    6. Interest Rate Caps

    The average credit card interest rate (APR) is approximately 20.03% as of early October 2025, varying based on creditworthiness and card type. Military members have protections that can lower credit card interest rates through the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) and Military Lending Act (MLA).  The SCRA caps interest on pre-service debts at 6%, while the MLA caps interest on many active-duty loans at 36%. 

    Some issuers offer additional benefits that go above and beyond those required by law. Capital One and Chase offer a low APR with an interest cap of 4% on eligible balances during active duty and one year afterward. Since each issuer may handle military benefits differently, it’s always best to reach out directly with any questions or if you’re looking for specific details.

    If any of these benefits surprised you, look into them further—you might save significantly by taking advantage of these offerings!