What Is a “Money Maker” in Grocery Rebates/Couponing?
In the world of rebate apps and deal hunting, a money maker is one of the most exciting types of offers you can score. It means that not only do you get your product for free, but you also actually earn cash or rewards above what you spent. It’s like turning couponing into a profitable side hustle.
How Does a Money Maker Work?
It’s all about stacking deals smartly. A money maker happens when:
- You purchase a product at a low cost (or it’s on sale / using a coupon)
- You then claim a rebate or cashback offer that’s worth more than what you paid
Let’s break it down with a simple example:
You find a certain protein bar brand on sale for $1.25.
You submit your receipt to Ibotta and earn $2.00 cashback.
You just made 75 cents profit – that’s a money maker!
These kinds of offers often pop up when using:
- Multiple rebate apps like Ibotta, Fetch Rewards, Shopkick, or Merryfield
- Store promos + manufacturer coupons stacked together
- App bonuses, like “Spend $15, get $5” incentives or referral credits
When these deals align, the result is a net gain – and you reap the benefits.
Best Places to Find Money Makers
Money maker deals aren’t always obvious, but they do pop up more often in:
- “Free after rebate” offers, which sometimes exceed the item’s price
- For Example: sometimes Ibotta will give you $5 back for a product but it’s on sale at the store for $4. You will get a $1 money maker
- App Sign Up Bonuses
- Many apps give you a sign-up bonus when you redeem your first offer
- Ibotta will give you $5 after redeeming your first offer, for example
- Many apps give you a sign-up bonus when you redeem your first offer
- Stackable offers across rebate platforms (e.g. Ibotta + Social Nature)
- For example, many brands with “Get 1 Free” Aisle offers also have offers on Social Nature, Ibotta, or maybe even both!
- You get all of your initial cost back with Aisle, then maybe another $3 from Ibotta for example. So now you made a $3 money maker.
- For example, many brands with “Get 1 Free” Aisle offers also have offers on Social Nature, Ibotta, or maybe even both!
Why Money Makers Matter
Scoring a money maker isn’t just about a few extra cents – it’s proof that smart shopping can be profitable. Over time, these small wins can:
- Offset the cost of other groceries
- Boost your cashback app balances
- Make it easier to cash out gift cards or actual cash
Tips for Spotting Money Makers
- Checking deal blogs and forums such as this website and the Awesome Freebies reddit!
- After redeeming an offer from 1 platform (like Aisle), make sure to open apps like Ibotta and Fetch and search for the brand to see if additional rebates can be found.
- You will want to have accounts set up ahead of time with multiple apps. The more apps you have, the better chance you will find a money maker. We recommend:
- Ibotta
- Fetch
- Shopkick
- Swagbucks
- Checkout 51
Summary
Overall money makers are a great way to earn a little extra cash or offset the cost of your overall grocery bill. It’s always nice to find out you just made money by picking up something for free!