Most of the money we earn is known as ‘active income’, which means that we receive the funds in return for actively doing something for them, for example, delivering goods from A to B or working a shift in a bar.

In contrast, passive income is funds that are generated with minimal effort (or no effort at all!) If you earn interest on money in your savings account, this can be defined as passive income. On a larger scale, the money that people earn from rental properties or via dividends on stocks can also be classified as passive income.

Of course, the ability to generate income with minimal effort is something we all dream about but it could be easier than you think. While most forms of passive income require some form of initial investment, there are ways to earn money without making an investment and without putting in much effort at all.

What is Cashback?

Retailers and companies are always eager for business, which is why they issue incentives for consumers to use their services. A retail store might knock 20% off their prices to persuade you to shop there rather than visiting a competitor, for example.

Cashback is another type of incentive. When a company or credit card firm runs a cashback scheme, they’re essentially offering to give you a portion of whatever you spend back. If you get 5% cashback and spend $50, for example, you’ll get $2.50 back!

Using cashback incentives can be a great way to generate passive income. When you combine cashback rewards with your regular shopping habits, you won’t be spending any more than you usually do but you’ll be getting some of your funds back.

Of course, different firms have varying types of cashback schemes, so it is important to verify exactly how a particular company operates. Alternatively, you can use dedicated cashback apps or websites to simplify your rewards and streamline your passive income.

To get started, take a look at our curated selection of easy-to-use cashback apps now:

Dosh

When you sign up with Dosh, you can link one credit or debit card to your Dosh account. Then, when you spend money using that card, you’ll earn cashback via Dosh. While many credit card companies offer cashback, few debit cards do, which makes Dosh an innovative way to earn cash back if you prefer to use a debit card online or in stores.

However, if you choose to link a credit card to your Dosh account, you could essentially earn double cash back. Simply link a credit card that already offers cashback to your Dosh account to increase the amount you get back every time you make a purchase.

You can earn money through your Dosh account at thousands of retailers, which makes it easy to incorporate cashback into your day-to-day spending habits. What’s more – you can access your cashback funds via your bank account or PayPal or choose to donate it to charity.

CoinOut

Using CoinOut means you won’t have to link any cards to your account or disclose any financial information, so it’s a great choice for people who want to protect their privacy. To earn cashback with CoinOut, you simply need to scan your receipts and let the app take care of the rest.

Take a photo of your receipt on your phone and upload it to CoinOut in seconds to earn cashback on your purchases. One of the main benefits of this app is that there are no limits on where you can shop to earn cashback. Providing your receipt specifies a transaction date, store name, individual purchases, and prices, as well as the transaction total, you can earn cashback on it!

Users can select whether to receive their cashback in the form of a bank transfer, Amazon gift card, or PayPal deposit and depending on which method you choose, there are no minimums. This means that you won’t have to reach a certain threshold before requesting your funds, so you can have your cashback transferred to you as quickly as possible.

Receipt Hog

The Receipt Hog app also works on the principle of uploading images of your receipts to earn cashback, but it injects a little fun into the process of saving money. Receipt Hog has made a good job of gamifying the experience, so you can boost your cashback and enjoy yourself in the process.

To earn cashback, you simply need to take a photo of your receipt and upload it to the app, and you’ll receive cashback in the form of coins. Currently, 1,000 coins equates to $5, 2,900 coins to $15, 4,300 coins to $25, and 6,500 to $40.

Once you’ve accumulated 1,000 coins, you have the option to redeem them in the form of a PayPal transaction, a Visa e-gift card code, or an Amazon e-gift card code. Note that there is no option for a direct bank transfer, which might be off-putting for some users.

Some receipts earn coins, while others earn spins or sweepstakes. A spin gives you the chance to earn coins via a mini-game random slots wheel, while an entry in the monthly sweepstake draw gives you the chance to win 5,000 coins.

If you prefer the simplicity of uploading receipts and earning cashback, Receipt Hog might not be the best choice for you. On the other hand, if you want to add some fun and excitement to your money-saving endeavors, it might be the best option out there!

Ibotta

Ibotta is one of the most popular cashback apps on the Apple store, although it’s available to Android users too. With a high rating and almost a million reviews, it’s clear that Ibotta is doing something right!

Before you shop, use the Ibotta app to find the retailer you want to shop at and see what offers are currently listed. Then, you can earn cashback in three different ways. Firstly, you can take a photo of your receipt and upload it to the app. Secondly, you can link your store loyalty card to your account and earn cashback automatically within 48 hours of making a purchase. Thirdly, open the Ibotta app, and from there, choose which app you want to use to make a purchase. Once you’ve made the in-app or app-to-app purchase, your account will be credited with cashback.

Don’t panic if you forget to check Ibotta before you start shopping. Providing the retailer doesn’t require you to link your loyalty card to the app, you can upload your receipt information within 7 days of making a purchase and still earn cashback.

Once you’ve earned $20 via the app, you can request your cash in the form of a PayPal or Venmo deposit, or you can select a gift card instead.

Are Cashback Apps Worth It?

Providing you choose the right app for you; cashback apps can be an easy way to get more out of your money. After all, if you’re going to be spending money, you may as well retain as much of it as possible.

There are plenty of cashback apps out there, so be sure to do your research before you get started. By selecting an app that aligns with your regular shopping habits, you can incorporate cashback savings into your day-to-day routine. Whether you want to gamify the experience or find the quickest way to save a few bucks, a reputable cashback app can make it easy to save money and boost your savings.