How To Get a £30 Cashback Bonus On Your Next Online Shop
- The Penny Pincher Team
- 54 minutes ago
- 5 min read
How To Get £30 For Free When Buying Something You Need To Buy Anyway!
New Rakuten users can earn a £30 cashback bonus by spending £60 through the platform within 90 days. The bonus stacks with regular cashback, making this one of the easiest money-saving wins available right now.
What You Need to Know
Bonus amount: £30 cashback
Qualifying spend: £60 (that's £50 + VAT)
Timeline:Â Spend within 90 days of signing up
Payment:Â Bonus arrives within 30 days of purchase tracking
Retailers:Â Sainsbury's, Argos, Boots, ASOS, Currys, B&Q, Superdrug, and hundreds more
Extra perk: The £30 is paid on top of any cashback you earn from your purchase
What is Rakuten?
Rakuten is a cashback platform that pays you money back when you shop online through their links. The concept is simple: instead of going directly to a retailer's website, you click through Rakuten first. They track your purchase and give you a percentage of what you spend back as real cash.
You're not being asked to shop differently or buy things you don't need. It's just about getting rewarded for purchases you were making anyway, whether that's weekly groceries, clothes, or home essentials.
The platform works with hundreds of major UK retailers, so chances are you already shop with several of them.
How to Claim Your Rakuten £30 Bonus
 Sign up to Rakuten here to activate the offer
Step 1:Â Create your free Rakuten account using a referral link (required for the bonus)
Step 2:Â Browse participating retailers and click through to the one you want to shop with
Step 3:Â Complete your purchase as normal; Rakuten tracks it automatically
Step 4:Â Wait for your cashback to arrive (typically within 90 days, often sooner; it depends on how quickly the retailer confirms your order)
That's it. No promo codes, no complicated terms, just straightforward cashback.
How I Tested It
When I first came across this offer, it was £25 rather than £30. I decided to test it with a Sainsbury's grocery delivery, just my normal weekly shop, nothing extra. A few weeks later, the bonus appeared in my account exactly as promised.
Since then, I've recommended it to my followers, and they've had the same experience. The only people who've missed out are those who forgot about the 90-day deadline!
My advice? Use it straight away. Place an order you were planning to make anyway and lock in the bonus while it's fresh in your mind.
Smart Ways to Use This Offer
Option 1: Grocery shopping: A £60 Sainsbury's or Tesco order easily hits the threshold. You get your £30 bonus plus around £1-2 in regular cashback.
Option 2: Planned purchases: If you're already buying something from Argos, Boots, or Currys, route it through Rakuten first.
Option 3: Christmas budget: Stack this with seasonal shopping at ASOS, John Lewis (when available), or toy retailers.
The key is treating this as free money on spending that's already happening, not as an excuse to buy things you don't need.
How Does Rakuten Compare With Other Cashback Services?
Rakuten's cashback rates are competitive but not always the highest. I use it alongside JamDoughnut, Quidco, TopCashback and Complete Savings, and I'll check all of them to see which one offers the best cashback rate for the retailer I'm buying from, before making a big purchase.
Some days Rakuten has the best rate, other days it doesn't. But here's why this offer matters: the £30 welcome bonus is significantly better than most competitors. Even if you only use Rakuten for this first shop and then switch to other platforms, you'll still come out ahead.
What Happens After You Make Your First Purchase?
Once your purchase is tracked and confirmed by the retailer, your cashback appears in your Rakuten account as payable. You can withdraw it to your bank account or PayPal once you reach the minimum threshold (typically £5).
Your £30 bonus will initially show as pending, then switch to "payable" once the waiting period is over. From there, you can cash out whenever you're ready.
Things to Watch Out For
Don't return your purchase. If you cancel or return the order that qualified you for the bonus, you'll lose it. Make sure you're happy with what you're buying. If buying groceries, this is less likely to be an issue!
Use the correct link. Going directly to a retailer's website won't track. You must click through Rakuten each time.
Only one cashback site per order. You can't stack Rakuten with other cashback services, nor use cashback gift cards to pay for the same purchase; only use Rakuten for this transaction, or you may lose your bonus!
Check tracking. After completing your order, log back into Rakuten to confirm your purchase appears in your account. If it doesn't show within 48 hours, contact their support team.
Why This Is A Good Deal
Cashback isn't about changing your spending habits or buying more. It's about being intentional with the purchases you're already making.
Taking 30 seconds to click through Rakuten before placing an order you were going to make anyway could put £30 back in your account. That's money you can redirect towards your next grocery shop, add to your savings, or use for something you've been putting off.
It's one of those rare offers that feels like a genuinely good deal rather than a marketing gimmick.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to make my first purchase? You have 90 days from sign-up, but I'd recommend doing it within the first week so you don't forget.
When will I receive the £30 bonus? Usually, within 90 days of the retailer confirming your purchase.
Which retailers qualify? Major names include Sainsbury's, Tesco, Argos, Boots, ASOS, Currys, B&Q, Superdrug, and hundreds more. Check the Rakuten site for the complete list.
Can I use discount codes with Rakuten? Yes, in most cases, using a promo code won't affect your cashback tracking. Always check the terms for the specific retailer.
Is there a catch? No hidden surprises. Just remember that if you return your purchase, you'll lose the bonus. Otherwise, it's straightforward.
Is Rakuten legitimate? Absolutely. Rakuten is backed by a large global company and has been operating for years. I've used it multiple times without any issues.
Rakuten isn't the flashiest cashback platform, but it does what it promises. It tracks reliably, pays on time, and this £30 bonus makes it worth signing up even if you're already using other cashback services.
For something as routine as groceries or everyday purchases, getting £30 back feels like a small win for your bank balance. It's the kind of easy, practical money move that actually makes a difference.
This post contains referral links. If you sign up through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend services I've personally used and found valuable.