EVERYDAY MONEY, REAL FAMILY LIFE.

Little money wins.

A bit back on the food shop. Vouchers to help with the Christmas shop. Something off the phone bill. A small reward while the kettle boils.

No overnight millionaire nonsense. Just practical cashback and rewards ideas, with the useful bits and the catches explained.

Your time counts too. If the faff outweighs the reward, skip it.

Disclosure

Ad / referral links. When a link is labelled Ad, I can receive a reward if you join and meet the provider's conditions. Any reward for you has its own conditions too. Offers change; check the current terms before signing up.

My before-I-buy ritual.

Before I buy anything, I check my cashback apps and my bank's offers.

A quick look first, then I choose the best eligible deal for something I was buying anyway.

01 Check the apps

Compare eligible offers before a planned purchase.

02 Check the bank

Check retailer offers in your banking app and activate if required.

03 Check the final price

The highest cashback isn't always the cheapest overall deal.

Only spend what you planned to spend.

Check offer terms before combining cashback and bank rewards. Don't assume two cashback click-through sites will both pay on one order.

The apps I actually use.

I have tested a LOT of make money online apps, everything from Surveys, testing products, watching ads, listening to music and yes you can make some extra funds from them but they are sooo time consuming. I do not have time to sit and answer a 1-hour long survey about Covid 19!

I prefer the ones that require little attention. I only use 4 apps at the moment and below is my honest review of them and screenshots of my balance on the apps. If I am missing out on any other apps hit me up with a link please!

Ad / referral link

QUIDCO.

My go-to before any online shop. I do prefer Quidco to TopCashback. My app shows I've earned a total of £157 total so far. The cashback can take time (normally 3-6 months) or be declined if you don't complete the order through the link provided.

I normally check the app every other day to see if there are any promotional bonuses up, you need to be quick as sometimes they only offer it to a certain number of transactions.

Great for Christmas time as they do Cashback on Argos, Currys, Ebay, Debenhams, Boots etc. Plus a lot of the top supermarkets are there too. You can withdraw to your bank account, PayPal or purchase a gift card and earn extra cashback.

This one is a win win for me.

Try Quidco (Ad)

Ad / referral link

AIRTIME.

A little help with the phone bill. Link an eligible payment card and earn rewards on qualifying spending. As my cards are linked I don't have to do anything as it records any purchases I make that are eligible for cashback. They do offer extra ways to earn rewards by downloading and playing certain games etc but I don't bother with that.

My history shows three completed £10 phone-bill credits across June 2024, August 2025 and July 2026 £30 altogether, not much but I like the months that my phone bill is lower. I am with EE so you will need to check if your network is compatible.

Try Airtime (Ad)

Referral code EDQYB3GP. Current invitation: £2 bonus when you join and spend £5 within 7 days. Provider terms and eligibility apply; check the offer in the app. I can receive a referral reward when you qualify.

Ad / referral link

MISTPLAY.

I am partcial to the odd game on my phone to pass the time so if I'm playing anyway I'd be aswell earning some extra £££. You earn units through eligible mobile games and redeem available rewards.

I always exchange for Amazon vouchers as I use Amazon far too much but you can currently get vouchers for Tesco, Sainsburys, Starbucks, Uber, etc. So far I've earned £70 in vouchers which is not too shabby for playing a games.

Rewards and games vary and it can take a while to earn enough rewards to redeem so this one is more of a gradual win.

Try Mistplay (Ad)

Ad / referral link

EVERUP.

Everup offers cashback on gift cards. Anytime I need to buy a digital gift card for someones birthday this is my go-to app. They have a few mini-games and raffles on their app too so you can win extra £££.

I always use the cashback I received from my last purchase towards the next gift card. You could buy your full monthly food shop worth in vouchers and reap the rewards that way.

Referral qualification requires redeeming £10+ cashback towards gift cards; its 10M coin reward is not £10 cash. The coins are used for the little mini games they have.

Try everup (Ad)

I bring Receipts, not ridiculous promises.

My own app screenshots, supplied 15 October 2026.

The amounts, dates and statuses are unchanged and the totals do not contain any referral rewards; only my phone number has been covered. My results obviously don't guarantee yours.

Quidco: Extra £78 a year for nothing

Try Quidco (Ad)

Since November 2024 I have received £157 in Cashback from orders that I was going to place anyway! £35 was from promotional bonuses. £157 in 2 years doesn't sound like a lot but that is an extra £78 a year just for doing my normal online shopping.

Try Mistplay (Ad)

Mistplay: £70 worth of Amazon Vouchers.

£10 Gift cards are normally between 4000/4400 units, it changes every now and then so I normally keep my units until it is around around 4000.

I have redeemed a total of £70 worth of Amazon vouchers which isn't bad for just playing some games when I am bored.

Airtime: £30 off my phone bill.

Three completed £10 credits, dated 29 June 2024, 18 August 2025 and 11 July 2026. £30 across these dates.. My phone number is covered.

Try Airtime (Ad)

Everup: £3.74 from Gift Cards.

I don't use this one as much as I should but so far I have received £2.70 cashback from two £25 gift-card orders. Plus I earned an extra £1.04 on their little mini games. The £50 is the amount spent on gift cards, not earnings.

Try everup (Ad)

More apps. Honest labels.

I have used Shopmium and Swagbucks before, but it has been a while. JamDoughnut is one I have signed up for but have not tried yet. These are other options to explore, rather than current personal reviews or payout proof.

Ad / referral links. I may receive a reward if you join using my link or code and meet the provider’s conditions. Offers and eligibility can change.

Shopmium

USED PREVIOUSLY

Cashback offers on selected groceries. Buy an eligible product, follow the offer instructions and submit your receipt. I have used it before, but I am not reviewing it as a current regular user.

The catch: Check the exact product, offer deadline and withdrawal minimum. Buying something you do not need is still spending.

My referral code: 4ZU5ID

Current referral invitation: £1 reward after your first eligible cashback claim is approved. Check the current app terms.

Explore Shopmium (Ad)

Swagbucks

USED PREVIOUSLY

Earn SB points through eligible surveys, games, shopping and other activities, then redeem available rewards. I have used it before, but it has been a while.

The catch: Check the time involved, activity targets, deadlines and any spending requirements. Points are not pounds.

Explore Swagbucks (Ad)

JamDoughnut

NOT YET TRIED

Cashback on eligible gift-card purchases for planned shopping. I have signed up, but have not personally used it or received a reward from it.

The catch: Check where the gift card can be used, its terms and the cash-out threshold before buying. Gift-card spending is not earnings.

My referral code: KK2JB

Enter the code during signup. Referral rewards depend on the current app conditions; a signup alone may not qualify.

Visit JamDoughnut (Ad)

And TopCashback?

I do have a referral link fro TopChasback, but I haven't personally used it or earned from it. I prefer Quidco, so it isn't in my tried-and-tested recommendations. If you'd like to compare it yourself, check its current terms.

Ad / referral link

Explore TopCashback (Ad)

I can receive a reward if you join through this link and meet the provider's conditions.

Remember...

Only spend what you planned to spend.

Count your time as well as your money.

UK-focused information checked 15 October 2026. Offers, eligibility and terms change. General information, not personalised financial advice.