TPG Talks episode one: Use online shopping portals and apps to save money and earn miles from home
We kicked off our 'TPG Talks' webinar series with an in-depth look at how to use online shopping portals and mobile applications to both save money and earn points and miles from home. Below you'll find the recording of the first TPG Talk along with a few show notes and links to helpful posts we have.
Show notes:
In today's show we discussed the basics of using online shopping portals, best practices to make sure your purchases are accurately tracked, the amazing power of CashbackMonitor.com, some of our favorite mobile apps that allow us to save money and finally the power of stacking multiple saving strategies into a single purchase.
- 6:33 - Introduction to Shopping Portals featuring the United MileagePlus Shopping Portal
- 8:50 - Shopping Portal Aggregators featuring CashbackMonitor
- 11:37 - When do earning rates change?
- 14:37 - Best practices for using Shopping Portals
- 15:53 - Overview of Rakuten (formerly Ebates) to earn cash back or Membership Rewards points for online and in-store purchases
- 20:40 - Apps to utilize for points and savings
- 29:15 - What security do these apps offer for your credit card information? What risks are there to the consumer?
- 31:11 - How to maximize purchases through Amazon
- 32:44 - Stacking for maximum points and savings
- 39:35 - Do you lose credit card protections by using a shopping portal or app?
- 40:31 - What options are available for online grocery delivery services?
- 42:45 - Uber Eats through Rakuten
- 43:33 - Do apps limit the number of cards that you can add?
- 44:15 - What apps should you start with?
- 46:02 - Evreward vs. CashbackMonitor
- 46:54 - Chrome Extensions
- 48:40 - Can you scan receipts into multiple apps?
- 49:22 - How do you not go crazy doing this?
- 50:58 - Can you pay with a gift card when using a shopping portal?
- 51:45 - Current no brainer deals
- 52:44 - Airline dining rewards programs
- 56:20 - What to do if your purchase isn't credited
Follow-on reading and important links:
The beginner's guide to airline shopping portals
How to use Rakuten (Ebates) to earn bonus cash back or Amex points
Your definitive guide to online grocery delivery services
Sign-up for some of the apps discussed in today's show:
Bottom Line
Be sure to catch all the future TPG Talks webinars live by registering for your spot. You can catch all of our upcoming live events across all of our online channels through our master calendar. You can also re-watch recordings of all previous TPG Talks on the TPG Learning Hub.
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Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.


