Is BeFrugal Legit? Can You Really Make Money Shopping Online?

I’m always on the lookout for money-saving opportunities. At first glance, BeFrugal looks like a promising option for someone like myself who does a lot of online shopping. But is BeFrugal Legit? 

Like you, I certainly don’t want to be duped or waste my time. So, I applaud you for doing your due diligence and checking out these online programs that sound great but may not always be everything they’re cracked up to be.

My policy is to join every program I review to get some first-hand experience with the features. Additionally, I also do extensive online research to assess the experiences of others and ensure that I haven’t missed anything. Loyal readers deserve no less than full disclosure!

So, I’m now ready to share my thoughts on BeFrugal. Why not get comfy and follow along?

What is BeFrugal?

BeFrugal.com is a website, launched in 2009, that allows members to earn cash back from participating retail partners and also features both online coupons and coupons for 250+ restaurants. In many respects, the platform is similar to TopCashback and Ebates.

The BeFrugal platform is entirely free to join, and sign-up is a quick and easy process. Moreover, you’ll receive a $10 bonus for joining. As soon as you earn $10 cash back from using the platform, the bonus becomes payable. And, with potential rebate rates as high as 40%, checking it out seems like a no-brainer.

When you join through BeFrugal’s website, you’ll be prompted to install a handy browser extension which means your account is always just a click away. You can also download a mobile app for use on your iPhone, iPad or Android device. The app has a 4.5 rating on the App Store.

For a quick overview, please enjoy the video below:

How Does BeFrugal Work?

As the image above suggests, getting cash back with BeFrugal is remarkably easy. Of course, you do need to create an account first (which takes less than 5 minutes). From there, just make sure your online shopping trips start out on the BeFrugal website.

If you know what retailer you want to shop at, just type the store name in the Search Bar. Alternatively, you can browse through available shops (organized by department) and make your selection from the 5,000+ online vendors that BeFrugal partners with.

In comparing BeFrugal with Ebates, I immediately noted that Ebates partners with half as many merchants (2,500). For me, the more massive BeFrugal selection is a significant draw.

Just click on the name of the store to travel directly to the website of that vendor and complete your purchase transaction as you normally would. It’s absolutely critical that you start on BeFrugal’s site, click their link, and leave your browser window open until your purchase is finalized.

Why is this critical?

BeFrugal can offer cash back to their member participants because they have affiliate marketing relationships with each of the vendors on their site. They earn commissions by referring customers and then they share the commissions with their members.

The affiliate marketing business model relies entirely on unique tracking codes that are embedded in affiliate links. Without those codes, retailers have no way of identifying BeFrugal as the referring party. Rest assured that if BeFrugal doesn’t get paid, you won’t either.

If you make a purchase, you should see a notation of a verified purchase in your account within 7 days. Your cashback will typically be pending for 30 to 90 days before it becomes payable. This is standard practice across the industry and stems from retailers holding affiliate fees until they know products aren’t going to be returned.

Once BeFrugal gets paid, they’re in a position to release payment to members, and you’ll see a change in the status of your account. You can then request payment under your preferred method. In contrast, Ebates only pays quarterly following their payment schedule.

How Do You Get Paid?

Members can select their desired payment method. You have quite a bit of flexibility and can choose from a check, Paypal, direct deposit to your bank account, or a variety of gift cards. Minimum thresholds vary depending on the option you select.

With Paypal or direct deposits you can withdraw $0.01. But you’ll need at least $25 if you want a paper check. Gift card minimums range from $5 to $25 depending on the card.

I’m impressed with BeFrugal’s guarantee that they always offer the highest rebates. If you earn a cash rebate and subsequently discover a higher rebate elsewhere, BeFrugal will pay you 125% of the initially stipulated rate. BeFrugal has some clout to negotiate higher commission rates due to the volume of customers they refer.

As of the date of this review, BeFrugal has an A rating with the BBB. BeFrugal complaints indeed can be found on the Internet. Frankly, that’s true of every business. But, after reading extensive customer reviews, I’ve found the reports to be overwhelmingly positive.

BeFrugal members report satisfaction with the amount of savings, the timely receipt of cash rebate payments, and the overall quality of customer service.

Tips For Supercharging Your BeFrugal Savings

Savvy shoppers will use the 3 tips below to save even more money with their BeFrugal membership.

Tip #1 – Stack Deals Wherever You Can

BeFrugal Offers a ton of coupons. If you can apply a coupon and get cashback also on the same purchase, super deals are possible. Cashback is available from more than 5,000 online partners, and coupon codes are often useful for purchases at multiple vendors. 

Tip #2 – Don’t Forget to Check the Handpicked Deals

There are hot deals on select products that change daily. The prices are really great, and you still get cash back on top of the already low cost. The combination can sometimes result in exceptionally low net prices.

Tip #3 – Print Coupons and Check Weekly Flyers Before You Shop Offline

The BeFrugal website has weekly circulars for many local shops and tons of coupons. Check out these savings opportunities before you go to the grocery store or local pharmacy. Many of the coupons are now also digital. So, if you have the mobile app, you can just show the coupon at checkout and scan the barcode.

In Conclusion, Is BeFrugal Legit?

Unquestionably. BeFrugal is an entirely legitimate program that all online shoppers should consider joining. There’s really no downside because it’s free to join and use. Therefore, why not use the website to save money wherever you can?

Unless you’re that rare person, who likes to overpay and spend more than you have to  🙂

Please be responsible in your use of BeFrugal and other similar sites because, for the most part, you have to spend money to make money. But, as long as it’s an item you were going to purchase anyway, cashback apps can be a real bonanza. And, referral fees can be a nice little windfall for both you and the friend or family member you invite to join.

Personally, I hate paying full price for anything, and it’s become a game to compare cashback offers and stack my savings. It’s great fun! I’m sure you’ll agree that BeFrugal is a super little resource to have in your shopping toolkit!

But, as wonderful as it is to save money, you really can’t make a significant income with BeFrugal. If you’d like the opportunity to earn more money online, you may want to explore the platform I use for my blog and affiliate marketing business. Not only is it free to try, but you won’t find a better training platform anywhere on the Internet.

Over to You

I hope I’ve answered all of your questions in this BeFrugal review. I’ve tried to be thorough, but if I missed something, please give me a shout out in the comment section below. I’ll get back to you promptly. And, to any Befrugal users who happen to read this, can you let us know how it’s worked out for you?

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