I have an addiction. It’s not dangerous, in fact, it’s even a little profitable but it’s just a little embarrassing. 
It’s called cashback.

I wake up in the morning and the first thing I do is reach for my phone, which is not an unusual thing to do these days. But instead of checking WhatsApp or text messages, I log into the PayZapp app because if you’re among the first 100 customers to make a bill payment at 10am, you get Rs 50 cashback. 

Sometimes, the cashback amount is noteworthy. In fact, I’ve saved up to Rs 500 on a single mobile phone bill using different platforms (I’m going to tell you how). Sometimes, it’s Rs 3. But the cheap — sometimes, not so cheap! — thrill you get at the end of both is definitely worth all the time that goes into hunting the offers down. 

The best part? It’s all perfectly legal despite being a guilty pleasure. 

The worst part? There is no consolidated platform that lists the offers being meted out by the many digital wallets flooding the virtual market. So you have to check the Coupon Rajas, Coupon Dunias and GrabOns of the world as well as the Facebook and Twitter pages of each wallet. It requires a lot of research, a skill that you will unknowingly download into your human software. 

So the next time you make a digital payment — be it food from Swiggy, groceries from Grofers, movie tickets from BookMyShow or payment of your phone bill, remember that a little research can save you a fair amount of money! 
 

HOW I SAVED RS 500 ?ON MY MOBILE BILL IN JULY

FREECHARGE

I hadn’t used the app for around two months, so to woo me back, I received an email from Freecharge with an offer I couldn’t refuse. Transact with Rs 50 and get Rs 50 back. 

My cashback: Rs 50 (on Rs 50). 

Freecharge also had an offer going where a new user gets Rs 75 cashback on bill payment of any amount. I immediately downloaded the app on my mother’s phone and opened an account using my Freecharge referral code (like it’s done for Uber). My mother’s account got Rs 50 for signing up, I got Rs 50 for referring the app to her, and after paying Rs 100 towards my bill, I received Rs 75 cashback. 

My cashback: Rs 175 (on Rs 100).

 

PAYZAPP

The first 100 customers every hour from 10am-10pm get Rs 100 cashback. I woke up at 10am to do it (though your chances are probably the same at 2pm or 9pm!). 

My cashback: Rs 100 (on Rs 100). 

With a minimum transaction of Rs 200 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, anytime between 10am and 10pm, you get Rs 50 back. You can use this offer twice a month.

My cashback: Rs 100 (on Rs 400).

MOBIKWIK

You get 10 per cent cashback on every third recharge. It’s a little tricky because you have to keep track of your transactions! Minimum transaction: Rs 200. 

My cashback: Rs 50 (on Rs 500).

PAYTM

I didn’t find this offer on the PayTM website https://paytm.com/offer/recharge/ or on the app but I found it on couponraja.com. 

Flat Rs 25 on payment of Rs 50. 

My cashback: Rs 25 (on Rs 50).

Total spend: Rs 1,200
Total cashback: Rs 500

The writer has a Vodafone postpaid connection. Please check if your mobile phone operator is supported by these wallets before transacting.