How to Maximise Cashback Rewards with Curve
What if you could earn hundreds of pounds in extra cash without the need for a side-hustle? No long hours, no extra effort—just smarter spending. The trick is in "Cashback Stacking" with Curve, the only mobile wallet that not only saves you money but also makes you money while you spend. Unlike Apple Pay or Google Pay, Curve offers something unique: “stacking cashback.” This means rather than earning just one reward on a purchase, you can earn cashback from multiple offers on the same transaction. This article will show you how Curve Cashback works and how to take advantage of multiple offers for maximum gains. Your earning potential varies depending on the Curve plan you're on, but even with the free Curve Wallet, there are plenty of opportunities to earn cashback. And with premium plans starting from £5.99/month, upgrading to a premium Curve plan might just pay for itself. Let's get into it.
Cashback Stacking
Curve has lots of cashback offers, running at once so you can take advantage of the layering effect:
1% Welcome Cashback: 1% cashback on all purchases in your first 30 days
1% Referral Cashback : 1% cashback on all purchases for 30 days for every friend you refer
1% Travel Cashback: 1% cashback on all your spending outside Europe (available on all Premium plans)
1% Premium Cashback: 1% cashback at up to 12 retailers of your choice (6 with Curve Black, 12 with Curve Metal)
Curve Rewards Up to 20% cashback from 100s of brands
Double Up
By linking a high-earning rewards card to your Curve account, you can essentially "double-dip" on rewards. For example, linking a Barclaycard Avios Plus card could earn you an additional 1.5 Avios per £1 spent on top of your Curve cashback. Another way to maximise the rewards you get with your debit cards or credit cards is using the Curve Fronted feature to pay off your credit cards with another credit card. Curve Fronted allows you to pay with a credit card where only debit cards are accepted. e.g. taxes, school fees or other credit cards. So not only can you earn credit card rewards where you wouldn't otherwise be able to, you can pay off one rewards card with another to double up on points. E.g. paying off your American Express bill with a Barclaycard Avios card.
Curve Fronted transactions incur a 2.5% fee but you can use it for free on Curve Black (up to £1000/month) and Curve Metal (up to £3000/month)
Curve Rewards (UK only)
Curve Rewards offer up to 20% cashback at hundreds of brands. They are currently only available in the UK but a European-wide cashback program is in the works!
For UK customers, there are two ways to earn Curve Rewards.
- Single-use cashback offers: These offers tend to offer higher cashback percentages and include the likes of Morrisons, Waitrose, Aldi, Leon, Boooking.com, and loads more. Simply tap to activate.
- Always-active cashback offers: These are multi-use offers that don’t even require activation. You’ll automatically earn cashback every time you shop at Always-Active retailers, which include popular names like Primark, Argos, IKEA, Waterstones, Honest Burgers, and more.
Top 3 cashback retailers with Curve Rewards
Primark - up to 4.8%
Argos - up to 3.5%
IKEA - up to 3%
Is upgrading worth it?
Curve customers on premium plans receive exclusive cashback offers, ripe for cashack stacking. Curve customers in the UK also get higher cashback offers from their Curve Rewards.
Premium-only cashback offers
- 1% International Cashback: All Curve premium customers earn 1% cashback on all purchases made outside Europe. For example, if you spend £2,000 on a trip abroad, you will add £20 to your Curve Cash balance.
- 1% Premium Cashback: Curve Black and Curve Metal customers can earn up to 1% cashback at 12 retailers of their choice, which include major supermarkets, travel companies, subscription services, and global brands like Apple, Amazon, ASOS, and Nike.
Let's get hypothethical. Dave is a dad with two kids, working in London. He spends £9.99/month on a Curve Black plan. Here's how much he might make in cashback on a typical month, spending with Curve
Groceries: Dave splits his shopping between Aldi and Tesco, 2 of his 6 premium cashback retailers. Spending £800/month in groceries, he earns £8 cashback.
Travel: Dave spends £50 on petrol at his local Shell garage and £250 on TFL to get into work. This month, he spent a weekend in New York and spent £500. Spending £800/month in travel, he earns £8 cashback.
Entertainment: Dave treated his family to dinner, with a 10% cashback reward at Shoryu Ramen. He also took the kids to LegoLand, where he earned 10% cashback. Spending £300 on entertainment, Dave earned £3 cashback
Discretionary spend: £300 in IKEA for new wardrobe (£9 cashback) . £80 in Argos for kitchenware (£2.80 cashback) £300 in American Golf for new clubs (£9 cashback)
Total spent: £2,580
Total cashback earned: £39.80
Tips for Maximising Your Rewards
To ensure you're getting the most out of Curve’s cashback system, here are a few tips:
- Refer friends: Take advantage of the referral program to keep that 1% cashback active for 30 days with each successful referral.
- Consider upgrading: Upgrading to Curve Black or Curve Metal will unlock Premium and International Cashback opportunities.
- Check the app regularly: Curve frequently offers personalised cashback deals, so make sure you’re up-to-date with the latest offers.
- Link a rewards card: By linking a high-rewards card, you can double-dip on rewards and accelerate your earnings.
- Choose your retailers wisely: Select cashback retailers that align with your regular spending habits for maximum cashback.
How Curve Cashback Works
When you sign up for Curve, your Curve Wallet comes preloaded with a “Curve Cash card.” This card is where all the cashback you earn accumulates. As you shop, you can see exactly how much cashback you’ve earned and how much is available to spend—it’s all tracked in one simple interface. Think of your Curve Cash card as your “Free Money” card. The best part? You can spend your cashback anywhere, just like a normal debit card.
It’s far simpler than traditional cashback programs, which are often a hassle to keep track of. With many other programs, you may only get tiny rewards like 40p here or 20p there, which go directly into your bank account, making it hard to notice the benefits. With Curve, you can save up your cashback over time, whether it’s for a rainy day or a big treat like a new gadget or a fancy dinner. Curve’s cashback feels like free money you can actually use.
Curve Cashback offers a flexible and potentially lucrative way to earn rewards on your everyday spending. By understanding the system and strategically using the features available, you can significantly boost your cashback earnings. Remember to check the Curve app regularly for the latest offers and to keep track of your rewards.
Start maximising your Curve Cashback today and watch your rewards grow with every purchase!
