1. Introduction
As a university student in Germany, I’m always looking for ways to save money. Between tuition, rent, and daily expenses, even €1 matters.
I had heard people talk about cashback apps, but I assumed they were complicated, or worse — fake.
In January 2025, I finally gave it a try.
Within 3 weeks, I earned my first €50.
Here’s exactly how I did it, which app I used, what mistakes I made — and how any student in Europe can do the same.
2. What Are Student Cashback Apps?
Cashback apps give you a percentage of your spending back — in real money or vouchers.
They usually work in 3 ways:
- Online shopping through their portal
- Scanning receipts from physical stores
- Partnering with food/grocery brands
You shop → upload receipt or use a tracked link → earn money back.
3. Why I Wanted to Try Cashback
Here’s what pushed me:
- I already do online shopping (especially Amazon, Zalando, and Lieferando)
- I live on a budget
- I didn’t want to spend more — just get something back from what I already spend
- I was tired of survey apps that waste time
4. Which App I Chose (And Why)
I tested a few options but stuck with iGraal.
Why iGraal?
- Offers cashback on 2000+ popular stores (Zalando, Booking, H&M, Lieferando, ASOS, etc.)
- Works in Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium
- They give €3–€10 welcome bonus
- Minimum payout = €20 via PayPal or bank transfer
- 100% free, no subscription, no surveys
Other good apps I later tested:
- Widilo
- Shopmium
- TopCashback EU
5. My First Week Using It
I signed up with iGraal and:
- Got €5 welcome bonus instantly
- Installed their browser extension (this helps track cashback automatically)
- Ordered food from Lieferando = cashback €1.75
- Ordered books from Thalia = cashback €2.50
- Bought hoodie from H&M online = cashback €3.20
After 7 days: €12.45 in cashback earned
6. How I Earned €50 Without Spending Extra
I didn’t buy anything “just to earn cashback.”
I only used it for regular expenses like:
| Purchase | Cashback Earned |
|---|---|
| Amazon (printer ink) | €1.20 |
| Lieferando food (3x orders) | €5.25 |
| Train tickets via Omio | €3.40 |
| Hostel via Booking.com | €8.00 |
| Back-to-uni clothes from ASOS | €4.80 |
| Refer 3 friends (they got €3, I got €10 total) | €10.00 |
| Miscellaneous purchases | €5.35 |
| Welcome Bonus | €5.00 |
📦 Total Cashback: €53.00
💸 Withdrawn to PayPal after 3 weeks
7. Tips for Maximum Cashback
✅ Always activate cashback BEFORE purchase (or use browser extension)
✅ Stack discounts — use student promo codes + cashback
✅ Refer friends (easy €3–€5 per referral)
✅ Choose stores with 5–15% cashback (clothing, food, travel)
✅ Keep receipts — some apps let you upload those too
✅ Be patient — cashback takes 1–10 days to reflect
8. Things to Watch Out For
❌ Don’t cancel or return orders — cashback gets voided
❌ Avoid clicking between multiple tabs — it breaks tracking
❌ Always finish the purchase in one go
❌ Some stores have “exclusions” — read the terms
9. Is Cashback Worth It for Students?
Absolutely yes.
It’s not get-rich-quick, but:
- You earn back real money
- It works even if you spend very little
- There are no risks or upfront fees
- It adds up over the semester — I now save ~€15–€25/month
For me, it was the easiest €50 I ever made as a student.
10. Final Thoughts
If you’re already shopping online, ordering food, or booking travel — why not get a piece of it back?
💡 Start with:
- iGraal or Widilo
- Set your first goal: €20 payout
- Use referrals to accelerate
- Withdraw and repeat
No job. No pressure. Just smarter spending.