A savvy shopper from Cheshire has revealed how she saves hundreds of pounds each year by using cashback websites, then donates the proceeds to charity. Stephanie Walters, 61, from Wilmslow, says she inherited her thrifty approach from her father, who was passionate about saving money.
Mrs Walters, who works as a charity shop bargain hunter, now buys clothes, gifts and even bird feed through cashback sites like TopCashback. She estimates she saves around £200 annually, totalling £1,200 since she started using the sites six years ago. She donates all the money to charity, buying gifts for needy children at Christmas.
Her husband Richard, 59, an IT consultant, first introduced her to cashback shopping. Customers open an account with TopCashback and click through to retailers, who pay commission to the site, some of which is passed on to the purchaser. Savings can be taken as cash or vouchers, which often offer a higher percentage back.
Mrs Walters said: 'I never like paying full price for anything if I can help it. It feels silly not to save money if you can, or to pay full price when you can get something cheaper by being patient and waiting.' She recalls buying a dress from an outlet store that should have been £120 for just £20.
She added: 'I’d never take something back for a refund and buy it again at the sale price. I believe if I’ve bought it at that price that’s a fair transaction.' Mrs Walters saves throughout the year and uses the money to buy gifts for children in need, inspired by her own childhood Christmases when her father would plan and save for months.
