DiscoverLazy Budget Travel TipsMaximizing Holiday Shopping Portals with Mari from @marionthemap
Maximizing Holiday Shopping Portals with Mari from @marionthemap

Maximizing Holiday Shopping Portals with Mari from @marionthemap

Update: 2025-12-01
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Description

In this episode, I’m joined by Mari from Mari on the Map to talk about one of the easiest, most underrated ways to earn more points right now: shopping portals.

With banks tightening welcome offers and approvals getting harder, portals let you earn thousands of extra points on purchases you’re already making — no new cards required.

We cover:

  • How Mari went from casual points user to running family trips on miles
  • What shopping portals are (Rakuten, airline portals, bank offers)
  • How to stack: portal → the right card → card-linked offers
  • The Rakuten x Bilt (referral links) partnership and when it makes sense
  • Common mistakes that break tracking (gift cards, coupon codes, ad blockers, apps)
  • How portal earnings can turn into Hyatt nights, domestic flights, or even saver fares to Europe
  • Tools that make it easier: SaveWise and CardPointers (my affiliate links)

Quick action steps:

  • Check SaveWise (or Cashback Monitor) before you buy
  • Install the Rakuten browser extension
  • Use a card that earns more than 1X on everyday spend
  • Turn on and activate card-linked offers
  • Try one stacked purchase this week and watch the points roll in

Find Mari:

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Maximizing Holiday Shopping Portals with Mari from @marionthemap

Maximizing Holiday Shopping Portals with Mari from @marionthemap

Genni Franklin