If you’ve been around Side Hustle Sidequest for a while, you’ll know I’m a big fan of the “do what you were going to do anyway” school of side hustles. However, I prefer doing it a bit smarter.
Cashback sits firmly in that camp. And with the new year comes a new offer to exploit of the banking variety.
Today’s little quest: Santander offers on TopCashback.
🔗 My TopCashback referral link:
Join TopCashback here and get started
By using the referral link you will get an extra £10 bonus.
What I’m seeing on TopCashback right now
In my TopCashback app, I’m currently seeing a whole screen of Santander offers, including things like:
- Santander Easy Access Saver – £25 cashback
- Santander Easy Access ISA – £25 cashback
- Santander Fixed Term Saver / ISA – £25 cashback
- Santander current accounts – around £20 cashback
- Santander credit cards and personal loans – around £20–£60 cashback
Specific amounts and products will change over time, but the principle is the same:
click through TopCashback first and you’re effectively paying yourself for doing the paperwork.
How I’d treat this as a side quest (not The Main Plot)
Here’s how I personally approach these kinds of deals:
- Start with your goal, not the cashback.
- Do you actually need a new savings account?
- Is a cash ISA on your list for this tax year?
- Are you already thinking about switching current account?
- Shortlist products that genuinely fit.
Look at interest rates, fees and features first. Cashback is a nice little bonus, not the main reason to sign up. - Only then check TopCashback.
If the product you’ve already decided on is offering £20–£25 back? Great. That’s your side quest reward. - Click through properly.That’s usually what you need for the cashback to track.
- Treat any payout as bonus “side cash”.
I like to send it straight to savings, investing, or my next small goal so it doesn’t just vanish into the void.
For myself I have opened an easy access saver to drop in cash from my wage so it at least accrues some interest. I already bank with Santander with an edge and edge saver. I pay £3 a month but get cash back on direct debits and and a hefty 5.8% interest rate on the edge up saver. This has a cap and a first year bonus though so I am making plans for the year ahead.
Big, boring but important caveats
This is not financial advice. Banks, cards, loans and mortgages are serious commitments:
- Always read the T&Cs and check fees, interest and eligibility.
- Don’t open credit products just for cashback.
- Don’t take out a loan or a mortgage you don’t actually need.
- Cashback amounts and offers change all the time – check what’s live before you apply.
Think of cashback as XP on top of quests you were going to do anyway, not an excuse to start a whole new storyline you can’t afford.
If you want to start stacking a bit of extra “beer money” from your own banking admin, you can:
👉 Join TopCashback using my referral link
then search “Santander” (or your chosen bank) and see what’s currently on offer.
If you use my link, I may earn a small bonus too – it helps keep Side Hustle Sidequest running, and I appreciate it. 💚
And finally…
💬 Your turn: have you seen any decent cashback deals lately (Santander or otherwise)? Share them in the comments – I’m always on the lookout for new side quests to try and review.
Leave a Reply