$The Offer Guide
← HOW-TO LIBRARY
START HERE

Deposit or expense? Compare offer requirements

Some requirements temporarily move your money; others spend it. Distinguish them before calling an offer a money maker.

1Recoverable balance
2Nonrecoverable cost
3Funds tied up
CompareChoose the exact route
QualifyFollow its conditions
CollectWait for approval

Identify what stays yours

A bank deposit may remain your property while a promotion requires a holding period. A subscription payment or game purchase usually pays for a product or service. Do not subtract a recoverable balance as though it is automatically lost.

Check access and restrictions

A retained balance can still be unavailable for your next plan. Read withdrawal rules, account holds, promotion retention periods, and possible charges. A refundable amount is not the same as cash you can freely reuse today.

Calculate both profit and cash needed

Show nonrecoverable expenses in your profit calculation and retained funds in your funding requirement. This lets you compare a low-cost, high-balance promotion with a smaller cash commitment without hiding either constraint.

WORKED EXAMPLE

Example: a $100 bonus requiring a retained $1,000 balance and a $5 fee has $95 before-tax cash profit, but needs $1,005 to start. Withdrawal and eligibility rules still matter.

Explore saved examples

Catalogue examples, not verified current payout promises. Confirm the reward and full conditions in your account.

OGCashInStyleCompare →Walkthrough →
SoFi CryptoCashInStyleCompare →Walkthrough →
Frosty Reel ChallengeKashKickCompare →Walkthrough →
CoinbaseInboxDollarsCompare →Walkthrough →

Keep exploring

Start hereHow to earn extra money with offers and rewards →Start hereEarn money online without spending: what to check →Start hereMake money from your phone: compare the actual work →

Before you commit

Recoverable balance

A bank deposit may remain your property while a promotion requires a holding period. A subscription payment or game purchase usually pays for a product or service. Do not subtract a recoverable balance as though it is automatically lost.

Nonrecoverable cost

A retained balance can still be unavailable for your next plan. Read withdrawal rules, account holds, promotion retention periods, and possible charges. A refundable amount is not the same as cash you can freely reuse today.

Funds tied up

Show nonrecoverable expenses in your profit calculation and retained funds in your funding requirement. This lets you compare a low-cost, high-balance promotion with a smaller cash commitment without hiding either constraint.

Sources and terms: TopCashback explanation · Rakuten tracking guidance · CFPB bank account guidance. Advertiser-specific conditions take precedence.