Earn points, miles or cash back: How to maximize online shopping portals for your purchases

Many of us regularly shop at retail stores and sites for pet supplies, home decor, clothing and gifts. In the face of rising costs, we also look for every possible way to save money.Unfortunately, these types of purchases rarely fall into the bonus categories on rewards credit cards, making it harder to earn extra points, miles or cash back when you shop online.That's where online shopping portals come in.Online shopping portals offer an easy way to earn bonus points, miles or cash back on purchases you're already making. For instance, Rakuten is currently offering a one-time $50 bonus to new members who join with a referral link (and make qualifying purchases) and to the person who referred them.In this guide, we'll explore some of the top online shopping portals and how you can maximize your rewards when shopping.Related: From 'free' alterations to bonus Notes: How to maximize the Nordstrom Nordy ClubBasics of online shopping portalsAt the most basic level, shopping portals allow you to earn bonus points, miles or cash back at hundreds of online retailers.You can either log in to your online shopping portal of choice, click the store where you want to shop and be redirected to th...