Dollar General Rolls Out New Cash Back Rewards Program

What happened

Dollar General is introducing a new DG Cash Back Program. Customers of the store will be eligible for cash back in a DG Wallet through the Company's partnership with the Ibotta Performance Network. Cash back earned can be used to cover the cost of future purchases. 

Dollar General already has programs in place that aim to help consumers financially, such as its spendwell™ bank account that comes with no monthly fees and that allows customers to earn unlimited 1% cash back that's redeemable for Dollar General purchases. Dollar General also offers its FIS' Premium Payback™ program, a real-time rewards program that allows customers to redeem points for $5 toward purchases of $5.01 or more.

So what

Inflation has been wreaking havoc on consumers' finances for more than two years at this point, and many people are stretched to the limit as they attempt to cover their basic needs. It's common to turn to a store like Dollar General to stretch a smaller paycheck as far as possible. And now, customers will get even more relief by racking up cash back to redeem for future purchases. 

"As customers continue to seek new ways to stretch their budgets, we're excited to introduce DG Cash Back on hundreds of Dollar General items to help them achieve that goal," said Chad Fox, Dollar General's chief marketing officer. "This is a strong addition to our financial offerings and services as we continue to expand incremental benefits for our customers."

Now what

Shopping at stores like Dollar General can be a great way to secure household essentials for less. And at a time when money may be tight, that's important. 

But don't assume that Dollar General, or your local dollar store, automatically has the best price for what you're looking for. It may be that another retailer is offering a special that results in an even lower credit card tab. So if you're trying to conserve cash, always make a point to shop around.

For example, in the coming weeks, parents will no doubt begin their back-to-school shopping. Buying supplies at Dollar General may seem like a good bet, but first, see if other retailers like Target, Walmart, or Amazon are running specials that result in a lower cost. 

And also, if you're buying a given item in bulk quantities, you may be better off going with a retailer like Amazon. Costco or Sam's Club might be another good store to try if you have a membership.

The fact that you can now earn cash back on Dollar General purchases is a good thing. But remember, there may be ways to score cash back on purchases made at other retailers. Target's RedCard gives you 5% off the items you buy, which is effectively like getting money back in your pocket, and Costco's executive membership gives you 2% back on all in-store and online purchases. 

And don't forget, any time you use a cash back credit card, you get rewarded for the purchases you make. So while it definitely pays to sign up for Dollar General's new program if you shop there, you have options for saving money and scoring bonus cash at other stores as well.