I was fortunate enough to be raised by parents who encouraged me to go out and experience the world. Travel, they said, would give me perspective and insight that I wouldn't have otherwise. I soon learned that nothing excites me more than trying new food from a different country, or walking a street in a city I've never been. But traveling is expensive, and it takes time to find affordable flights and packages. As much as my parents taught me to travel, they taught me the value of a dollar. That's why I was so excited when my friend told me about Ebates, a service that automatically directs you to the best deals online, and gives you cash back rewards pretty much everywhere you shop online. This has been my go-to for earning real money while I travel, and I'll show you how you can too.

Because of the way Ebates works, it has become my go-to for every trip I take. You can shop for travel as you usually would on travel sites like Expedia, Travelocity, or Hotels.com, or you can search the best cash back offer amounts on their site. With Ebates, you get the best deals available on all of their 2500+ participating stores, and earn cash back rewards that stack up quickly! This is how you get started:

Step 1: Add theEbates button to your browser and signup with your email.

Step 2: When you're on a site Ebates partners with, the button will let you know, so you don't even need to go looking for deals.

Step 3: Upon checkout, Ebates automatically applies the best coupons and promotions and gives you cash back directly in your account. Watch your cash back grow in your Ebates account and get paid!

My first Ebates purchase was a round-trip ticket on Expedia, and I got $53 dollars cash back in my PayPal account through Ebates. For a seven night stay at a 4-star hotel, I got $98 dollars cash back. I booked some activities, like a sunset sailing cruise and a "Jeep and Surf" day trip. They even had dinner events, so I figured I'd get a meal with a show, and picked up another $32 cash back there.

I use Ebates whether I'm going on a trip or not, because who doesn't want to get money back for buying stuff? I use this cash as a travel bank, and once I've got a few hundred in my account, I book another flight using my PayPal balance and off I go-- for free this time, plus I get cash back there too. Ebates has changed the way I travel, and allows me to see more of the world I can't wait to explore.

Special offer for readers: Signup for free today and get a $10 welcome bonus when you make your first $25 purchase!