You use Google, but you may have heard that Microsoft also has a search engine called Live Search. (Then why were they trying to buy Yahoo, you ask? Don't get me started.) You don't use this search engine of Microsoft's. So Microsoft is going to pay you to use it. Well, sort of.

Microsoft this week introduced Live Search Cashback, which will give you a substantial rebate if you search for products via Live Search and subsequently buy via their partner retailers.

I have had a heck of a time accessing the site, so I would point you to this blog post if you want to get a better understanding of how it works. In short, you have to go to the Cashback site (not the general Live.com home page), search for your product, and buy it. In the example I linked to, the guy buys an umbrella and will get 13%, or $4.50, back on the purchase. You have to set up an account where your cash back can be dumped, and that's it. Product search via Microsoft equals bigger discounts.

I saw a comment somewhere this week that Microsoft is basically just stealing what FatWallet does. I think this is true, but Microsoft has more money, and we know they like to go into markets and take over.

I don't think it will make any dent in Google's behind, but it's worth a try. At least until Yahoo is ready to sell.

On an unrelated note, I thought Discover had a trademark or whatever on the "Cashback" name, with the words "cash" and "back" run together like that. Guess not.

E-mail me: j.mchenry@indexcreditcards.com