Affiliate Disclosure
Last Updated: January 27, 2026
The Honest Truth About How I Make Money
I'm going to be completely transparent with you: some of the links on this website are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. This doesn't cost you anything extra—the price is exactly the same whether you use my link or not.
Here's how it works and why I do it.
What Are Affiliate Links?
An affiliate link is a special tracking link that tells a company I sent you their way. If you make a purchase through that link, I earn a small percentage of the sale as a commission. Think of it like a referral fee.
For example: If I recommend a kitchen tool on Amazon and you click my link and buy it, Amazon pays me a small commission (usually 1-4% of the purchase price). You pay the same price you would have paid anyway.
Programs I Participate In
Amazon Associates Program
I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and the Amazon.ca Associates Program, affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and Amazon.ca.
When you click on Amazon links on this site and make a purchase, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Brand Partnerships & Sponsored Content
I work with brands I genuinely trust and use. Sometimes these partnerships are paid collaborations, sometimes they're affiliate relationships, and sometimes they're a combination of both.
I will always clearly disclose when:
A post or piece of content is sponsored by a brand
I was given a product for free in exchange for a review
A link is an affiliate link that earns me a commission
Other Affiliate Programs
I may participate in other affiliate programs from time to time (such as ShareASale, CJ Affiliate, or individual brand affiliate programs). When I do, I'll disclose it clearly in the content where those links appear.
How to Identify Affiliate Links
I try to make it obvious when a link is an affiliate link. Here's how:
I'll include a disclosure statement like "This post contains affiliate links" at the beginning or end of the content
I may use phrases like "As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases"
On social media, I'll use hashtags like #ad, #affiliate, or #sponsored when required
You'll typically see disclosures like this:
"This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting The Rural Kitchen!"
My Promise to You
Here's what I will never do:
❌ Recommend something just because it pays well. If a product sucks, I won't recommend it—no matter how much commission it offers.
❌ Hide the fact that it's an affiliate link. If I'm earning money from a link, I'll tell you.
❌ Let money influence my honest opinion. My reviews, recommendations, and opinions are my own. If I got something for free or I'm earning a commission, that doesn't change what I actually think about it.
What This Means For You
✅ You're not paying more. Affiliate commissions don't increase the price you pay. The retailer pays me out of their marketing budget.
✅ You're supporting my work. When you use my affiliate links, you're helping me keep this site running and continue creating free content. I genuinely appreciate it.
✅ You can trust my recommendations. I only recommend products I've actually used, tested, or genuinely believe in. If something doesn't work or isn't worth the money, I'll tell you.
How to Identify Affiliate Links
I try to make it obvious when a link is an affiliate link. Here's how:
I'll include a disclosure statement like "This post contains affiliate links" at the beginning or end of the content
I may use phrases like "As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases"
On social media, I'll use hashtags like #ad, #affiliate, or #sponsored when required
You'll typically see disclosures like this:
"This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting The Rural Kitchen!"
FTC Compliance & Legal Stuff
This disclosure policy is in compliance with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines in the United States and the Competition Bureau guidelines in Canada regarding endorsements, testimonials, and affiliate relationships.
In plain English: The FTC and Canadian regulators require me to tell you when I might make money from a recommendation. That's what I'm doing here.
Your Choices
You are never obligated to use my affiliate links. If you prefer:
- You can navigate to the retailer's website directly
- You can search for the product yourself
- You can shop wherever you prefer
I won't be offended. Seriously.
But if you do use my links, I'm grateful—it helps me keep this site running and continue sharing what I've learned.
Questions About Affiliate Links?
If you have questions about:
- Whether a specific link is an affiliate link
- How affiliate relationships work
- My policies around sponsored content
- Anything else related to how I make money from this site
Please reach out to me at: [email protected] (or your preferred contact email)
I'm happy to answer any questions and be completely transparent about how this all works.
Changes to This Policy
I may update this Affiliate Disclosure Policy from time to time. When I do, I'll update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page.
If I make significant changes, I'll let you know via email (if you're on my email list) or by posting a notice on the website.
The Bottom Line
I make money from this website through affiliate commissions and brand partnerships. That's how I'm able to spend time creating free content, testing products, and sharing what I've learned.
But here's the most important part: I will never recommend something I don't genuinely believe in, and I'll always tell you the truth about what's worth your money.
If you have questions or concerns about any of this, please reach out. Transparency matters to me, and I want you to trust the recommendations I make.
Thank you for being here and for supporting The Rural Kitchen.
— Cassandra
Contact Information:
The Rural Kitchen with Cassandra
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://theruralkitchenwithcassandra.com
© 2026 The Rural Kitchen with Cassandra. All rights reserved.
