How we make money.
The plain-language version. The full FTC-compliant statement is on the affiliate disclosure page.
The short version
The 40 Method earns commissions when readers purchase products through links on our site. We never take payment for placement. The brand paying the highest commission does not get the top pick because of it. When we don’t recommend a product, we say so — including when the product would have paid us a fee.
How affiliate links work
When you click an affiliate link and buy a product, the retailer pays us a small percentage of the sale. The price you pay is the same. The fee comes out of the retailer’s margin, not your pocket. This is how most independent editorial sites are funded today.
Where our links go
- Direct programs first. When a brand we recommend has its own affiliate program (CurrentBody, Cozy Earth, Saatva, Thorne, and others), we link there first. Direct programs typically pay the most and have the longest cookie window — which means more revenue per purchase, less reader friction.
- Amazon as backup. When a reader prefers to buy on Amazon — for Prime shipping, returns, or convenience — we provide an Amazon link as well. Amazon pays a smaller commission, but the reader chooses where to buy.
- Direct outbound links. For retailers without an affiliate program we use, we link directly to the retailer. We earn nothing on those purchases — the link is there because the product is the right recommendation, not because it pays.
The editorial firewall
- Editorial decides which products to cover. Commercial does not.
- We never accept brand payment for a placement in a Best-Of or Review. No sponsored top picks. No paid inclusion. Ever.
- We say so when we don’t recommend a product. Some Best-Ofs have categories where we recommend nothing. Some Reviews end in “skip this.” That’s worth more than the commission we lose.
- We disclose affiliate links on every page that contains them, in plain language, above the fold.
Quarterly review
Every quarter we audit our affiliate relationships. Programs that change their terms in ways that conflict with our editorial standards are dropped. Brands whose product quality has slipped are de-recommended on the relevant guides. The list of who we link to is not static.
If you have questions
Email us through our contact page. We answer questions about specific affiliate relationships when asked.