Finding a discount code is easy. Finding one that actually applies to the items in your basket, and genuinely saves you money once delivery and any exclusions are taken into account, is the part most shoppers get wrong. A little bit of method turns discount-code hunting from a hit-and-miss habit into a reliable way to shop.

Start with the retailer’s own offers

Before searching anywhere else, check the retailer’s own website and newsletter sign-up prompt. Many stores run a rolling programme of sales, seasonal promotions and first-order codes that are easy to miss if you go straight to a search engine. A code found directly on the retailer’s site is also the one least likely to have expired or changed.

Match the code to your actual order

A 20% off code is only useful if it applies to what you are buying. Many codes exclude sale items, specific brands or certain categories, and some only apply above a minimum spend. Read the terms attached to a code before you get to checkout, rather than after, so you are not caught out by a last-minute “code not valid” message.

Check the expiry date and usage limits

Discount codes are often time-limited, single-use, or restricted to new customers. Codes that circulate widely online can also be capped, meaning they stop working once a retailer’s allocation is used up, even if the advertised expiry date has not passed. If a code fails at checkout, it is worth trying a second one rather than assuming the saving is unavailable altogether.

Compare more than one way to save

A percentage-off code is not always the best available saving. A retailer running a sale, offering free delivery, or including a gift with purchase can sometimes beat a voucher code on the total cost. Before checking out, it is worth comparing a few different types of offer side by side rather than settling for the first code you find.

CheckoutDeals brings deals and discount codes together in one place, so you can compare the different ways to save from a retailer before you reach checkout.