As the stigma surrounding vouchers fast becomes a distant memory, the demand from consumers for money-saving deals and offers rages on, with more and more online companies being set up to meet demand.

But all of these deals can be daunting. Ever wondered just how you’re supposed to be able to shift through the hundreds of daily deals online to find one that suits you?

Steffen W. Frølund, CEO of online deals aggregator Bownty.com, says: “Consumers are becoming savvy savers, but some people can get carried away by the huge discounts sometimes available. Around a fifth of daily deals are never used, often because people fail to read the small print and can’t redeem the offers in time.”

We asked the experts just how to make the most of all those deals out there:

1. Check the deal price is the best price

A quick Google search should confirm whether you can get a better deal elsewhere – it does sometimes happen! It’s always worth checking the supplier’s website too, as they can sometimes save the best offers for direct customers. The same goes for ‘before’ prices – make sure the saving you’re being quoted is accurate.

2. Check the small print

Most of the best deals are valid for a limited time, or on specific days. Some may only be valid for certain times, on certain days – make sure you check before you buy. There’s no point booking a deal for a weekday haircut, if you work Monday-Friday. Some deals expire sooner than you think, so always check the ‘use by’ date.

3. Is the deal being oversold?

Check how many deals have been bought – most deal sites show this figure clearly on the deal page. In the past there have been stories about merchants who couldn’t fulfil orders. In reality however, if you buy a very popular deal you will need to arm yourself with extra patience, as booking a timeslot might be more difficult.

4. Read the reviews

It’s worth checking out what others have to say; a quick scan of Yelp or Tripadvisor will give you a good idea of whether other consumers have had good or bad experiences. You can use your own judgement too – look at the company website, is it professional? Do they have a real address and phone number?

5. Get your money back

If you change your mind, most deal providers have a seven-day cooling off period, during which time you can get a full refund. After the seven days, some deal providers will give you a gift certificate to spend on a new deal – as long as the deal you bought hasn’t expired.