Shoppers are working harder than ever to find deals as retailers pull back on the promo codes that once made saving money easy.

Retailers issued 45% fewer discount codes in the second half of 2025 than at the industry's peak in 2023, according to coupon platform SimplyCodes, which analyzed data from 80 national brands including CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, DoorDash, H&M, Kohl's and Old Navy.

"Brands are just becoming more smart and intelligent about the way they leverage discount codes when looking at their inventory, their margins, and how that ties into things like acquiring new customers," said Jimmy Doheny, SimplyCodes' director of operations.

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Devon Williams, a mother of three, said she has noticed the change firsthand.

"Theres never really any savings in there that I need," she said. "It just encourages you to spend more on what you don't need just to get a little bit of savings."

Watch as retail experts show how to find discount codes:

Disappearing discounts: How to find retailer discount codes now

Deals with strings attached

Doheny said the era of universal promo codes is largely over.

"Those days of 'get 20% off for everyone,' those are kind of gone and theyve been gone for a little over a year," Doheny said.

Doheny said retailers are shifting toward gated offers discounts tied to memberships, store credit cards and mobile apps. Since 2023, those types of offers have grown from 10% to 19%.

"Retailers figured out that broad discounts eat into margins on stuff that would've sold anyway," said Stephanie Carls, RetailMeNot's retail insights expert. "So now they're pickier about who gets the deal and when."

How to save with fewer promo codes

Jennifer Johnson, founder of True Fashionistas, said signing up for loyalty rewards programs is now essential for shoppers looking to save.

"They are looking at more of a model of rewarding customers for shopping with them, more of a loyalty system," Johnson said.

The downside to loyalty programs is that shoppers must hand over personal information to participate.

Doheny also recommends monitoring retailers' websites, apps and social media accounts.

"To see, do they offer discounts there that maybe aren't really publicly visible, he said.

Carls said the better play is knowing when to buy in the first place.

"Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Black Friday still deliver. Off-season timing still works," she said. "And when deals do show up, stack what you can: loyalty discounts, cash back, price matching across retailers."

Always check for perks before you buy, so you dont waste your money.

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The average new car buyer spent more than $49,000 on their vehicle in January, but you don't have to pay that much, even for a new vehicle.

Kaitlin Fields found success by shopping during the winter months instead of waiting for spring.

"People are probably looking for cars more in the springtime, and the summer," Fields said.

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Do: Shop soon for better inventory

Graham Wyler of the Jeff Wyler Automotive Family offered us several tips for getting a better deal on a new car.

Wyler recommends shopping now while inventory remains high during winter months, and dealers work to hit sales goals before the springtime sales rush.

"Right now, Nissan is offering $3,500 off," Wyler said.

Do: Consider trading in your current vehicle 

With used cars commanding top dollar, trading in your current vehicle can provide significant value.

"If you have one that's three to five years old, now is the best time to trade it in," Wyler said.

However, research your car's worth before negotiating.

Maybe: Buy new for better financing rates 

New car financing rates are much lower than used car rates, making new vehicles more attractive for buyers who qualify.

However, experts warn against financing more than you can afford, even with attractive rates.

Dont: Take out longer loans 

According to Kelley Blue Book, the average new car buyer paid $49,191 in January. This high price point pushes many buyers toward longer loan terms.

A LendingTree study found nearly half of borrowers, 47.5%, carry loans for 72 months or longer. The study also found about 5% of borrowers pay $1,000 or more per month for their car payment.

"Anybody who's financing a car for 72 or 84 months, that's a good sign that you picked a car that's too expensive for your budget," said Brian Moody, executive editor for Kelley Blue Book.

Do: Finance within warranty periods

Moody recommends financing vehicles that remain within their warranty period to avoid paying for both monthly payments and major repairs.

"That way you're not on the hook for payment and repairs should that come up," Moody said.

Do: Know affordable options exist

As part of its annual Best Buy Awards, Kelley Blue Book recently highlighted several new cars and trucks in the $25,000 to $35,000 range, including the Ford Maverick, Honda Civic and Nissan Leaf.

"If you want a full-size truck-based luxury SUV, there's no discounts on that. Sorry, that's what everybody wants. But if you want a great deal, look at a small sedan or a hatchback and you can probably find something in your price range," Moody said.

By being flexible, and securing a good price before spring buying season, car buyers can avoid paying average market prices.

That way, you dont waste your money.

____________________________________

"Don't Waste Your Money" is a registered trademark of Scripps Media, Inc. ("Scripps").

Follow John:

Facebook: John Matarese Money Instagram: @johnmataresemoney X/Twitter: @JohnMatarese

For more consumer news and money saving advice, go to www.dontwasteyourmoney.com

Do you ever save your credit card with online retailers?

One shoppers warning about storing your credit card information on retail websites could save you from becoming the next victim of online hacking.

Jerry Rouse said he discovered his Gap account was compromised when he woke up to a series of emails showing unauthorized purchases being shipped to California on his credit card.

"I woke up to a series of emails from Gap saying I had placed an order," Rouse said. "It came in at 4:47 in the morning, and then I got another email at 4:48 saying my order had changed its shipping address."

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Rouse immediately recognized the hack and is blaming himself, not Gap.

He admitted to using an old password and storing his credit card information on the retailer's website.

"They just got into my Gap account, and my credit card was stored on my Gap account," Rouse said.

WATCH: Online shopping customer shows how thieves got into his account:

Should you store your credit card info wit online retailers?

Should you store credit card information online?

Similar incidents of fraud actually surge after the holidays, according to Kristin Lewis, digital privacy expert and chief product officer for Aura.

"Part of it is the abundance of new data and transactions and accounts that get created in November and December during the holidays," Lewis said. "People forget about those accounts. Their new data is circulating, and scammers take advantage of that."

While most online accounts remain secure, she warned against saving credit card information for one-time transactions.

"When people have that information once, they can use it to target any type of account that you have," Lewis said.

When saving your credit card information in online accounts, Lewis strongly advised against using the same password across multiple retail websites and encouraged consumers to use password managers for better security.

"You wouldn't leave your house keys all over the place and not change your locks if you lost them," Lewis said.

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Potential fraud is not the only downside to think about:

Impulse purchases: Credit bureau Experian points out that when your credit card information is entered automatically, theres less of a barrier making it easier to spend.  The kid factor: When payment information is stored, tiny hands can make purchases, whether by accident or on purpose.   

What about two-factor authentication?

Rouse said he wishes Gap had offered a two-step login, or an extra security measure that would have required confirmation before processing the fraudulent order.

"There was no two-factor authentication," Rouse said. "There was never an email before that saying we noticed an unusual login."

According to the media and research company PYMNTS, only 53% of merchants use per-transaction two-factor authentication.

Without that additional security layer, Rouse said he will no longer store credit cards on retail websites.

"If you find yourself not seeing those extra security measures, I would think long and hard about storing that credit card on that website," Rouse said.

And that way, you dont waste your money.

____________________________________

"Don't Waste Your Money" is a registered trademark of Scripps Media, Inc. ("Scripps").

Follow John:

Facebook: John Matarese Money Instagram: @johnmataresemoney X/Twitter: @JohnMatarese

For more consumer news and money saving advice, go to www.dontwasteyourmoney.com