CLEVELAND -- Recently, Yahoo.com reported an 1,800 percent jump in searches for online coupons during a two-day period. But which online coupons really work, and is there a catch?

A local expert nicknamed "The Coupon Guy" provided some tips for finding the best deals.

The most sought-after savings are, according to Yahoo, for local restaurants.

Many restaurant home pages offer gift certificates at a discounted rate. For instance, some restaurant Web sites offer a $25 gift certificate for only $10. That leads us to Tip No. 1: Read the terms and conditions on those coupons. Some require a minimum purchase that excludes cocktails.

Besides food, people are looking for online deals on everything from clothes to electronics.

Consumers can get coupons from places like Best Buy and Circuit City, Bed, Bath & Beyond and Linens n' Things. But that doesn't mean you have to give up your security. Tip No. 2: Make sure the site is secure. Check to see if there’s an icon that looks like a padlock at the bottom of the screen. There might also be an "s" next to the http Web address. Many online stores have reliability reports at the Better Business Bureau's site, too, at bbb.org.

Tip No. 3: Just because it's a good deal doesn't mean you have to buy it. In other words, be sure you need it. There's a good chance you already have few things acquired as a great deal that turned into no deal because you never used them.

Tip No. 4 is an oldie but goodie: Nothing is really free. Take, for example, the ad NewsChannel5 found for a free entertainment book. The book itself is free, but shipping is $4.99, and by signing up you will automatically be billed for the 2009 book at full price unless you cancel.

Tip No. 5: Don't give up clipping coupons. Surfing can be time-consuming and you need a reliable printer. Traditional coupons won’t use up your printer ink.

And here's a bonus tip: The Sunday paper, which is loaded with coupons, is sold on Mondays for just 99 cents.