Holiday

Holiday Shopping: Don’t forget to look for free shipping and coupon deals!

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Every year I check out the shipping deals online as more and more retailers are offering “free” shipping to lure consumers to buy from them for the holidays.  So just a few little tips today as I look around at the online shopping. The shipping costs are very much on my mind. Why ? Because I don’t want to pay a fortune for shipping.  In case you didn’t know, the third annual Free Shipping Day is Friday, December 15, 2017.   More than 1,000 merchants are expected to participate, offering free shipping with delivery by Christmas Eve. Remember,  a lot of the retailers will no longer offer free shipping after Dec. 17th ( or any shipping with a guarantee to arrive by Dec. 24th).   PCWorld has an excellent article by Ian Paul on the “gotchas” of FreeShipping from some big box retailers.  Be sure to read the fine print on those shopping deals.  To check to see where you can get FREE shipping, plus coupon codes to over 850 stores go to  FreeShipping.org. The site includes coupons for over 850 stores including JCPenney, Kohl’s, Macy’s and the Gap.

Save Money With Free Shipping!
FreeShipping also has some nice tips on their site on how to give to charities in order to meet the minimum free shipping requirements. One tip is when ordering from an online retailer that requires a minimum purchase to qualify for free shipping, buy a toy or gift for someone in need with the extra money needed to get the discounted delivery. BigBrothersBigSisters.org/kids and Angel Tree offer ideas for how to make this Christmas a special one for lonely kids.

Since it’s likely that there are going to be at least a few days of bad weather around the US and the world, it’s good to know about the shipping deals. It saves you going out, driving in unsafe conditions and waiting in long post office lines.  And while you’re looking for free shipping deals, don’t forget to check out those holiday coupons.

Coupons for discounts on the merchandise itself can be found over at Coupon Cabin, CouponMountain.com, Sale.com and RetailME.not. Also, be sure and check the Coupon Widget and deals here on the right column, at the bottom of the blog for some savings. Every little bit helps because it all adds up.

P.S., from the USPS here are their are key shipping cut-off dates for Dec. 24th delivery.
The Postal Service recommends the following mail-by dates to ensure your gift arrives on time:

Dec. 15 — Parcel Post
Dec. 20 — First-Class Mail
Dec. 21 — Priority Mail, the best bargain in shipping
Dec. 22 — Express Mail

Also, according to USPS, you can print your postage online and save up to 10 percent on shipping costs:)

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Since 2008, Mary Hall has been the author of The Recessionista Blog, which is read by thousands of regular readers in over 160 countries. An internationally recognized expert on the art of the living the good life for less, she has been a commentator on local, national, and international radio and TV shows. Her advice has been featured in over 2,000 media outlets, including The New York Times, Reuters, Life & Style magazine, ABC News, NBC News and now The Huffington Post, among many others.

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