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Online Shopping & Shipping: Christmas on a Budget

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New York’s Rockefeller Center

I’m in a New York state of mind as I write this morning. I feel as though I could be on the east coast today. Why ? Because baby its COLD outside! It feels like winter here in California as we prepare for a big Pacific rainstorm that is blowing in. Believe it or not, there will be driving rain, sleet and even…gasp snow here later in some parts of the state! The only thing I’m managed to do so far today is to step outside to pick up my Sunday NY Times and drink some hot coffee. The cold does nothing for my holiday enthusiasm. Its not like taking a brisk walk down 5th Ave and seeing all the decorated shop windows, while you do a little shopping. In California, we have to get in the car to go places. And today is not the day to do that. When one drop of rain falls here, the highways become treacherous. California rain & the ensuing mud slides can be the equivalent of an ice storm or blizzard on the east coast. It becomes traffic Armageddon. You don’t want to be on our freeways. And really, you can’t walk anywhere here (with a few exceptions). So, I think this is a day for staying at home, enjoying the fireplace, addressing some cards & doing my shopping online from my trusty PC!

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. Remember, alot of the retailers will no longer offer free shipping after Dec. 18th ( or any shipping with a guarantee to arrive by Dec. 24th). To help see where you can get FREE shipping, the folks at LetterBar.com built this handy little spreadsheet so you can see the free shipping costs and deadlines from various retailers. Its quite useful & is available at LetterBar.com.

Another site that offers free shipping coupons plus coupon codes to over 850 stores is FreeShipping.org. The site includes coupons for over 850 stores including JCPenney, Kohl’s , Macy’s and 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 its likely that there are going to be at least a few days of bad weather around the US, its good to know about the shipping deals. It saves you going out, driving in unsafe conditions and waiting in long post office lines.
Coupons for discounts on the merchandise itself can be found over at Coupon Cabin and RetailME.not. Also, be sure and check the Coupon Widget and deals here on the right column of the blog for some savings. Every little bit helps because it all adds up.
A final cost saving tip to pass along is FREE Christmas cards available on line at Fly Greetings. Below is a sample of one of their cards, cute, huh? And you can’t beat the price.

I was really glad to find out about this one & pass it along. Several readers have written to me this year that they can’t afford to send out Christmas Cards. I was so sad to hear that, I wanted to pass along this free alternative. Check out Fly Greetings as a no-cost holiday greeting choice. I tested it yesterday and the cards were cute & promptly delivered.

For those of you still willing to brave the brick & motar stores today, I salute you. I know Macy’s is having another big sale, ditto Kohl’s & JCP. And many, many more…it truly is a buyer’s market at the moment.

So rock on Recessionistas, shop well & wisely! And above all, stay warm no matter where you are in the world 🙂

P.S., from the USPS here are their are key shipping cut-off dates for Dec. 24th delivery.
– Parcel Post: Dec. 16
– First-class / Priority Mail: Dec. 20
– Express Mail: December 23rd
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.