In an ideal world you would have hatched out your holiday gift list for every member of the family by Thanksgiving and crossed off every item before the tryptophan kicked in.
But in reality, you've barely had time to tackle your holiday to-do list between the parties, the travel, and the general end-of-year chaos. Before you know it Christmas will be around the corner.
Then, the panic sets in: You need presents, and you needed them yesterday. The good news is that you can turn to the good ol' internet to find presents for even the pickiest of family members. The bad news? You'll probably have to shell out an extra $20 to expedite those orders.
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If you're not too keen on frittering away your holiday budget on high shipping & handling fees, don't fret. From clothing to toys to tech gadgets, we've rounded up a list of the top online retailers offering free shipping this season. Just pay close attention to the "order by" date — plus any special restrictions — and you won't have to shell out a fortune to ensure that a package is under the tree come Christmas morning.
General retailers
Amazon
Order by: Dec. 22
The fine print: Free two-day shipping with no minimum order if you sign up for a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. But if you won't use Prime past the holidays, don't forget to cancel — a membership will run you $99 per year.
Details at amazon.com.
Target
Order by: Dec. 20
The fine print: Free standard shipping during the season, with no minimum. The deal is valid only on shipping in the 48 continental states.
Details at target.com.
Kmart
Order by: Dec. 18
The fine print: Free two-day shipping on most items when you sign up for a free 90-day trial of "Shop Your Way Max" (a one-year membership is $39). Otherwise, you can snag free shipping when you spend $59 or more.
Details at kmart.com.
Apparel retailers
L.L. Bean
Order by: Dec. 22
The fine print: Free standard delivery — with no minimum — to all U.S. states.
Details at llbean.com.
Zappos
Order by: Dec. 22, 1 p.m. PST
The fine print: Free two-day shipping on all orders, with no minimum.
Details at zappos.com.
Nordstrom
Order by: Dec. 23
The fine print: Free standard shipping with no minimum on most merchandise. (Order by December 16 for delivery to P.O. Boxes.)
Details at nordstrom.com.
Shopbop
Order by: Dec. 18
The fine print: Free ground shipping on all orders, with delivery in three business days or less.
Details at shopbop.com.
DSW
Order by: Dec. 12
The fine print: Free standard shipping on orders of $35 or more within continental U.S.
Details at DSW.com.
American Eagle
Order by: Dec. 15
The fine print: Free standard shipping on all orders throughout the season. Orders ship within three to seven business days.
Details ae.com
Home and tech retailers
Barnes & Noble
Order by: Dec. 16
The fine print: Free shipping on most orders of $25 or more.
Details at barnesandnoble.com.
Apple
Order by: Dec. 17
The fine print: Free two-day shipping on most in-stock items, with no minimum.
Details at apple.com.
Linens 'n Things
Order by: Dec. 12
The fine print: Free standard shipping on all orders to the continental 48 states.
Details at lnt.com.
Wag
Order by: Dec. 20
The fine print: Free two-day shipping on orders of $49 or more.
Details at wag.com.
Kids and toys retailers
Toys "R" Us
Order by: Dec. 12
The fine print: Free shipping on most items with an order of $49 or more in contiguous U.S.
Details at toysrus.com.
GameStop
Order by: Dec. 10
The fine print: Free standard shipping on all in-stock orders of $25 or more.
Details at gamestop.com.
Pottery Barn Kids
Order by: Dec. 22 at 9 a.m. PST
The fine print: Free standard shipping on over 1,500 select items.
Details at potterybarnkids.com.
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