Is it too late to start Christmas shopping?
Many people start their Christmas shopping at some point in November, allowing them to take advantage of intensifying sales and events like Black Friday. However, if you are unable to spend money on Christmas shopping before Black Friday, you may start to wonder, “Is it too late to start Christmas shopping?” If you’re trying to answer this question, here’s what you need to know.
It’s too late?
Technically, it’s never too late to start Christmas shopping. While events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday are usually when people think they’ll find the best deals, holiday sales continue throughout December. As a result, you can still get amazing prices on fantastic freebies all through Christmas Eve, so there’s plenty of time to land some bargains.
In fact, some sale prices can even beat Black Friday and Cyber Monday discounts. Retailers know that many people are preying on a lot of Christmas shopping at these events, so they may not care to grab customers’ attention. However, the competition for remaining shopping dollars gets fiercer as the holidays draw closer, so you can find even better prices on items like toys, electronics, and more.
What’s overdue for your Christmas shopping?
As a general rule, you can do your Christmas shopping until Christmas Eve in many stores if you shop in person. Although the product selection may be limited in some cases, last-minute shopping is not unusual, so you’re likely to find some great freebies until the stores close.
The situation is a little different if you plan to shop online. With this, the selection is not the main concern. Instead, it is the time it takes to ship.
Every major shipper — including USPS, FedEx, and UPS — as well as direct shipping services through Amazon, will not guarantee Christmas delivery after a particular date. For example, the deadline for Priority Mail at USPS is December 19, 2022. For FedEx Ground, it is December 14, 2022.
Amazon thresholds for guaranteed Christmas delivery may vary depending on your location. For items with same-day service, you could potentially shop on December 24, 2022 and receive your purchase on time. If one-day shipping is available, December 23, 2022 is usually the last day, while two-day shipping means ending by December 22, 2022. Luckily, Amazon shows delivery date estimates before you leave, allowing you to adjust what you’re buying if an item doesn’t meet the deadline.
sooner rather than later
Depending on the shipping service involved, you may need to wrap up your Christmas shopping sooner rather than later. Check the websites of the retailers you plan to use as a starting point. In some cases, the retailer will provide shopping lead times for online orders, allowing them to factor in processing time to ensure delivery before the holiday. If not, see which shipper they use and review order processing times to see when you need to make a purchase to make sure it gets to you before Christmas.
When do you usually start your Christmas shopping? Do you wish you could start earlier or do you think your timing is right for you? Do you have any advice for those who are just starting their Christmas shopping? Share your opinion in the comments below.
Read more:
- Money saving tips for online shopping
- How to teach kids about budgeting through holiday shopping
- 13 amazing shopping tips that will save you money
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