Monday, December 17, 2012, is Free Shipping Day, the date when more than 13-hundred online retailers will ship your holiday gifts for free.

Its also the last day, at some stores, that you can order knowing that your gift will arrive by Christmas Eve.

So you may want to know about an important list of the last safe days to order a gift, according to the website Free Shipping Day.com.

After This Date, You Pay More

These are the deadlines for free or standard shipping.  After this, you will have to pay extra, and sometimes a lot extra, for expedited shipping to get it there by Christmas.

Last dates for free or discount standard shipping:

    Target: Friday, December 15

    LL Bean:  Saturday, December 16.

    Amazon: Tuesday, December 18.

    Toys R Us:  Wednesday, December 19.

    Pottery Barn:  Wednesday, December 19.

    Apple: Thursday, December 20.

    Best Buy: Thursday, December 20.

UPS also sets December 19th as the last date for low priced ground shipping. 

At the Post Office, the deadline Thursday December 20th for its cheapest Priority Mail service.

After those dates, you will need to choose pricier 2 - 3 day or, ultimately, overnight shipping.

So as a good rule of thumb, ship your gifts before December 20, 2012, so you don't waste your money.
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