Last-Minute Before Christmas Sales: Deals And Discounts In Stores And Online For Holiday Shopping Procrastinators

Just because it’s five days (and counting!) before Christmas, that doesn’t mean you have to overpay for gifts for loved ones. When the holidays creep up on you, you can still score last-minute sales and deals from your favorite stores.

This year — more than ever before thanks to a late Thanksgiving — retailers will entice last-minute shoppers with killer bargains in hopes of making a profit during the final holiday shopping hours.

The last-ditch attempt to attract shoppers comes after a shortened holiday shopping season, cut to three weeks from the usual four before Christmas, as well as blistering cold and snowstorms that have affected most of the nation.

Typically, more than 50 percent of holiday shopping is completed by now, according to NPD Group’s Shop-o-Meter. But instead, only 44 percent of Americans have finished making their holiday purchases. One of the reasons, the group said, was that last weekend, most of the U.S. was blanketed under snow, keeping many inside their homes rather than out shopping.

So, many stores are kicking it into full throttle for the final five days of holiday shopping, slashing prices to bring in customers and make up for last week’s losses.

“It’s coming down to crunch time where a lot of retailers will want to make up some lost ground,” Marshall Cohen, NPD’s chief industry analyst, told Market Watch. The financial information site reasoned that’s why many stores, like Kohl’s and Toys R Us, will stay open for nearly four straight days without closing to sell off unwanted surplus inventory. Plus, consumers aren’t spending to the degree that retailers had hoped this season, since nearly half of shoppers are using their debit cards, with limited funds, over credit cards this year.

In response to the slump in sales and the shortened time frame, Market Watch said there will be plenty of discounts on winter apparel, cold weather gear, pajamas, cameras and holiday décor on offer.

Will you favorite store be offering deals for the final five days of holiday shopping? IBTimes culled a list of sales from the nation’s most popular stores for you last-minute shoppers.

Toys R Us:

Through Saturday deals: $20 Toys R Us gift card with purchase of a 5th Gen Apple 16GB iPod Touch; Buy one, get one free Chuggington Engines; Buy one, get one free Totally Me! by Victoria Justice crafts; Buy one, get one free Power Rangers action figures, play sets and role play; Buy one, get one 50 percent off FAO Schwarz® toys; Buy one, get one 50 percent off True Heroes and True Legends action figures, play sets and role play; 30 percent off Angry Birds Go! Games; $40 Furby Boom!

Sunday through Tuesday deals: Buy one, get one free K’NEX building; Buy one, get one 40 percent off Disney Pixar Cars and Disney Planes die cast vehicles and play sets; 40 percent off Avigo bikes, plus get FREE bike assembly with any bike purchase; 25% off Edu Science telescopes and microscopes; 20% off LEGO Chima, Friends, Star Wars, Super Heroes and Technic construction sets + more.

Kohl’s:

30%, 20% or 15% off when you use your Kohl’s charge card through Tuesday; $10 Kohl’s cash for every $50 spent through Tuesday; 25 to 40 percent off watches; $19.99 sleep sets for women; $19.99 Mattel Monster High Draculaura doll and jewelry box set; $69.99 Monster DNA in-ear headphones +more

Target:

10% off iTunes codes; Up to 40 percent off Canon cameras; Up to 40% off clothing, shoes and accessories; Up to 40% off Christmas décor; 15% off furniture when you spend $125 +more.

Walmart:

Televisions from $189; iPod Touch from $289; HP 7” tablet for $99; Nexus 7” tablet for $189; Call of Duty Ghosts for $39.96; NBA 2K14 for $39.96; Xbox 360 value bundle with Halo 4 and Tomb Raider for $199 +more.

Kmart:

Up to 50% off outwear; Up to 50% off game room fun; 10% off bed, bath, home, furniture and mattresses online only; RCA 32-in LED HDTV with built-in DVD player for $219; 50% off Christmas plus extra 10% off trees, lights and décor; Buy one, get one 50% off shoes; Up to 75% off fine jewelry +more.

Best Buy:

All MacBook Pros on Sale, Kindle Fire HD tablet for $124.99 with free shipping; Up to 25 percent off HDTVs; 20 percent off all regular-priced small appliances;

JCPenney:

Until Saturday, $10 off purchases of $50 or more, $20 off purchases of $100 or more and $50 off purchases of $200 or more all using code “FORU2SEE”; $10 off purchases of $25 or more on apparel, shoes, accessories and home; Extra 10% off furniture, mattress, blinds, shades and more using code “2WINTER”; 30 to 50 percent off sleepwear; 20 to 25 percent off watches +more.

Old Navy:

20 percent off kids and baby styles; apparel for the whole family at $5, $10 and $15 +more.

Macy’s:

30 to 50 percent off fine jewelry; 60 percent off women’s sweaters; 40 percent off single-serve brewers and coffee, tea and espresso makers; 70 percent off men’s sweaters; 60 percent off winter bedding; 30 to 50 percent off shoes and boots; 40 percent off juicers and food processors; 50 to 60 percent off coats; 50 to 60 percent off sleepwear; 25 percent off watches; 30 percent off dresses +more.

REI:

Through Monday, 30% off Vibram FiveFingers; 30% off REI-brand fitness clothing; 25% off Eagle Creek luggage and duffels; 25% off CamelBak water bottles +more.

H&M:

Up to 70% off most items

Victoria’s Secret:

2 for $42 Pink wear everywhere bras; Up to 50% off single clothing item or pair of shoes or 20% off any one style; PJ sale for $39.50; Free VS bracelet with $75 purchase using code “75BRACELET” until Sunday

Sears:

$15 off purchases of $150 and $35 off purchases of $300 using code “MERRY”; Up to 50% off tools and tool gifts; Up to $1000 off all appliance purchases $399 & up Plus 15% off Kenmore; Up to 75% off fine jewelry; Up to 30% off TVs and electronics; Up to 50% off dress wear; Up to 40% off game room; Up to 50% off blankets, slow cookers, fireplaces +more.

A&F:

50% off entire store; flannel shirts for $29

Aeropostale:

Everything up to 70% off; Graphic tees for $5; Polos for $9; Hoodies for $10

Bloomingdale’s:

“The Procrastinators Have All The Fun Sale” with 20 to 55 percent off some merchandise; Additional 15% off all regular and sale-priced items

Express:

50% off every single item online and in U.S. stores