Holiday Shopping 2014
Which stores offer free shipping? Reuters

It's November which means the holiday shopping season has begun. As you sift through countless sites looking for deals, free shipping can be a huge factor to consider that can save both time and money. So, which stores are offering no-minimum free shipping or free shipping on orders of less than $50?

Americans are going to spend a lot on online shopping for the holidays and Forrester Research is predicting that number will be $89 billion, a 13 percent increase from last year. As the report notes, the 2014 holiday season, the number of days between Thanksgiving and Christmas, is a bit shorter, which means free shipping from reliable stores will be essential.

Rather-be-shopping.com has created a list of more than 50 stores that offer free shipping on all purchases or free shipping on orders of less than $50 that hit specific minimum totals. Target, Nordstrom, Zappos, Reebok and LL Bean are just a few stores on the list that offer free shipping on all orders. Amazon has free shipping for Prime members and for purchases of more than $35 for non-members.

Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, Dick's Sporting Goods, GameStop, Old Navy and Overstock.com offer free shipping for purchases of less than $50. While not the best online deals, Macy's and Kohl's offer free shipping starting at $99 and $75, respectively. For your tech and electronic needs, NewEgg has a free shipping option, four to seven business days, for most products.

The shipping options tend to be a bit limited so plan accordingly and don't wait until the last minute to start your holiday shopping. Target's free standard shipping option has a three- to five-day window while Zappos' option will mean your package will arrive in four- to five-business days. Some stores, including ShoeMall.com and Linens 'n Things, have much longer windows extending up to 10 days. Shoppers should also factor in the overtaxed FedEx, UPS and USPS carriers during the holidays. "Last year, FedEx, and more notably UPS had a high number of late deliveries due to unprecedented package volume and poor weather that caused buildups at critical times. With the expected 13 percent increase in e-commerce sales in 2014 for the months of November and December as compared to the same period in 2013, retailers and consumers must recognize the risk of shipping delays," Forrester warned.

One last tip from Kyle James, founder of Rather-Be-Shopping.com, "It’s important to do the math when it comes to free shipping versus coupons [discounts]. A lot of shoppers get so enamored with free shipping that they shop with blinders on. Often, a competing online retailer will not have free shipping but a 15 percent or 20 percent off coupon code that will actually give you more savings. So do the math and shop smart. Also, don’t be satisfied with just free shipping, many top online retailers like Kohl’s, JCPenney, American Eagle and Macy’s have coupons that can be stacked on top of their holiday free shipping promotions. Always look for a coupon code on a site like Rather-Be-Shopping.com or RetailMeNot.com to maximize your savings this holiday."