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Were just days away from Christmas. From family coming into town to the kids waiting for Santas arrival, theres a lot going on. So if youre one of those people whos still looking for that gift for a loved one or even a secret Santa at work, were here to help. The old fashioned route of going to the mall or heading to a holiday market near you is tried-and-true, but if youre going the online shopping route, chances are youre nervous if the gift will arrive on time. So weve come up with this step-by-step guide to help you know how you can ensure your gift arrives on time for Christmas. From the Archives: Check out last-minute shoppers looking for gifts on Christmas EveProduct page can tell you when it will arriveIf youre shopping at a major retailer like Amazon, Target, or Walmart, theyve made it easier for you to know exactly when to expect your shipment. On Amazon, for example, youll see in green letters Arrives before Christmas right under the pricing for the item. If you see in red letters Arrives after Christmas then steer clear because it wont arrive on time. For Target, you should see it at eye level with the product image to the right-hand side. Under Shipping you will see the expected delivery date. And then on Walmart, itll be under the Add to Cart button under a prompt that says How do you want your item?Youll see options for receiving your gift, and for shipping, itll have the expected delivery date. Check for pickup optionsLets say youve got the time to head over to the store, but youve already gotten the gift picked out and want to be absolutely sure its in your hands before Christmas, then check for what pickup options look like. Oftentimes, a shop like Best Buy or Nordstrom offer same-day pickup services, that way you can purchase the gift you want online, but head to your local store and pick it up there instead of waiting for it to arrive on your doorstep. You can spot this on the product page for the item youre looking at. Express delivery options could be availableIf youre willing to spend a little more for extra peace of mind to ensure your gift arrives on time, check to see what express delivery options are available. Even if youre not a Prime member on Amazon, you can opt for two-day delivery. Itll most likely cost you over $10 to do so. A shop like Abercrombie & Fitch offers next-day delivery services, but be ready to spend over $20 for those services. Wherever youre shopping, know that many places do offer this service, but know that extra money will have to be paid as a result. Opt for a digital gift if youre in an absolute hurryWhile there are certain hoops you have to jump through for securing a physical gift, remember that digital gifts like electronic gift cards dont have shipping deadlines. You can purchase an e-Gift card from the comfort of your home or while on break at work on your phone or laptop. Once you enter the recipient’s email, itll end up in their inbox and just like that, its a merry Christmas indeed. But its not just gift cards, as gifting digital subscriptions has taken off over the years. Some options include: Headspace – You can gift an annual membership to the mental health and wellness mobile app. Masterclass – Gift the experience of a class from an expert like Martin Scorsese. Scentbird – Give the gift of monthly fragrance boxes delivered to someones doorstep.Skillshare – Give the creative in your circle the gift of a membership to Skillshare.Strava – Know someone whos taken up running recently or wants to in 2025? Gifting a Strava membership might be the best gift for them. Trade Coffee – Gift coffee getting delivered monthly to your gift recipients doorstep. Uncommon Experiences – Did you know that Uncommon Goods has a section all about personalized experiences too? You could gift a cooking class or even an art class this Christmas.