This is the day you have to order online on Walmart or Amazon to guarantee your package arrives before Christmas

Despite our best efforts to have all holiday gifts prepared in advance, there’s often a couple that slip by unnoticed, resulting in a frantic scramble to secure those final presents for loved ones. Thankfully, the modern era spares us from frenzied physical searches.

Now, of course, we can conveniently shop from the comfort of our homes, a stark contrast to the days of exhaustive telephone directory searches. Online shopping offers a soothing solution, yet it’s important to remember that time is of the essence, as delivery deadlines are quickly approaching.

Two of the monster retailers, Amazon and Walmart, will be at their busiest as we all demand items in the final week, but knowing the key dates is crucial.

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Amazon’s Christmas order deadlines

Dates for final Amazon holiday orders

According to tech media website CNET, Amazon tends to wait until the last minute to release its Christmas shipping deadlines. The media site offers its estimated delivery cut-off dates for the online retail giant.

READ ALSO: Time to bring out your ugliest Christmas sweater!

It remains to be seen how the strike of Amazon workers at multiple warehouses and delivery facilities throughout the United States will affect this schedule.

Walmart extends shipping cut-off dates for holiday shopping

Walmart is offering various shipping, delivery, and pickup options so customers can squeeze in some more shopping in the last few days before Christmas.

Extended cutoff for next-day or two-day shipping

If you want to make use of Walmart’s next-day or two-day shipping, the cutoff has been extended and you can place your order by 12:30 p.m. local time on Dec. 23 for delivery by Christmas Day.

If you plan to do your shopping as late as Christmas Eve, your gifts can still arrive in time for the traditional opening of gifts.

The retail giant’s Express Delivery service promises to dispatch your order from its stores to homes in as little as 30 minutes. Make sure you order by 4 p.m. local time on Dec. 24. Walmart+ members are eligible for one free Express Delivery through Dec. 31.

In-store same-day pickup and delivery

Another option for those who will still be buying gifts on Christmas Eve is the store’s online pickup and delivery service. Just place your order by 12 p.m. local time on Dec. 24. Shoppers can either pick up their items curbside or choose same-day delivery.

What if the gifts don’t arrive by Christmas Day?

OK, so if this happens, hang your head in shame. You’ve had a whole year to prepare!

But, we do have some advice for you to cover your tracks. First, why not adopt a new holiday occasion, one that’s already a huge part (more than Christmas for many) in other countries like Spain. That is the day of the Three Kings (Los Reyes Magos), which takes place on Jan. 6. Surely the gifts will arrive by then, although remember just to put your shoes out instead of using stockings.

The other idea is to just play a little dumb and when the item arrives a few days late, wrap it and leave it somewhere that could have been missed amid the 25th unwrapping frenzy. “Oh, what is this? How did we not see it?” If appropriate in your house, blame the sherry!

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