Today = MANY Online Free Shipping Offers, Plus Double Cash Back Cyber Monday 2 at ebates.com, Up to 12% Cash Back on Purchases Made Online

I have a theory that you should never have to pay for shipping on an item ordered during the holiday season. Here are some free shipping deals for today. Many shipping deals end 12/20 because that is the last day that certain online retailers can conceivably guarantee everyone delivery by Christmas. (Of course, after then you'll start to see a few "free rush delivery" offers, but for now we'll focus on the "free delivery" offers.)

Remember to go to the ebates site first when shopping online to earn cash back - I've got about $15 cash back earned so far this holiday season just for clicking to my favorite retailers' websites through ebates before I start my shopping there. And today, there is DoubleCash Back (they call it "Cyber Monday 2") at over 400 stores when you click through ebates, including Ann Taylor Loft, Barnes & Noble, Eddie Bauer, Gap, and Godiva, just to name a few!

Here's a small sampling. For the complete list of free shipping and double cash back deals going on today, go to ebates, then click on the Coupons tab at the top, and then click "Free Shipping" under "Filter by Type" in the column to the right.

• Macy's: Free Shipping with $99 purchase, using code GIFTS, through 12/20. 5% cash back when you click to the Macy's site through ebates!
  
• DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse): Free shipping with $35 order with SHIPR through 12/17. 8% cash back when you click to the DSW site through ebates!
  
• Adidas: Free shipping with $49 order (no code required, good through 12/16), and 12% cash back when you click through ebates!
  
• Adobe (software): Free shipping on all purchases through 12/20, plus 10% cash back when you click to the Adobe site through ebates.
  
• Aeropostale: Free shipping with $100 order (through 12/20), plus 8% cash back when clicking through ebates.
  
• Apple: All orders ship free. 1% cash back through ebates.
  
• Athleta (Gap/Old Navy's athletic wear for women): SHIP2ME code makes shipping and returns free on orders over $50, through 01/31/2011. 2% cash back when you click to the Athleta site thorugh ebates.
  
• Babies 'R Us: free shipping over $100 as always, 2-4% cash back when clicking to the BRU site through ebates. (And, ohhhhh it is all too easy to spend $100 if you are baby shopping. Just some diapers and wipes would get you about halfway there.)
  
• Backcountry (outdoors stuff - Patagonia, North Face, etc.): Orders over $50 ship free through 12/31 (no code required), plus 10% cash back when clicking to the Backcountry site through ebates.
  
• Barnes & Noble, ships free over $25, plus 8% cash back when you click through ebates.

Just a reminder to check out our classic post "Free Shipping - Is It Really Worthwhile?" One way that I filter my shopping options when I get excited about a free shipping deal is to ask myself: If I were standing in a store holding this item (/these items), would I be as excited to get them? This helps to figure out if I'm heading toward an unnecessary impulse purchase or not.

That said, double cash back and free shipping to your door on items that you would have bought anyway totally beats heading out in the cold to brave the crowds at the mall!

Disclosure: if you sign up for ebates using our ebates referral link above, we will receive $5 bonus thanks to you if you happen to make a $20 purchase within 90 days. You'll receive a $5 starting bonus, too!