For those of you who waited until last weekend to do all your holiday shopping, as I did, your last-minute surge did nothing to boost an already dismal spending season. The Chicago Tribune reports that retailers are desperately counting on the last week of the year when shoppers descend on clearance sales; redeem the $26.3 billion we spent on gift cards this year; and return those ugly sweaters and socks from Aunt So-and-So. Personally, I didn't receive any nice-try-but-are-you-nuts? gifts this year (a testament to my carefully-worded wish list, natch), but if you're among the masses who did, it's probably best to wait until after New Year's when the kiddies are back in school, the amateurs are back in the 'burbs and you're back at work. What are long lunch breaks for, if not for shopping?

Related Links: Stay warm and shop for winter bargains from your desk.

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