Monday was the fifth annual Free Shipping Day, when more than 1,300 merchants will provide free shipping, discounts and delivery by Christmas Eve. This event was a great way to save, but there are a lot of other things you can do to minimize your shipping charges, both this holiday season and all year long. (Why pay that extra $7.95 if you don’t have to, right?) Here’s your complete guide. 1. Chat it Up: Shipping charges are the No. 1 reason online shopping carts are abandoned. Retailers know this, and if you get all the way to checkout and hesitate before clicking “Buy,” they’re sometimes willing to throw in a discount in order to make to the sale. So, try keeping those live chat help windows open for once, and ask to get free shipping with your order. Even if they say no, they may have other coupon codes you can use for an extra discount. 2. Apply a Coupon.