TORONTO, Dec. 9, 2013 - Oh, the weather outside is frightful, and the pre-holiday deals are just so delightful! Many Canadians know it's a seasoned tradition to take advantage of Boxing Day deals, however a recent survey conducted by RetailMeNot.ca found 63 per cent of Canadians surveyed find pre-Christmas deals to be just as good as Boxing Day, or better. In fact, 70 per cent of Canadians surveyed think Boxing Day deals are overrated.

More than half (56 per cent) of the respondents plan to shop on Boxing Day this season, but a whopping 96 per cent would never be caught camping out overnight in front of a store for a deal. Fifty-seven per cent of respondents would only wait in a line for a discount of more than 40 per cent off, while 31 per cent would never wait in line for a deal.

Boxing Day continues to offer great deals, however Canadians can choose to avoid dashing through the snow to score a deal this year. With digital couponing sites like RetailMeNot.ca, consumers can find deals in one place during the hectic holiday season.

To lend a hand to stressed-out shoppers, RetailMeNot.ca has also teamed up with Smart Cookies, the daily guide to living a sweet life debt-free, to offer deals and tips on how to shop smart for last-minute holiday deals.

"It's becoming more common for retailers to offer pre-Christmas deals to keep sales strong throughout the entire holiday season," said Angela Self, co-founder of Smart Cookies. "While there will still be great Boxing Day deals for those who are willing to wait until after Christmas, RetailMeNot.ca has thousands of deals to help you shop in time for Christmas."

Of those surveyed who plan to shop on Boxing Day, surprising statistics were revealed:

Hey Big Spender? Almost half (45 per cent) plan to spend $100 or less;
T-Shirts and Tech Top the List: 31 per cent will be shopping for apparel while 27 per cent will be looking to buy electronics;
Tightening the Purse Strings: 50 per cent of shoppers plan to spend the same or less than last year.
In addition to finding last-minute deals on RetailMeNot.ca, Smart Cookies share other tips to help you save this holiday season:

Plan a daily savings session: A quick five minutes online each day could save you hundreds this holiday season. Check your naughty and nice lists twice and search for deals on gifts for everyone on your list, as well as everyday essentials. With a list at your fingertips, take five minutes each day to check in with sites like RetailMeNot.ca that have deals for multiple retailers;
Know Your Frenemy: Keep tabs on your credit card purchases with automatic reminders. To help you avoid penalty charges and high interest rates, most credit card companies and banks now allow you to sign up for automatic text or email reminders to keep an eye on your balance and payment due dates.