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Joy To The Bargain-Hunters: The Last-Minute Shopping Has Begun

DENVER (CBS4) - 'Twas the night before Christmas … so creatures -- or shopping procrastinators, rather -- were certainly stirring to snag last-minute gifts.

"I do it every year, unfortunately," Jake Houghton said. "Think I'd learn."

Walmart closes, um, early at 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve. For the truly frantic out there, some stores extended hours to make the most of last-minute shopping excursions. Most Kmarts and Targets were to stay open until 10 p.m.

If you haven't finished checking off your Christmas list, you're not alone: Analysts say 15 percent of holiday shoppers wait until the last minute.

Some folks undoubtedly say they're just too busy. Others, like Jozette Duran, say it's about the deals.

"For me, I got paid today so I had no choice but to wait for Christmas Eve to go shopping," Duran said. "But people just procrastinate."

Holiday sales started slow this year but gained a tremendous boost on Saturday and Sunday for the biggest two-day sales period ever, totaling $42 billion.

Last-minute shopping comes with a big perk at Kmart.

"I see a lot of 50 percent off everywhere like down there and over here," shopper Antonio Lawson said. "I just walked in, so we'll see when I get to the back of the store."

Shopper Melvin Coleman scored a normally $369 TV for $199, plus tax.

"That's good," he said.

The downside, of course: Items are picked through, and shelves are empty. There are long lines, too.

So far this season, TVs, laptops and smartphones have been the big purchases. Home improvement items are also up this year, more than 4 percent over 2013.

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