The Christmas carols have faded, the last drop of eggnog drained and the gifts are unwrapped.

Christmas Day has come and gone but holiday shopping is far from over.

Boxing Day, with its tempting sales, blockbuster deals and deeply discount­ed specials, is luring bargain hunters back to the malls.

While shoppers can nab specials on everything from electronics and ap­pliances to clothing and footwear, a consumer education expert is warning mall-goers to be wary of the Boxing Day shopping frenzy.

"We understand Nova Scotians want to get value for their money and Boxing Day specials look like they are a good deal," says Rhia Perkins. "But some of the door-crasher specials might not be all their cracked up to be."

Perkins, consumer education officer with Service Nova Scotia, said some big-box stores will lure shoppers with door-crasher deals, but each location might only have a handful of the items in stock.

But she said some things like Christ­mas supplies, lights and decorations are worth buying during post-Christ­mas sales because retailers want to clear their shelves.

A survey by Visa found 23 per cent of Canadians plan to head to the mall for Boxing Day sales, spending roughly $245 in stores and about $80 online.

For consumers who love a good deal but not the feverish throngs of shoppers that flock to malls after Christmas, online Boxing Day shopping has in­creased in popularity.

A survey by eCoupons.ca and Cyber-BoxingDay.ca found almost half of all consumers looking for a bargain on Dec. 26 plan to shop online rather than brave the crowds. A whopping 46 per cent of consumers indicated they plan to search for deals from their home computer.

Meanwhile, shoppers should have a plan about what they need and how much they plan to spend, Perkins says.

"Consumers should be going out shopping with a plan in place and think about whether they really need the item," she says.

"It's also good to know what the regular price of the item is so you know whether the sale price is a bargain or not.

"We recommend people do their homework when they are shopping, especially for big purchases," she adds. "The important thing really is to do the