Easy Gifts Make Easy Shipping

Last year you had the biggest care package Christmas package you ever seen in your life. You had to ship it across country and swore to yourself next year that you would never do this again! However, it gets hard to not buy that big old encyclopedia for your brother and that new cookware for your mom because you know they would just love to have it. I have picked out five gifts that are easy to ship and will cause you no headaches while standing in line at the post office. I am also including tips on how to ship these items as well.

Gift One: Gift cards

What other gift out there allows you to still buy for someone, and get them exactly what they want, but not tote a big item out of the store? A gift card is the best thing out there since sliced bread! You can purchase a gift card to about any store you want these days, and if you do not have the store near your town, you can go on-line to their website and purchase one from there.

When it comes to shipping these little plastic answered prayers, it can not get any simpler then putting them in an envelope, addressing it and putting a stamp on it. However, I have had problems with them getting stolen from my card when I send them. The bad thing about these little cards are the Post Office will not insure them, so if they get lost or stolen, you can not get refunded for them. I have a great suggestion to mailing these. Buy a small shipping box and fill it with bubble wrap or old newspapers. Next get a small gift box (the type for gift cards or jewelry) and place the gift cards in those. Wrap the boxes and put them in the small shipping box!

Gift Two: Calendars

Everyone can use a calendar every year, and the abundance of them in the malls and specialty stores will allow you to pick one out with a theme that everyone can enjoy.

Shipping this calender is easy as pie. Buy you some brown wrapping, shipping paper and wrap the calendar up like a present. Seal the corners with clear masking tape and address it. Five stamps should cover this item, however if you feel more comfortable, then take it to your local Post Office for shipping price on it. Being that a calendar is lightweight, it shouldn't cost a lot to ship.

Gift Three: Clothes

Clothing items are pretty easy to ship and that is why it hits my list at number three. If you are picking out clothes, make sure you get items that are not heavy. If you do get a heavy item only ship one heavy item. Light weight clothes, you can ship two to three items. Jeans and coats are heavy items and tank tops, t-shirts, and socks are some lightweight items.

Shipping them is very simple as well. Pick the appropriate size box and fold the clothes neatly, however do not over fold them. You want to be able to create a flat surface by staking each item on top of one another.

Gift Four: Perfume

Perfume is a great gift for all. Everyone I know loves it and usually needs it come holiday gift giving. I suggest that you purchase bottles of perfume that are in a small box and wrapped with small bubble wrap. If it is not, then buy a small box and wrap it yourself. Next put all the boxes of perfume into a bigger box and add more bubble wrap. It is very simple. Just make sure you grab some shipping insurance when you go to ship this item. Even with the bubble wrap things can get broken.

Gift Five: Pictures

Another year has passed and your kids have grown 2 inches and gained 10 pounds. You want to show your Aunt Ruth how big her nephews are getting. The best present any Aunt (or any other family member) can receive is a family photo. You can get them done professionally or just take one at the house or while you are out and about, and get it blown up to a size of 5x7 at your local photo processing store. Stick with a size photo of 5x7 or less because 8x10 or above starts getting more difficult to send.

Place them in your holiday card that you were going to already send her, and she now has her gift as well. When sealing up the envelope mark "Do Not Bend" on the front to let people know that there are pictures inside.

On top of the shipping tips I have given you I have a couple more in case you have other items you want to send.
1. If you haven't purchased your holiday gift yet, try shopping on-line. Most stores allow you to choose where to ship your items. Say if you want to buy a toy box for your niece who lives in 3 states over, then check to see if Toys R Us will ship it to a different address then to your home. This way you only have to ship the item once and there will be no extra cost.

2. Choose the right box is definitely important. Pick a box that will have about 3 inches to spare on each side of the package. This empty space you will use as filler for the gifts with bubble wrap or old newspapers. I also like to use Walmart bags that we save. Blow them up and tie them to create an air bubble bag.

3. If you plan on shipping food, make sure you ship next day unless the food will not spoil (like canned foods). If you do not ship it next day, expect your food to sit in the box for at least 4 days.

4. Purchase shipping insurance for items that it is allowed for. If the Post Office will not insure them, then check your insurance company to do so. Items that would require this are high costly jewelry.

5. When packing your box to be shipped, ask yourself if this box were to be dropped, would the items in it be OK? If they are, then no worries. If you are hesitant about this question, then you need to either re-wrap it or get it done professionally at the Post Office or the place you are shipping it from.