Holiday Gift Shipping Tips: Cheap Ways to Send Christmas Presents

Holiday gift shipping can be a nightmare. Beyond the thought of waiting in long lines, folks wonder which service option they should use for their holiday gift shipping (ground, overnight, or standard shipping) and which shipping service provider they should use to send Christmas presents (FedEx, UPS, or the good old USPS). With a little planning and research, holiday gift shipping doesn't have to be so bad.

For starters, let me tell you that I've been there. I worked for a major shipping company for several years (setting shipping prices of all things). I know how confusing holiday gift shipping can be. Before beginning your holiday gift shipping, here are some easy and cheap ways to send your Christmas gifts:

1. Choose the right box for Christmas gifts: Large boxes can add weight (and cost) to your holiday gift shipping costs. Use the smallest box possible to make your holiday gift shipping as cheap as possible.

2. Make sure that you have the right address before you send your Christmas gifts: This may sound simple, but using the wrong address will not only mean that your Christmas package won't be delivered on-time, but FedEx and UPS address correction charges can add up to $10 to your holiday shipment costs.

3. Use the right service for holiday gift shipping: You may think that you need to use express service for overnight holiday shipments, but the shipping companies like FedEx and UPS have improved their ground service delivery times. Therefore, using ground service for your holiday gift shipping may suffice depending upon where the package destination is.

4. Ask for holiday gift shipping discounts: The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) doesn't typically offer discounts, but UPS, FedEx, and DHL do, so make sure to find out what types of discounts you are eligible for starting your holiday gift shipping.

5. Don't forget about surcharges: Residential and fuel surcharges are levied by the

larger shippers such as FedEx and UPS and can significantly add to your holiday gift shipping bill. Make sure to add these surcharges in when considering the cheapest way to send your Christmas presents.

The bottom line: For folks shipping to homes, using the USPS for their holiday gift shipping is most likely the cheapest way to send their Christmas presents. FedEx and UPS are good holiday gift shipping options for those needing a little more assistance with packing their Christmas gifts.

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