Sending Christmas Gifts by United States Postal Service

Christmas is almost here and the rush is on to make sure your loved-ones have a gift under the Christmas tree from you. If your family and friends live far away, you will need to be on your toes to ensure gifts arrive on time and intact. There are two main components to getting those gifts there on time and in one piece-packaging and shipping.

Packaging

Pick a box: You will need a box that is big enough to hold the gifts and the packing material. If you are using a previously used box, make sure to cover all previous labels with adhesive labels or black marker.

Packing Material: You can use styrofoam, bubble wrap or even newspaper as packing material. Once you pack your box, close it and shake it. If the contents rattle, add more packing material.

Sealing the Package: Use two-inch wide clear or brown packaging tape to seal your package. Make sure to reinforce all the seams on the box.

Address Your Package: Make sure the address you have is correct. Both the return and delivery addresses should be on the same side of the box. Clearly write the return address on the upper left corner and the delivery address on the lower right of the package.

Shipping

Mail Your Package Early: The most important way to ensure your package arrives on time is to get it in the mail early. Keep in mind that December is a very busy month for the Postal Service. The earlier you get those gifts in the mail, the better.

· If you are mailing a package to Iraq or Afghanistan, you should have it in the mail by December 4.

· Military mail to other bases overseas needs to be in the mail by December 11.

· The cheapest way to ship packages in the United States is by Parcel Post. Parcel Post packages need to be mailed no later than December 16.

· First-Class and Priority Mail should be sent by December 20 to arrive on time.

· For those who wait until the last minute, Express Mail should be sent by December 23.

Insurance: Insurance on a package is not required, but is strongly recommended.

*Note: If the gift recipient lives in a community where all the mailboxes are grouped and packages are placed in one larger box that the entire community has access to, the receiver will have to pick up the package at the post office if it is insured.

Saving Time and Money

The fastest and least expensive way to send your Christmas gifts is to take care and package boxes correctly the first time and mail gifts by December 16 to take advantage of Parcel Post shipping.

Check out the USPS for more information.