Ways to Save Money Shipping Christmas Gifts

Unless you have connections at the North Pole you are going to need a way to deliver your Christmas gifts to out of town friends and family. The good news is that there is no need to let your Christmas shipping costs eat away your gift budget.

Plan Ahead and Shop Smart

The way to save the most is to make choices that allow you to use the lowest cost shipping options. Usually this means slower shipping services and smaller, lighter packages.

The key is to shop early and keep shipping costs in mind when selecting your Christmas gifts. You should try to ship at least a week before your gift needs to arrive which will ensure that you have access to the widest range of shipping options.

Keep shipping costs in mind while shopping to make sure you won't rack up shipping charges later. Be especially careful to avoid bulky, heavy or hazardous materials.

The Post Office Still Delivers the Best Savings

You will find your best shipping savings at the post office along with plenty of other benefits. These benefits range from free shipping supplies to no extra charges for residential or Saturday delivery.

The Priority Mail Flat Rate Service is usually the best bet for shipping savings. The way the service works is simple, if you can fit it in the box it ships for a flat rate. The boxes come in a variety of six different shapes and sizes with rates from $4.80 to $13.40.

You can also use priority mail with your own packaging along with an even wider variety of boxes available from the post office. Best of all you can get these boxes delivered to your door for free! When you are ready to ship just schedule a pickup via www.usps.com.

Surviving Express Shipping Costs

If you must use overnight services there are still a few things you can do to save. The most important is to compare rates.

Every major carrier has a rate calculator on their website which allows you to calculate your exact costs and compare carriers. You will need to know how much your package weighs along with the exact dimensions for the most accurate quote. Most carriers also give discounts if you arrange your shipment online.

Be especially aware of feed and other charges that can really add to the cost. For example both FedEx and UPS both have a fuel surcharge and charge higher rates for delivery to residential addresses.

If you miss the last pick up time at your usual drop off location check the carrier's website for other locations. A late night drive to the airport may let you use the two day service instead of having to resort to overnight service.

Consolidate Shipments

Are you missing out on a Christmas party? Shipping a larger package is usually cheaper than shipping two packages so consolidate when you can. Consolidating works especially well if you are shipping to family members who will be together anyway.

Sources

www.usps.com

www.ups.com

www.fedex.com