From packing to shipping, there are numerous ways to save money, time and effort when sending holiday packages. Christmas shipping tips will shed light on the holiday shipping confusion.

• All first-class mail must be postmarked by these dates to reach their destinations before December 25.
• Africa - December 4
• Asia/Pacific Rim - December 11
• Australia/New Zealand - December 11
• Canada - December 11
• Caribbean - December 11
• Central & South America - December 4
• Mexico - December 11
• Europe - December 11
• Middle East: - December 11
• Letters sent APO/FPO must be sent by December 11, with the exception of ZIPs 093, which must be sent by December 4USPS: USPS Holiday Schedule
• The post office will be closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day
• They will be open on Christmas Eve with limited hours

• FedEx will be closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years with the exception of their FedEx Custom Critical, FedEx SameDay and FedEx International Next Flight options
• Packages scheduled for delivery the day after Christmas will be delivered the next Monday
• They will have limited services on Christmas Eve and New Years EveFedEx: FedEx Holiday Schedule

• UPS is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Years Eve and New Years Day
• No ground shipping on the day after ThanksgivingUPS: 2008 Year End Holiday Schedule

1. Time is of the essence. Sending your packages with time to spare will ensure that the recipients get them. December 17-22 is expected to be the busiest shipping week this year so try to get your packages out before then. In addition, the sooner you ship, the less you will pay. It is not in your wallet's best interest to procrastinate during the holidays.

2. Heads up. Inform the recipient that you are sending a package so that they can be home to sign for it.

3. Insurance. Chances are, you will be sending valuable items. You will need to protect yourself against the possibility of your package getting lost or damaged. Purchasing insurance isn't expensive and will give you better peace of mind. FedEx doesn't offer insurance. Instead, you can declare the value of the package and if it gets lost or damaged you will be compensated.

4. Pack it in. If you are pressed for time and don't mind spending a little more to money to rid yourself of the hassle of packing, UPS and FedEx Kinko's are there to help. They will pack and ship your boxes for you.

5. Box in a box. If you are shipping many small gifts to one destination, you can wrap them individually and place them inside of the shipping box. Make sure to use packing material to cushion the smaller gifts. Wrap the shipping box and make sure that the shipping label is securely fastened by taping it to the paper.

6. Save a plastic tree. If you don't want to buy thousands of packing peanuts, you can put those plastic grocery bags to good use. Wad them up and place them in your shipping box so that they cushion your smaller gifts. Not only will you save money on packing peanuts, but you'll finally get rid of some of those cumbersome bags. Other recommended cushioning materials include, crumpled newspaper, bubble wrap, Styrofoam and peanuts.

7. Quality control. Don't rely on an old beat-up box to ship your gifts in. Get a new shipping box and rest assured.

8. Batteries not included. When shipping electronics, make sure that the batteries are not in the device. This prevents your package from making beeping or ticking noises. The recipient will be dismayed if the present arrives and the batteries are dead.

9. Splurge on the perishables. When shipping perishables, place them in an interior airtight container or plastic bag. Make sure that there is plenty of cushioning in the box so that the food doesn't get mashed during its voyage. It's also worth paying a few extra dollars so that the package gets to its destination as quick as possible and the food remains fresh.

10. Tale of the tape. Contrary to what you might think about packing tape, Duct tape, cellophane tape and masking tape are all frowned upon. Use a tape that is designed specifically for shipping, such as nylon-reinforced kraft paper tape or glass-reinforced pressure-sensitive tape. Cover all the seams of your box with tape.

11. Handle with care. When shipping fragile items there are two ways of doing so. When shipping framed photos or artwork, take the glass out of the frame and wrap it separately. If you have breakable items such as glass or ceramics, pack them in a box and place that in another box surrounded with packing material.

12. Labels are OK. In case the outer shipping label gets damaged, place a backup inside the box. Make sure that it has addresses for both the sender and the recipient.