If you were to ask anyone who works at your local post office when the busiest time of the year is for them, hands down, they are going to tell you that it’s the holiday season. That’s because it’s the time when people are standing in line in order to ship presents to their loved ones all over the country and sometimes even the world.
If you plan on being one of those people, then you’ve come to the right article. That’s because we actually want to provide you with a few failsafe tips on how you can save money on packing and shipping. That way, you can avoid spending just about as much money on shipping the gift and the present costs itself.
Pack your own items. Something that even the people at the post office will tell you is that if you wait to pack up your items there, not only are you going to end up spending a lot of time but quite a bit of money too. That’s because most post offices charge for everything, even tape. So, before even heading to the post office, try and pack your own things. You’ll save a significant amount of money if you do.
Print postage online. Another thing that can save you a few dollars is if you opt to print your postage labels online. In order to do this, you’ll need to create an account on USPS, but it’s easy to do and it can save you money on things like postage as well as delivery confirmation.
Use light packing materials. Remember, the heavier a package is, the more it’s going to end up costing you. That’s why it’s best to use light packing materials. For instance, if you are trying to ship something that is fragile, consider insulating the box with something like Styrofoam peanuts. They’re super light, they provide great support and they are really affordable to buy. You can find some at stores like Office Depot and Staples.
Learn the different kinds of shipping products. Say that you’re planning to mail some jewelry, you’re eyeing some of the post office’s bubble mailers that are on display, but the post office worker is trying to get you to send the item priority instead? Our recommendation is that you still go with the bubble mailer and send it first class. We say this because all priority mail is, is first class for packages that are more than one pound. This is just one example of why it’s a good idea to learn as much as possible about the post office’s shipping products before heading to the post office. (You can also get this information at USPS).
Ship as early as possible. One more thing. If you wait until the week of the holidays to get guaranteed shipment, you’re going to end up spending more money than you would like. That’s why it really is best to send it off as early as possible. That way, you can keep a few more dollars in your pocket and the person that you’re sending the package to will be sure to receive it. On time.