It’s that time of year again! Time to check your list twice and box up your gifts to family members for the holidays.

Now, with the pandemic it may take longer for you packages to get where they are going since more people are shopping online and not traveling to see family. Also, keep in mind, the longer you wait to ship your packages, the more expensive it could be.

Here are some important dates to keep in mind when shipping your holiday gifts!

United States Postal Service (USPS) Shipping Deadlines (Alaska and Hawaii deadlines on their site):

• Ground: December 15
• First Class: December 18
• Priority Mail: December 19
• Priority Mail Express: December 23

UPS Shipping Deadlines:

• UPS Ground: December 15
• 3 Day Select: December 21
• 2nd Day Air Services: December 22
• Next Day Air Services: December 23
• UPS Closed on Christmas Day (UPS Express Critical® is available)

FedEx Shipping Deadlines (more deadlines on their website):

• FedEx SmartPost: December 9 (with some exceptions)
• FedEx Ground: December 15
• Home Delivery: December 15
• Express Saver: December 21
• 2Day Services: December 22
• Overnight Services: December 23

5 Ways to Prep and Save for Holiday Shopping

Yes, yes…it seems way too early to think about holiday shopping already. But by prepping now, you may be able to save yourself a few headaches once the holidays are upon us.

So, what can you do right now to help prep and save for holiday shopping? Consider one or all of the tips below.

• Come Up With a Savings Plan

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  Go to Pinterest or Google and search "holiday savings plan." You'll be greeted with all sorts of options from "How to Save $1,000 in 20 Weeks" to "How to Save $500 in 30 Days." Pick a plan that works best for you, and start putting money gradually aside.

• Coupon/Promo Codes Are Your New BFFs

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  Will most of your shopping be at a handful of stores? There's a good chance there will be a bunch of coupon or promo codes you can use while shopping at a brick and mortar location or online. They're easy to find, too. Follow the store on social media or sign up for their email blasts. Sites like Groupon even have a coupon section where they list active coupon/promo codes.

• Look At Your Current Spending, Start Cutting Random “Extras”

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  Everyone enjoys treating themselves to a fancy coffee or some takeout every now and again, but if you get into the habit of treating yourself too often, you might find yourself strapped for cash when you need it most. Really, this is just a good tip year-round, not just for the holidays.
• Make a List (And Check It Twice!)

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  How many times have you gone grocery shopping without a list and end up leaving with way more than expected, and you still somehow forgot to buy milk? Use the same logic. Make a list before you start your holiday shopping, and stick to it. Sure, all those sales are tempting, but resist! Your wallet will thank you later.

• Sign Up and Shop Via an Installment Payment Service

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  So, this might not help with saving, per se, but it will help with the initial sticker shock of buying some gifts. A number of Installment Payments Services exist, like QuadPay and AfterPay, that will split your purchase total into four equal payments usually scheduled about two weeks apart. Many major retailers - including Amazon, Target and Walmart - have partnered with these services. Think of it as "The New Layaway," but you get your items right now. Now, you will have to keep track of your installments, especially if you pay with a debit card, but there's no interest or fees with these services. Plus, they might buy you a little extra time to save up money, too.

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