One of the toughest parts about the holidays is having friends and family around the world. With everyone so far apart it is often a struggle to get holiday gifts to each person you buy for. With shipping cost at a high there can be a major budgeting problem is you aren’t careful about how you buy things. There are, of course, many ways that you can get your holiday gifts shipped around the world without a major fuss though. With a few simple tips you won’t have to hold onto holiday gifts throughout the year because you can’t get them to loved ones. You may even find that you won’t have to worry about your gifts making it on time thanks to your shipping know how.

1. Give Yourself Time
One of the biggest problems most people have to face when shipping items is getting them there on time. When it comes to getting your parcels shipped out it doesn’t pay to be a procrastinator. One of the best ways to get your items to their destination on time and cheaply is to ship the item a few weeks before the holiday season. You should always calculate the distance the item will be going as well. For instance, if you’re sending something abroad you might want to ship it out in November so you don’t have to worry about paying rush fees and the item won’t get held up with the rest of the holiday rush. Other in state items are usually okay to be shipped a couple weeks ahead of time, but you might want to work with the type of package you have. For instance, if you’re sending a book you may want to ship it through media mail which is one of the cheapest options, but it does take longer to get there.

2. Consider a Combo Deal
If you aren’t the biggest packer and want to save some money on packing supplies then you may want to consider a pack and ship combo deal. A lot of companies are offering this type of deal now, so you make sure to look around for the best prices. When you’re ready to send off your gifts all you have to do is take them up to the company and they will do all of the work for you. They place the items in a special box and make sure to pad the item based on what the item is so you know your gifts will make it to the recipient in great shape. By doing this you actually cut down on the amount of supplies you have to buy for the holiday season. It also helps you get your items together and sent off in one easy to follow step and generally at a discounted price.

3. Research
One of the best things about the internet is it gives you the chance to price everything before you actually buy it. This makes the internet a huge resource when you’re shipping items this holiday season. Before you get ready to send your items off make sure you check out the pricing of all the companies around you. During the holidays shipping can fluctuate so you may be surprised as to who can offer you the best deal. You might also make sure to check out who has the best deals on shipping different items. You may end up using different companies, but your items will be shipped out at the lowest price possible. Researching will also allow you to know about any hidden fees that you might be able to waive so you won’t have to spend as much as you think!

4. Packaging
When it comes shipping it is no surprise that the packaging items can actually leave you hurting the most financially. A lot of companies will mark up the prices of premade boxes and containers so try to look around before you purchase. If you can use as many recycled items as possible. For instance, if someone sends you a package try to carefully open it so you can easily tape it back up and re-purpose it for your own shipping needs. You can also use boxes that come with items like appliances, games and other common household purchases. When it comes to shipping thinking out of the box can be one of the best ways to avoid spending money on packaging which will probably take three quarters of the price off of your shipping purchase. If you do need to buy supplies then try to grab them in bulk so you don’t have to worry about spending a fortune every time you need to ship something out. These bulk items might even disappear quickly if you do a lot of shipping during the holidays.

5. Flat Rate
Some shipping companies have started creating flat rate boxes to encourage people to ship with them. These amazing boxes can do you a whole lot of good if you plan on shipping items that run on the heavier spectrum this season. The rule with the flat rate boxes is if the item fits into the box then it will ship at one flat rate so you don’t have to worry about any unforeseen cost. Most companies offer a wide variety of boxes so make sure to try these out before you brave shipping heavier items without this amazing deal. Of course, if you are sending something incredibly light you may want to skip out on the flat rate boxes, but most average sized items will cost around the same price as the flat rate box when shipped without it. Most companies also offer the boxes for free, so it even helps you avoid some of the packaging fees!

6. Shop Online
When it comes to holidays hopping it might be a better deal just to shop online. If you can find an entire family’s worth of items on one site then you’ll be doing really great, but even shopping for one person might end up cheaper on the shipping spectrum. Most online stores don’t charge a whole lot for shipping cost, some even take a loss, and when you buy more than one item you tend to get a better deal on shipping. Of course, if you do plan on shopping at a certain website then you might want to look around for a free shipping coupon either on their website or on an online coupon website. This could totally cut the cost of your shipping which will allow you to spend just a little bit more on your loved ones.

7. Buy Insurance
A lot of people tend to skip out on some of the extra shipping cost when they can. This tends to be fine if you aren’t sending anything that cost a whole lot of money. However, if you do have some pricier items you need to send, or a bulk package that adds up to a high cost, then insurance might be a wise choice. Typically, it only cost a dollar or two extra to buy some insurance for your package which can actually end up saving you hundreds of dollars if your item gets lost or stole in the mail. It will also help reimburse you for items that get broken on the way to the destination which tends to happen a lot more during the holiday season. You may even find that you can relax more knowing your items are still covered if they never make it to the recipients.

8. Ship from Home
During the holiday season the lines at packaging facilities tend to lead straight out of the door. This could lead a lot of people to avoid shipping their items until the fees add up and the delivery date pushes well past the holidays. One amazing thing about packaging from home is you can easily get everything you need to mail shipped from your home. Simply package the item, weigh it at home and print out the shipping label. Your packaging company will pick it up at a time that is convenient for you so you don’t have to worry about going out at all. This is great especially when the weather tends to keep you indoors. Of course, you might not end up getting a better deal, but you will save on gasoline which is always a bonus when the holiday season is concerned.

9. Signature Request
Theft tends to be at a higher rate during the holiday season. This can be a major issue if your recipients probably won’t be home during the working hours. Many packaging companies will leave the item outside of the door and mark it as delivered which take the package out of their system. Once it is left it is wide open to be stolen from anyone simply walking through the neighborhood. Instead of having to fight with the packaging company about these items you may just want to request a signature. Some companies offer this service for free while others charge around $1 for it. With the signature request the company won’t be allowed to leave the package unless someone from the home, or a neighbor signs for it. This will allow you to know who has signed for it so the theft is entirely avoidable and your loved ones will get to enjoy your thoughtful gift.

10. Rewards Program
If you’re really look to save big during the holiday season then you might want to look into getting into a rewards program. There are numerous stores around that will offer anyone willing to pay a small fee a special account that often waives shipping, or takes a percentage off of it. One prime example of this service is Amazon Prime. This account actually offers you free advanced shipping on some items so you won’t have to worry about the shipping cost adding up for you. It also allows you to enjoy a discounted price on your items so you get even more money off for your shopping. You might also want to look into ebates programs that will give you money back for shopping, including expensive shipping cost. With a few reward programs on your side you’ll be able to get over your holiday shipping dilemma in no time.

Shipping can be one of the biggest burdens during the holiday season. From paying extra to get a gift to someone you love to standing in long miserable lines, the shipping aspect of the holiday is frustrating. With these simple tips you’ll be able to avoid a lot of the frustration while keeping your budget happy and enjoying the happiness of those you ship too! So, put your holiday smile back on and have some fun instead of dealing with the holiday shipping crisis!