Make the Season Bright, Pack Right
FAMILY FEATURES
It's the most wonderful time of the year - decorating, baking, shopping, addressing holiday cards,

and send ing festive packages to

friends and family. That is, until the time comes to ship your holiday packages and you wind up in a line a mile long just to realize you've missed the shipping deadline for holiday delivery. It's enough to test anyone's holiday cheer.

What most people don't realize is that while there are 32 shopping days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, there are only 21 shipping days to get gifts to friends and family who live across the country or around the world.

Here are some key holiday shipping dates to keep in mind for domestic packages from the experts at The UPS Store®. Post these on your fridge or bulletin board so they're handy at all times:

Wednesday, December 19: UPS

3-Day Select® for delivery on December 24 Thursday, December 20: UPS 2nd Day

Air® for delivery on December 24

Friday, December 21: UPS Next Day Air®

for delivery on December 24

Saturday, December 22: UPS Next Day Air

for delivery on December 24

If you plan to have your packages ready earlier in December, check with your local packing and shipping store for ground rates and delivery schedules. For example, most UPS® Ground packages take five business days or less to arrive, unless they are coastto coast deliveries, which could take a day or two longer.

Also, keep in mind that packages sent to military personnel or international destinations need to be shipped early in the season to guar antee delivery by the holidays. As you're making your shipping list and checking it twice, put these packages at the very top, and don't forget to call your local The UPS Store to check on rates and shipping deadlines.

Whether you're shipping internationally or domestically, here are a few tips for keeping your wait time in line to a minimum. First, try to avoid the busiest shipping week of the year - predicted to be Dec. 17 to 22. Also, try to mail packages on a day other than Monday, which is the most hectic mailing day of the week.

With some advance planning and organization, you can make the busiest time of the year a little less stressful - and a lot merrier.