Each year I vow to complete my Christmas shopping and shipping early. This year I vowed to get it done no later than the first weekend in December.

Did that happen? That’s a big fat NOPE!

I started my Christmas shopping earlier than ever, but, alas, here it is 1 week before Christmas, and I haven’t mailed a single gift that needs to nieces and nephews who live states away.

My new goal is to not come down to the very last second (which I usually do, scooting into the post office near my house as the trucks are lining up to grab the last round of packages).

Luckily, the postal service sent me this handy dandy holiday schedule guidebook that lays out the last day to mail Christmas presents depending on which mailing option you choose.

When is the Last Day to Mail Christmas Gifts via USPS?

Here’s what I learned about the United States Postal Service’s Christmas package deadlines:

• Last day to mail FIRST CLASS packages: December 20, 2014
• Last day to mail PRIORITY MAIL packages: December 20, 2014
• Last day to mail PRIORITY MAIL EXPRESS packages: December 23, 2014

Good luck to you in your last minute mailing endeavors. I’m hoping to bust out all my packages this Saturday, December 20th. Wish me luck!

How Late is the Post Office Open on Christmas Eve?

I won’t lie – a couple of gifts I already know won’t make it to the post office in time to make a Christmas delivery. In my mind, the next best thing to an on time Christmas package is one mailed before Christmas! LOL I wish I was kidding! :/

I completely dropped the ball on a photo book gift for my parents and in-laws. I didn’t order it until yesterday, which means I will be lucky to even receive the order by Christmas. That doesn’t leave any time to wrap them and mail them before December 25th. But as soon as I receive them (hopefully by the 23rd), I plan on packing them up as quickly as I can and racing them to the post office.

I already found out the last possible time you can mail Christmas presents before the post office closes on Christmas Eve.