Here are useful and budget conscious tips to help you save this holiday season on your mailing holiday card list

1. Update your mailing list early. Work on addressing and personalizing cards in small blocks of time so the job doesn’t seem so intimidating.
   
   
   
2. Decide what kind of cards you want to send. If you are sending standard greeting cards, thin the list. It’s not necessary to send them to neighbors or colleagues from work, greet them in person! One exception: personalized photo cards. Most people love to receive them from everyone they know. Display them throughout the season. It will make you smile.
   
   
   
3. Consider sending holiday ecards. A few companies offer free cards. Try www.hallmark.com or www.amazon.com. For a small $8. annual fee, you can send as many flash animation cards as you’d like. They have some great holiday cards at www.jacquielawson.com. There are some really fun cards available, and
   they only take a minute to send.
   
   
   
4. Get help. The Post Office is full of surprises this season. They sell greeting cards online. Personalize the cards online. You input all of the addresses into your computer even add a family photo, and send them to NetPost. They will send them directly to your friends and family ASAP. Or they will send to the recipient at a date of your choosing. If you are looking for a little convenience, they will deliver boxes of cards to your home. You can personalize and address the cards yourself. They also offer gift cards in denominations of $25.-200. at AMC Theatres, Barnes and Noble, Starbucks and more. Find out more at: www.usps.com.
   Shutterfly and Cardstore are two other companies that can streamline the holiday card process for you. They will create custom cards, address, seal, stamp and mail for you. Shutterfly calls this service Direct mail cards. www.shutterfly.com
   
   
   Cardstore offers boxed cards and cards created with your photos. They also offer a holiday card club. Buy 12, 24 or 100 cards at a savings, plus free postage at
   www.cardstore.com.

You are dreading the long line at the Post Office as you juggle your boxes and slide packages across the floor.

Ship your packages without leaving your house.

Try Click-n-Ship at www.usps.com/clicknship. Arrange for Carrier Pickup. This is a free service. Your package will be picked up during the next day’s delivery.
You must request the service in advance. Notify them online at usps.com/pickup.
The package must be ready for the carrier with postage attached and it can’t weigh more than 70lb. There is another service called Pick Up on Demand. It costs $12.50, but you are given a specific two-hour time frame. The same rules apply.

Ship almost anything for one low rate. Use a Flat Rate box and ship for $7.70 regardless of weight or destination. There are two sizes of box available. One is a good size for garments, board games and books. The other is better for shoes, model cars and taller items. They also offer a Flat Rate envelope that is 9 ½ x 12½. The cost is $3.85. Request carrier pickup online. The only downside of the flat rate plan is that you have to go to the post office to buy the box!

If you have a scale and a tape measure, you can do the pricing at home. They need the weight and girth of the package. Print shipping labels, using plain white paper, online. Use your own box. Pay by credit card. They even offer a free Delivery Confirmation service. This service is available for carrier pickup. Order your stamps online by phone 1.800.STAMP24 or by mail.

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Karen Henke is the owner of Come2Order in Minneapolis, MN. Visit www.come2order2day and request a free Time-Savers Kit loaded with time-saving tips and services. While you’re there, sign up for a free subscription to the Come2Order monthly newsletter!