the season less stressful this year is to use a service that has delivered holiday cheer for 231 years. That punctual bringer of cheer is the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and this year they will deliver more than 20 billion pieces of mail between Thanksgiving and Christmas. To make the holidays happier, the Postal Service is offering easier ways to give gifts and send greeting cards. For example, if you want to know how much that hockey stick for your nephew will cost to send, you can access www.usps.com for postage calculations. You can order stamps from that site or order Stamps by Phone (1-800-STAMP 24). Here are some more tips to make you merrier: * Can’t make it to the post office? Arrange for free package pickup. Not only can you get free package pickup, you can pay for postage via credit card—from the convenience of your homeor office— and print mailing labels with or without postage. Online insurance is also available. Notimeto write cards? Bring your list of addresses and a credit card to usps.com/cardstore. Choose a mail piece format— such as postcards, letters, self-mail- ers or greeting cards. They do the rest. Each piece is personalized, printed, prepared and in the mail the next businessday. Forgot to buy someone a pre- sent? Thepostoffice offers gift cards online, or stop by your local post office for a moneyorder. Missed putting that gift in Santa’s sleigh? It might still get there in time. You can drop Express Mail and Priority Mail pieces with PC Postage online labels in any PDPLPLPLPLLLIWF Tips For Less Stress And More Sparkle 2006 usa39 C2006 vsa3d9 LDPLDL LDLDPDPLPLPLSHEPDPPPPPDDDPDS C } S } S 2 S S S S} S S } S } S o S S FWA) @ This season many Santaswill be sitting at their computers, ordering stampslike these and mailing out cards. Postal Service collection box or let the post office know you have a package for pickup at usps.com/car rierpickup and your letter carrier will get it on his regular rounds for free. Save time during the busyseason by using Automated Postal Centers. These virtual standalone post offices dispense First-Class stamps and, using credit or debit cards, let customers mail packages weighing up to 70 pounds. They also provide mailing information such as ZIP codes. Worried about your package getting there? The post office has products that allow you to track delivery of packages overseas, including most overseas military installations. By finding less stressful ways to live up to holiday obligations, you can find more time to appreciate all that’s wonderful about the winterholidays.
