Personalized Gifts

Last Gift Station post I mentioned we’d cover shipping for the items that you need to mail out and require more than just a stamp.  Well, speaking of stamps if you go through them like I do (for business) then this is a great option.  At USPS.com you can enroll to have your stamps sent to you each month there are actually more than one option and then several subscription options for each type of stamp (100 coil, book of 20 or for postcards).  I choose the book of 20 stamps and have them sent monthly and for the most part I’m good all month until I get my next 20.  Since I use them for business mostly some months I run out and some months I have some left over.  Here is a direct link to the USPS stamp subscriptions USPS Stamps  (if for some reason that does not work for you just go to usps.com and then click on buy stamps and you should see a link/icon for stamps and then stamp subscriptions.)  Unless you send a ton of mail I’d choose the book of 20 Forever stamps as your subscription especially since stamps seem to go up in price each year and sometimes every 6 months.  These forever stamps will be good no matter what increase takes place!

Now to the option for those boxed items.  If you watch any tv at all and pay attention to the commercials you’ve probably seen the commercials for USPS.com and the flat rate shipping.  I’m here to tell you this is an awesome feature they added several years ago and I use it ALL THE TIME!  I love it…all you have to do is go to usps.com and register for an online account (totally free) and then you can use the click and ship.  Now the first thing you’ll want to do after you get an online account is order some boxes (totally free as well).  Get some of each size of the flat rate shipping boxes as well as the flat rate envelopes.  When you use these with an online account you save a little money by doing it at home online as opposed to taking your items to the post office.  You honestly don’t need any fancy equipment or lavels.  You can print the labels on regular printer paper and tape it to your box.  When you’re done online you can then request a carrier pickup (again, totally free for priority mail/flat rate is priority mail).  I’ve found the flat rate delivery to be efficient and very cost effective!  With the flat rate you don’t really need to weigh your items because anything 70lbs or less will ship in a flat rate box (their motto is, “If it fits, it ships”).  This method also gives you the option to track it by email so you know when someone’s package has been delivered to their house, yet another free option when using an online account.  So far, knock on wood, I’ve never lost a package using this service and many times I’ve compared the flat rate prices to that of UPS and FedEx and USPS, believe it or not, beats the price 99% of the time! 

Once you sign up for an account it really is pretty simple and it’s like a shipping wizard that takes you through each step. 

To get an online account with USPS go here:

Online Account Registration (choose “sign up ” under new users to the right)

Once you are ready to ship after you’ve signed in you will click on “Click and Ship” under to Prepare to Ship heading.  Pick the US if that’s where you’re sending your package make sure you fill in all the boxes for your return address, add the recipient’s address and you can check to add them to the online address book so you don’t have to type it again.  When using flat rate boxes just guesstimate your box weight (it doesn’t seem to really matter) as long as you know it’s under 70lbs it’ll ship regardless of the weight you enter, then just follow the rest of the instructions as you continue. 

Make sure you have your shipping supplies such as bubble wrap or other packing materials, box tape and of course your boxes. 

Keeping it Unique,

Kristal