JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – This holiday shopping season is one of the shortest possible.
The start of Hanukkah and Christmas each fall on Dec. 25.
That means after Thanksgiving there are just 27 days to get the shopping done. That’s less than four weeks to work with.
RELATED: How to avoid gift card scams for the holidays
But that means the clock is ticking to get the gifts in the mail so they make it on time.
“I’m gonna do the best I can,” Harold Smith said.
Smith still has some shopping left to do but said he’s confident he can get it all done on time.
So if you haven’t sent your gifts yet, here are the deadlines to be aware of:
US Postal Service
Domestic Mail Class/Product
- USPS Ground Advantage Service, deadline: Dec. 18
- First-Class Mail Service, deadline: Dec. 18
- Priority Mail Service, deadline: Dec. 19
- Priority Mail Express Service, deadline: Dec. 21
But, this time of year, it’s recommended that people who use that program get it sent about a week before the holidays to ensure it arrives at its destination on time.
“I think it’s fairly important,” Brandy Brodie said as she put her gifts in the mail. ”You know Christmas is not just about gifts but it’s important that they get it thinking about them and I want them to know I’m thinking about them.”
UPS
Several mail carriers have calculators to help determine when a package will arrive. Users can plug in their location and where their item is going. The system will give estimates of the shipment’s arrival based on various types of shipping and provide links to start the process.
FedEx
FedEx offers same-day/overnight shipping options, but depending on how far it is going could be a difference between a shipment costing hundreds of dollars. Some shoppers said they’re getting their work done early. “I’m feeling really good about it,” Sharon Thomas said. ”Everything‘s getting done and no pressure.”
Amazon
If you want to skip the lines altogether, online shopping is a popular option. Amazon allows customers to send wrapped gifts right to their destination. The company will either provide an estimated arrival date, or a date range depending on what type of membership the user has. However, Amazon will most likely specify whether an item will arrive before Christmas.