For many, Thanksgiving signifies the start of the holiday gift-giving season. Stores across the country are offering big discounts on everything from 80-inch TVs to themed coffee mugs. Many of the items purchased will then be brought into a Pak Mail store to be packaged and shipped to friends and family across the globe. Today, though, we’d like to salute and send thanks for the gifts which don’t need to be packaged.

With the Christmas holiday fast approaching, many are experiencing the fear that nips at its heels. Am I prepared? Have I bought all my gifts? Will they arrive on time? All natural thoughts, yet strong enough to consume you to the point where it’s tempting to sit back in a huff and think “Is it all worth it?”

The answer is a resounding yes.

If there’s one thing you don’t want to do during the holiday season, it’s procrastinate on your shopping and shipping duties. While carriers like FedEx and UPS tend to remain pretty reliable, a number of things can pop up – inclement weather, higher-than-expected volume, and other unforeseen issues – that can lead to delayed packages and a very disappointing holiday season. We here at Pak Mail know that life can sometimes get in the way, leading to the delayed shipping of your gifts. Follow these guidelines to ensure your packages get where they need to be when they need to get there.

For many, Black Friday is the official start of the holiday shopping season. This pseudo-holiday, which falls on the Friday after Thanksgiving, sees brick-and-mortar and online retailers alike offering limited deals on all manner of items. Many flock to stores in an effort to not just buy discounted 50” televisions, but to get a jump on the holiday madness. Purchasing items almost a month before the holidays should allow for plenty of time to have your items properly wrapped, packaged, and shipped to your loved ones throughout the country (and world!), right?

It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the Holidays.  Between shopping, coordinating travel, and planning meals, shipping your holiday packages might not be the #1 priority on your list.  Here are some quick tips to help ensure that your packages arrive safely and aren’t mistaken as New Year’s gifts due to their late arrival.

While many are expecting packages and gifts to arrive this week, news stations around the country are airing a similar (and unnerving) story this holiday season. In a disturbing trend, thieves are stealing holiday packages right off doorsteps!

Austin, Texas Pak Mail store owner Joel Altsman was interviewed in this segment and he provided several helpful tips to help ensure your packages arrive safely:

According to the National Retail Federation, holiday shopping spending this November and December is expected to increase 13-15 percent over 2012. Improved consumer confidence, consumer credit, and disposable personal income will contribute to an increased spend of up to $82 billion this holiday season. Online shopping will see the largest growth.

Thanksgiving and Hanukkah are right around the corner and that means Christmas is not far behind. The holiday shopping season seems to begin earlier and earlier every year with holiday items found in stores during Halloween and lights and decorations going up in early November. For some, the holidays can mean a time of stress over mall traffic, choosing the right gifts, and getting those gifts to their intended recipients on time. Others seem to be on top of everything with all their gifts purchases, wrapped, and out the door before Thanksgiving.

According to our team’s research and other sources, there are only two major domestic airlines that do not charge fees for checked baggage. Baggage fees for the first checked bag now range anywhere from $15 - $45, with second bags costing an additional $15 - $55. Most international airlines do not charge for the first checked bag, but the second checked bag can cost as much as $230. Keep in mind that these fees are charged each way on your trip, so traveling with your luggage can be a lot more expensive than just a plane ticket.

Let’s face it – Mother’s Day is a bigger deal than Father’s Day. We suspect it might have something to do with the childbirth part of being a mom. We’ll definitely give you that one…