LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The holiday shipping rush is here, and time is running out to get your cards, gifts, and other items in the mail to ensure they arrive before Christmas.

For First-Class Mail through the United States Postal Service, including holiday cards and newsletters, the Dec. 16 has passed. That was also the cutoff for USPS Ground Advantage.

For those sending packages via Priority Mail, you have until Dec. 19 to ship. And for the ultimate procrastinators, Priority Mail Express has the latest deadline: Dec. 21.

Susan Wright with USPS advises customers to take extra care when packaging their gifts. One of the biggest mistakes people make is using flimsy packaging.

"I know it's tempting to use the shirt boxes you get at the department store to mail a gift," Wright said. "But we recommend sturdy boxes, high-quality tape, and double-checking your addresses."

For those sending gift cards, Wright offers additional advice.

"Gift cards are not designed to go in a plain envelope; they don't hold up well with the processing equipment we use," Wright said. "It's best to place them in padded envelopes or tuck them inside a larger package."

USPS is prepared for the holiday season and has the capacity to process up to 60 billion packages during peak times. "We are ready to deliver the holidays for our customers," Wright said.

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