Helpful holiday (mail) handling hints

Procrastinators, take heart.

You can put off mailing those warm wishes and sparkling packages until Dec. 22 - or Dec. 21, if you're mailing out of state - and still have them delivered by regular mail or priority mail in time for Christmas.

After that, you'll have to fork over the extra cash for express mail, and those missives will have to be headed only for major metro destinations.

Either that, or send friends and family your warmest New Year's greetings.

The U.S. Postal Service announced holiday mailing deadlines this week in an effort to hustle along the 20 billion holiday cards, letters and packages it expects to handle nationwide this year.

For those of us who have more hassle than hustle this season, here's helpful tips from the mail people:

. Overseas military and internationally destined mail has to be in the pipeline by Dec. 11. After that date, express mail still is an option.

. Don't miss out on the deadlines just because you don't know your post office's customer hours. Check ahead, or call 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777) to find out hours, rates, ZIP codes and so on. A Holiday Mail Guide is available at www.usps.com

. Take advantage of a special flat-rate priority package. Pick up either one of two special boxes, put the goodies inside, and mail it anywhere in the country for only $7.70. It doesn't matter how much it weighs, and it gets there in two or three days.

. Don't want to leave home? Can't get away from the office? Go online to usps.com/clicknship to use the Click-N-Ship service. Prepare the package, then have it picked up for free by calling your letter carrier or visiting usps.com/pickup. The same free pickup is offered on all priority or express mail.

. Are you a creative type - or a wannabe? Create, design and mail cards (retail cards available, too) at NetPostCardStore for $1.30 to $3 per card. Go to www.usps.com/cardstore

. Print the correct name, street, apartment number, city, state and ZIP code clearly. Return information goes at top left. For packages, put the information on one side only, and again inside. Cushion items well, remove batteries, make everything leak-proof, put it all in a sturdy box with no writing on the outside and seal it with reinforced tape.

. Don't mail anything until you know the ZIP code's correct. Find out at 1-800-275-8777 or www.usps.com

. Put a cool stamp on it - whether it's the Madonna and Child, Santa, Hanukkah, Eid (that's the end of Ramadan) or Kwanzaa. Order them at 1-800-STAMP-24, by mail or - you guessed it - at usps.com

. Be good to yourself; visit the post office in mid-morning or mid-afternoon when crowds are small.

So mail early and relax. Or mail late and pay more.

Or take some good reading material for your wait in line on Dec. 20. That, the post office says, is going to be their busiest day of the year.

Special delivery from the North Pole

Is it an absolute must for your child's letter from Santa to have that North Pole postmark?

No problem.

Granted, sometimes the jolly old elf uses local post offices for sheer convenience, but the folks in Fairbanks, Alaska, are cooperating with him to ship out his correspondence direct from Toy Shop Central.

To make it happen, write the letter to your child from Santa and seal it inside an envelope with your child's name address on it.

If you're just sending Christmas cards to loved ones, you can do the same.

Put the proper postage on each piece, put them all in a larger envelope or box and ship it off to North Pole Christmas Cancellation, Postmaster, 5400 Mail Trail, Fairbanks, AK 99709-9999.

These requests need to arrive in Fairbanks before Dec. 15. The U.S. Postal Service recommends arranging for delivery confirmation.