WASHINGTON — With Christmas just two months away, the U.S. Postal Service is offering holiday shipping tips to help customers ship the 15.5 billion cards, letters and packages expected to be delivered in time for Christmas.

“The key to holiday shipping is being prepared and starting early,” advises U.S. Postal Service Consumer Advocate John Budzynski. “This is our season and we are ready to deliver. The Postal Service’s knowledgeable employees are here to help customers ensure their holiday packages are packed, tracked and delivered with ease.”

In addition to offering 2014 holiday stamps, Post Offices nationwide will offer festive Priority Mail boxes and other packing items to provide customers with added convenience, including bubble mailers, mailing cartons, bubble wrap and packaging tape.

No time for a trip to the Post Office? No problem. By using Click-N-Ship on usps.com, on-the-go customers can ship their packages when it’s most convenient for them. As an added bonus, customers can receive savings off retail prices when they print their own labels with postage online.

Here are more holiday shipping tips to help customers prepare their holiday shipments for an on-time delivery:

Enjoy convenience: Order free Priority Mail shipping supplies on usps.com and have them delivered to your door, free of charge.

Order free Priority Mail shipping supplies on usps.com and have them delivered to your door, free of charge. Be informed: Check usps.com to verify that your items can be shipped.

Check usps.com to verify that your items can be shipped. Pack smart: Pick a strong and sturdy box, cushion contents with packing peanuts, newspaper or bubble wrap and tape it closed with strong packing tape.

Pick a strong and sturdy box, cushion contents with packing peanuts, newspaper or bubble wrap and tape it closed with strong packing tape. Save a trip: Visit usps.com to pay for postage and request free Package Pickup at your door.

Visit usps.com to pay for postage and request free Package Pickup at your door. Track it: Sign up for text and email alerts through my.usps.com to track the delivery status of your packages.

Sign up for text and email alerts through my.usps.com to track the delivery status of your packages. Gift options: Pick up a gift card from your local Post Office; they make great gifts for family and friends.

“We know how stressful the holiday season can be,” said Budzynski. “With a little help from the Postal Service, you can prepare your holiday shipments with ease so you can get back to enjoying this special time of year.”

USPS 2014 Christmas Shipping Deadlines:

To ensure that holiday mail and packages are delivered in time for Christmas, the Postal Service recommends the following mailing and shipping deadlines:

Dec. 2 – First-Class Mail International

First-Class Mail International Dec. 2 – Priority Mail International

Priority Mail International Dec. 10 – Priority Mail Express International

Priority Mail Express International Dec. 15 – Standard Post

Standard Post Dec. 17 – Global Express Guaranteed

Global Express Guaranteed Dec. 20 – First-Class Mail

First-Class Mail Dec. 20 – Priority Mail

Priority Mail Dec. 23 – Priority Mail Express*

The dates listed above are the earliest deadlines for international and military mail.

*Priority Mail Express postage refund eligibility is adjusted for shipments mailed Dec. 22–25.

For more shipping tips, visit usps.com.