When should you send your Christmas presents?

It's not Halloween yet, but it's never too early to start thinking about the holiday season.

The US Postal Service just released its recommendations for sending holiday gifts and cards to ensure they arrive before December 25th. This year, in addition to Christmas, December 25th marks the first night of Hanukkah and December 26th is Kwanzaa.

Those sending items within the contiguous United States should ship by December 18 if using the Postal Service's Ground Advantage or First Class mail options. Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express can be used between December 19th and 21st, but prices are higher.

The Postal Service has additional recommendations for those shipping to Alaska, Hawaii and abroad Website, along with the deadlines.

FedEx can ship same day through December 24th, but items shipped via Ground Economy service must ship by December 13th. Those using the company's ground and home delivery service should ship items as early as December 17 if they use the service's five-day shipping plan.

UPS timelines vary depending on the package and ground transportation destination. The company recommends online use calculator to estimate when the deadline for shipping an item is. Packages can be sent only late December 23 when customers use UPS next day air service.

The Postal Service recommends sending gifts and cards as early as possible to ensure gifts and cards arrive by December 25th.