WASHINGTON - The holiday season is right around the corner with folks across the Mahoning Valley getting ready to buy gifts for their family and friends.

If you're shipping these gifts by mail, the United States Postal Service (USPS) is offering some recommendations to make sure your loved one's gift gets to them in time for the holidays.

USPS recommends that following deadlines for expected delivery by Christmas Day (December 25):

- November 5: APO/FPO/DPO UPSPS Retail Ground service

- December 9: APO/FPO/DPO Priority Mail and First Class Mail

- December 16: APO/FPO/DPO (except ZIP Code 093) USPS Priority Mail Express Military service

- December 17: USPS Retain Ground Service, First Class packages (up to 15.99 ounces)

- December 19: Priority Mail service

- December 23: Priority Mail Express* service

These are the recommended deadlines for shipping to and from Alaska:

- December 2: Alaska to/from Continental U.S. - USPS Retail Ground

- December 17: Alaska to/from Continental U.S. - Fist Class Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express*

These are the recommended deadlines for shipping to and from Hawaii

- December 17: Hawaii to/from mainland - First Class Mail and Priority Mail

- December 21: Hawaii to/from mainland - Priority Mail Express

Note that shipping by these dates do not guarantee the package to arrive by December 25 unless otherwise noted.