Easy-to-Mail Holiday Gift Ideas

You really want to send your out-of-town relative a new throw rug, but that’s not going to ship easily (or cheaply). And how can you mail a tasty holiday cake or other goodies without damage or spoilage? Thankfully, there are gifts you can send that are much easier to ship than a recliner or a delicate glass vase. Here are some ideas for easy-to-mail holiday gifts.

1. Have It Shipped

This isn’t a cop-out – part of making something easy is having someone else do it! Online and on paper, companies tout their shipping options. Gift baskets are a good choice; you can personalize them to include items that are appropriate to the individual, and the company will ship to the recipient’s address. Flowers and food gifts, such as fresh fruit, popcorn, or holiday hams, are also easily shipped through the companies that sell them.

Here’s where getting online can help, too – retailers over the internet like Amazon and eBay take care of the shipping for you – sometimes for free.

2. Jewelry

Some pieces of jewelry are quite flat, and that’s what you need to look for. Earrings that can be laid flat can even be put inside a holiday card. Necklaces with a flat pendant are easily slipped into a padded envelope. Pins and brooches also come in flat varieties. Choosing lightweight items will also add to the ease of shipment.

3. Thin Wooden Ornaments

Many wooden ornaments are beautiful and intricate, cut out of thin pieces of lightweight wood like balsa or pine. These can also be slipped inside a holiday card.

4. Subscriptions

All you have to mail is the card, and sometimes the company even does that! From fruit to flowers to bread, you can sign someone up to receive a monthly gift for the next 6 to 12 months. You can also buy them a subscription to a magazine.

5. Mat Frames

Pressed flowers or photos look great in mat frames, which are simply two pieces of thin cardboard cut into a frame shape. Skip the solid frame around the mat and you have a stylish, framed print, photo, or craft that’s quite easy to ship.

6. Electronics Accessories

There’s a cell phone wallet available now, and it’s flat and lightweight – just right for mailing. Phone carrying cases and covers are also easy to ship. There are also easy-to-ship iPad covers that give your screen a cleaning each time you take them off.