You just spent all day Friday fighting the crowds, getting the best deals on gifts for your family. You are sitting at home, exhausted yet excited at the same time because you shopped for everyone on your list. You pat yourself on the back for a job well done, but now what? How are you going to get that package to Auntie Em in Minnesota or your in-laws in Rockport?

It’s simple. Get into your comfy clothes, pour yourself a cup of cocoa, turn on the computer and log on to the United States Postal Service website. According to Sam Bolen, Fort Worth District spokesperson for the USPS,  everything you need to ship your packages and mail your Christmas greetings is just a click away at www.usps.com.

“You can essentially do everything from the comfort of your home, in your bathrobe, to get those packages on their way,” Bolen said. “From weighing packages and printing your own postage to getting your packages picked up at your doorstep and delivered. It’s perfect for people in the rural areas. It saves them many trips into town to mail or ship things.”

Don’t fight the holiday crowds and lines this season. It is your one-stop holiday shipping site and it offers the simpler way to holiday this year.  The USPS is very aware of the economic impact the Internet has made on the “snail mail” market. So the USPS, which has been delivering mail for 235 years, has joined the technology wave and become computer-friendly.

“More and more people are relying on their computer to get things done. Our officials in Washington are aware of that so they have developed a user-friendly website to attract holiday consumers as well as everyday users to the services we offer. Anything you can do at a post office can now be done online ... except standing in long lines.”

Times have been tough for the USPS, partially due to more consumers using the internet to pay bills and send cards and packages. But according to Bolen, a 30-year employee of the postal service, the holiday season offers job security. At this time, he can report that his district has not had to do any lay-offs, although there has been some shifting of resources, but no careers have ended for workers of the USPS in his service  area.

“This is our busiest season,” he said. “People start thinking about mailing the presents they bought on the weekend after Thanksgiving, so [the following] Monday and Tuesday we are swamped with holiday packages and holiday questions.”

An estimated 2.9 billion letters will be mailed over the holidays.

Here are a few of the services and features offered at www.usps.com:

zx Free package pickup is available from home or office, regardless of the weather. They will pick up the gifts you’re sending and take away those you’re returning. The letter carrier will pick up packages when mail is delivered, regardless of the number of packages being sent. Unlike with other shipping companies, there is no fee for package pickup: usps.com/pickup.

 zx Buy stamps, stationery and stamp products from your home or office computer at the postal store. You can select stamps by price or subject or type and have them delivered in a few days. A small shipping and handling fee is charged.  

zx Get free delivery confirmation for Priority Mail when you ship online at usps.com/clicknship.

zx Need a box? No problem. Order free, eco-friendly packaging supplies for all your shipping needs and have them delivered to your door.

zx Turn your favorite holiday moments into postage using customized postage available through four licensed vendors: usps.com/postage solutions/customizedpostage.htm.

zx Unlike other shipping companies, the USPS does not charge extra for Saturday delivery or add a fuel surcharge. The price you see is the price you pay.

zx Express Mail — under the tree in under a day. Santa isn’t the only one working on Christmas. The postal service will deliver Express Mail in most major cities on Dec. 24-25. The mailing deadline is Dec. 22 to most locations.

zx Print shipping labels and pay for postage using Click-N-Ship while sipping hot cocoa or baking holiday cookies: usps.com/clicknship.

zx Create and send high-quality, personalized greeting cards, postcards and photo cards from your laptop or desktop computer. Whether you’re sending one card or 10,000, just point and click to create your personalized greetings:  usps.com/createmail.

Won’t be home for the holidays? No worries. Bolen reminds postal customers to have their mail and packages placed on hold while away from home.

“A mailbox filled with mail is a huge temptation to crooks,” Bolen said. “Contact your local post office or do it online, but remember to put your mail service on hold while you are away.”

This holiday season the USPS recommends that you “Skip the trip and save fuel this Yule”  by using usps.com to save your own green this season.