Two weeks remain until Christmas Day, which means the clock is ticking for Tulsans who haven't shipped all of their Christmas presents yet.

Jenny Hammer, manager of the UPS Store at 51st and Sheridan, reminds KRMG listeners that there are fewer delivery days between now and Christmas because Christmas falls on a Tuesday this year.

If you are wanting to wait until the last minute, you can still ship with UPS until Saturday, December 22nd, for delivery on Christmas Eve.

FedEx has the same deadline.

Quint Marini, manager at the UPS Package Engineering Design and Test Lab, offers tips for preparing your presents for shipping:

• Only reuse boxes that are like new - Reusing cartons is tempting, but boxes in transit may endure drops, collisions or extreme temperatures. Never use a carton with a crease or tear; a crease can reduce a box's strength by up to 70 percent.
• Be judicious when using recycled packaging - High-performance foams and cushion wraps can be reused. But many biodegradable packaging materials break down quickly when exposed to extreme temperatures or humidity.
• High-performance interior cushioning is often worth the expense - The most basic interior cushioning, polystyrene, can endure only one impact. It may not be adequate for the rigors of shipping.
• Interior packaging should support the stable areas of the product - When packing an item like a microwave or television, the strongest structural area of a product – typically the corners – should be braced with packaging such as foam end caps.
• Immobilize fragile items - Wrap fragile items individually and separate them from one another and the walls of the box. Fill in air spaces with packing material to ensure the items don't move when you shake the container.
• Don't pack a laptop like a lamp, or vice versa - Appropriate packing techniques vary widely depending on what you are shipping.
• "Right size" your boxes - If you're routinely using boxes that are too large for the product you're sending, you are wasting packaging and spending too much on shipping.