NORWICH – During the holiday season, the United States Postal Service expects to deliver 20 billion pieces of mail. With the increased volume of holiday packages being sent out, the key to having your presents arrive on time is preparation.

The number of first class letters processed daily increases by 50 percent between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The increased amount of mail means you have to plan ahead when mailing holiday packages. The Post Office has released a list of mail-by dates, to help you stay ahead during the holiday season.