federal holidays

Is Costco Open Columbus Day 2018?

October 11, 2019 By Amanda Blankenship 1 Comment

Federal holidays often provide a day off to get caught up on shopping. In fact, many retailers offer up holiday sales. With this Monday being Columbus Day, many people will use their three-day weekend to scope out the best deals. Costco has been known to provide amazing bulk deals on a number of products. If you are a member, you may be wondering, “is Costco open Columbus Day?”

Is Costco Open Columbus Day?

Yes, Costco will be open on Columbus Day. It is always up in the air as to whether or not this retailer will be open. They give employees off for several holidays throughout the year and are one of few retailers to do so, which can make it confusing. However, Costco will be open on Monday.

Costco Columbus Day Deals

There aren’t any Columbus Day-specific deals. However, the Kirkland October 2019 coupon book is out and all of the offers are valid throughout the entire month. If you plan on heading to Costco on Monday, there are plenty of deals to be had. You can check the Costco website to see if there are any store-specific deals available. If you are a Costco credit cardholder, you can also get cashback on your purchase.

What is the Costco Holiday Schedule?

As mentioned above, Costco is known to close on holidays many other retailers do not. In the United States, it is closed for the following holidays:

New Year’s Day
Easter Sunday
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day

Days surrounding these holidays may have altered hours of operation. For instance, many Costco locations close early on Christmas Eve. If you’re wondering about the hours for a Costco near you, you can check the website or give them a call. Costco is always happy to answer any questions you may have.

Costco Hours of Operation

Outside of the holidays, Costco hours of operation are as follows:

Monday through Friday – 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Saturday – 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The hours above aren’t guaranteed. Call and verify the hours before you leave to go shopping. Costco locations may close for other reasons, including inclement weather. It is also important to note Costco Business Centers don’t share the same schedule as the store in every instance.

Photo: Flickr: Mike Mozart

Is Walmart Open Columbus Day 2019?

October 11, 2019 By Amanda Blankenship 1 Comment

Federal holidays can be confusing. Some businesses chose to close their doors while others remain open and hold sales. This Monday is Columbus Day and establishments such as the post office and banks will be closed. What about America’s favorite retailer? Is Walmart open Columbus Day?

Is Walmart Open Columbus Day?

Yes, Walmart is open on Columbus Day! Whether you need to buy something last minute or do your weekly shopping, your local Walmart will be there to serve you on Columbus Day.

Many Walmart stores have other businesses operating within their location – pharmacies, money transfer services, or barbershops. These other businesses may or may not be open on Columbus Day. If you need to visit one of these establishments, call to confirm whether they are open on the holiday.

Walmart Columbus Day Sale

Is a trip to Walmart worth it on Columbus Day?

Yes, it is! While there are no Columbus Day-specific deals, Walmart has a sale going on every day of the week. If you are a regular at Walmart, you know how great the prices are. To see next week’s deals, you’ll need to visit the Walmart website and enter your zip code to receive the weekly ad. However, the store’s prices are generally lower than its competitors.

If you are going to head to Walmart on Columbus Day, you can even save more money with these tips:

Buy a discount gift card. Search for discounted gift cards online and get up to a 5% discount. This will save you a good bit on your Columbus Day shopping bill.
Use a card where you get cashback. If you have a credit or debit card that has cash back rewards, use it at Walmart.
Walmart price matches its competitors. Make sure you use this. You can request a price match via their Customer Service page or by calling them at 1-800-925-6278.
Use the Walmart Savings Catcher. Savings Catcher helps you scan the area for a better deal. If you could have saved money, Walmart gives you the money back. The cash can be applied to future purchases at Wally World.

What Is Walmart’s Holiday Schedule?

Walmart is open 364 days a year and most are open 24 hours a day. Occasionally, a store will be closed for facility maintenance. However, the only full day Walmart closes is Christmas Day. It should also be noted the store has limited hours on Thanksgiving. Check out Walmart’s full holiday schedule here.

Photo: Flickr: Mike Mozart

Is The Post Office Open Columbus Day 2019?

October 10, 2019 By Amanda Blankenship 1 Comment

Columbus Day falls on Monday, Oct. 14 this year. Even though many people may not know what Columbus Day is all about, they’ll have the day off and enjoy a three-day weekend. However, some of your favorite stores and other businesses may be closed. This may leave you wondering, “Is the post office open Columbus Day?”

Is the Post Office Open Columbus Day?

No. The post office will be closed on Columbus Day. Because Columbus Day is a federal holiday, post offices will be closed on Monday, Oct. 14. Physical USPS locations will be closed. There will also be no mail delivery.

All USPS employees will have the day off. So, if you need to interact with someone at USPS, you won’t be able to do so on Monday. However, some services will still be available.

You’ll still be able to use the self-service options at your local post offices, such as buying stamps and sending letters or small packages. Some locations may have a self-service system for printing postage in the lobby as well. You will also be able to access your personal P.O. box.

These services are generally available to customers at USPS 24/7. If you are wondering what services, if any, will be available at your local post office, you may want to give them a call and verify what will be available on Monday.

Is the Post Office Open Columbus Day Weekend?

Although many of you will have a three-day weekend, that isn’t the case for USPS workers. Mail will still run on Saturday and, depending on your local P.O.’s regular hours, they will be open on Saturday, Oct. 12 as well. So, if your post office is usually open, it will be open this Saturday and closed on Sunday, as usual.

Keep in mind, there are three more federal holidays in which the post office will be closed this year. These holidays will also impact the post office’s regular schedule:

Veterans’ Day: Monday, November 11, 2019
Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, November 28, 2019
Christmas Day: Wednesday, December 25, 2019

If you have any questions about your local post office holiday hours or the services that will be available to you, give them a call. The customer service number is 1-800-275-8777.

Photo: jelm6

Is Walmart Open on Labor Day 2019?

August 19, 2019 By Amanda Blankenship 2 Comments

This article has been updated with information answering “is Walmart open on Labor Day 2019?” Labor Day is September 2, 2019.

Labor Day weekend is the time for the season’s last cookouts, pool parties, and outdoor fun. You’ll need supplies for that fun long weekend. Therefore, you might find yourself wondering, “is Walmart open on Labor Day 2019?”

With the holiday weekend being such a big deal, many people just assume that everything will be open. However, because Labor Day is a federal holiday, that isn’t always the case. All nonessential government agencies are the only ones required to close their doors on federal holidays. However, some retailers do close their doors for the holiday.

So, it’s a fair question to ask: is Walmart open on Labor Day 2019?

Is Walmart Open on Labor Day 2019?

Yes, Walmart is open. If you need to buy last-minute Labor Day celebration items, then you’re in luck. Your local Walmart will be open to serve you on Labor Day. You don’t have to wonder anymore “is Walmart open on Labor Day 2019?” This store is there to meet your needs.

Are Additional Stores in Walmart Open on Labor Day 2019?

Many Walmart locations also have other businesses operating within their location (pharmacies, banks, money transfer services, restaurants, hair stylists, etc.) If you are wanting to take advantage of these services, call ahead. Because they aren’t technically part of Walmart, these businesses may not be open for the Labor Day holiday.

Walmart 2019 Labor Day Sale

If you’re asking yourself whether a trip to Walmart is worth it on Labor Day or not, it depends. If there are items that you definitely need for the holiday weekend, then it’s certainly worth it. For example, they discount all of the foods and disposable cutlery that you might want for a Labor Day picnic barbecue.

However, keep in mind, you are only saving money if it was a purchase you’d already planned on making. Don’t fall victim to the store sales!

End-of-Summer Items on Sale

That said, there are some great sales. Note that very specific sales deals are usually announced just a few days before Labor Day. However, there are some things that you can usually count on at Walmart during this weekend sale.

For example, Walmart typicall celebrates the Labor Day holiday by discounting specific end-of-summer items. While you may not be using the items over the winter, you can save to stock up for next summer. Some examples of on-sale end-of-summer items this year include:

Camping supplies including tents and fishing gear
Outdoor furniture and patio umbrellas
Portable music speakers
Gas, electric, and charcoal grills

School Supplies on Sale

More immediately, school supplies are also still on sale at Walmart over Labor Day. With many kids heading back to school this week and next, you can get good deals on items for the new year.

Use Classrooms by Walmart, which is a tool where you can find your school’s list of supplies. If your school has a uniform, then you can also get information about that. Therefore, you can buy your kids’ new school clothes at Walmart.

Remember that school items aren’t just for kids; get good discounts on office supplies by shopping in the school supplies section. Furthermore, remember that these days school supplies include tech like laptops. Yes, these are also on sale at Walmart on Labor Day weekend.

Gifts and Other Goodies on Sale

Likewise, there are some great store sales on items that you might set aside as Christmas gifts for later in the year. You can check the Walmart Savings Center online to see what’s already on sale pre-Labor Day. The toys, home, and college dorm sections are great items to check for gifts.

Additionally, Digital Trends reports that Walmart has significantly slashed prices on Google Home smart home products. Whether for a gift or for yourself, that might be something worth taking a look at.

How to Save at Walmart on Labor Day 2019

If you want to get the best discounts on Walmart items this Labor Day, then head to the Walmart website Labor Day page. Scroll down to click on any of the following sections:

Clearance
Special Buys
Rollbacks
Big Savings

That’s where you’re going to get the biggest savings across the store.

Another great way to use the website is to plan your Labor Day shopping trip to Walmart. Browse the site to find what you want to purchase. Do some online comparison shopping to make sure that you’re getting the best deal. Then head to Walmart with a shopping list and stick to the list to get the best savings.

Other Ways to Save at Walmart

If you are going shopping at Walmart on Labor Day, we suggest you use some tried and true ways to save money.

Make your purchase with discount giftcards. This is an easy way to shave a good margin off your Walmart bill.
Use a Walmart credit card to grab some cash back. Normally going with store cards is a bad idea, so if you choose this route you’ll need to manage it carefully.
Check your local store’s Weekly Ad for the latest discounts.
Exploit Walmart price matching. Walmart will price match their brick and mortar and online competitors. To request your price match check their Customer Service page or call them at 1-800-925-6278.

What Is Walmart’s 2019 Holiday Schedule?

Walmart only closes its doors completely one day out of the year. That’s on Christmas Day. However, many Walmart stores do have limit hours on Christmas Eve. They often close early that day.

Walmart is also generally open for only limited hours on Thanksgiving. It’s a bit unusual, because many stores close at midnight and reopen at 6 a.m. for Black Friday sales. However, Walmart stays open late on Black Friday itself. Moreover, some Walmart stores have special extended hours from Thanksgiving through Christmas.

Outside of special holidays, most locations are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Stores that aren’t open 24 hours genreally open at 7 am and close at 11 pm. However, it is always wise to double check the hours of the stores closest to you though. Some may be closed due to maintenance, construction, remodeling, or similar reasons.

Read More:

Is the Post Office Open on Easter 2019?

April 19, 2019 By Tamila McDonald 2 Comments

Sunday deliveries have become increasingly common in the US. Amazon’s partnership with certain package services, including the United States Postal Service (USPS), in specific areas, opened the door for Sunday deliveries in cities where that wasn’t previously an option. As a result, many people have become a little spoiled by the service, and increasingly wonder if the post office is open on Easter, or any Sunday.

Is the Post Office Open on Easter?

No, the post office is not open on Easter. Generally, post offices close on all Sundays. Even if your location typically offers Sunday deliveries, there usually is not any help available at the customer service counter, and Easter will be no different. However, there also won’t be any Sunday deliveries, even if they are common in your area.

If your post office has certain self-service features in unsecured portions of the building, those should still be available on Easter. For example, post office boxes that are accessible 24/7 will still be reachable. Similarly, any automated postage machines, stamp vending machines, and similar services that do not require an employee may remain available on Easter.

Post offices will be open on the days surrounding Easter, depending on their typical operating schedule. Here is a look at the span from Good Friday to Easter Monday:

Good Friday, April 19 – The post office is open on Good Friday according to the locations regular schedule
Saturday, April 20 – If your post office usually offers Saturday hours, it will be open on the Saturday before Easter
Easter Sunday, April 21 – The post office is closed
Easter Monday, April 22 – The post office is open according to its usual opening and closing hours

Are UPS or FedEx Open on Easter?

No, UPS and FedEx close on Easter. UPS is typically not open on Sundays, so Easter will be no different. The only delivery exceptions are the UPS Express Critical service, which is available 365 days a year, including on Easter. Certain UPS Store locations may open on Easter, though only a highly limited number.

FedEx is mainly closed on Easter as well. They do make exceptions for FedEx Custom Critical deliveries and FedEx Trade Networks shipments. Additionally, FedEx Office locations may be open, though on a modified holiday schedule.

Post Office Holiday Schedule

USPS is a federal government agency. As a result, they follow the federal holiday schedule each year. Here is a look at the post office holiday schedule for 2019:

Tuesday, January 1 – New Year’s Day – the post office is closed
Monday, January 21 – Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday – the post office is closed
Monday, February 18 – Washington’s Birthday / President’s Day – the post office is closed
Monday, May 27 – Memorial Day – the post office is closed
Thursday, July 4 – Independence Day – the post office is closed
Monday, September 2 – Labor Day – the post office is closed
Monday, October 14 – Columbus Day – the post office is closed
Monday, November 11 – Veterans Day – the post office is closed
Thursday, November 28 – Thanksgiving Day – the post office is closed
Wednesday, December 25 – Christmas Day – the post office is closed

While Easter isn’t listed as an official federal government employee holiday, it does always fall on a Sunday. Most government offices close on weekends, except for organizations that oversee public safety and national security. Since the post office isn’t typically open on Sundays, the fact that it isn’t listed as a federal holiday doesn’t have an impact on their schedule.

Post Office Normal Business Hours

Not every post office maintains the same operating schedule. Most locations open between 8:00 am and 8:30 am and close between 5:00 pm or 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday. However, some locations stay open earlier and close much later on weekdays. For example, a few Miami locations open at 7:30 am and don’t close until 9:00 pm.

In most cases, Saturday hours are more limited, and not every location opens at all on Saturdays. If you need to head to the post office on a Saturday, or any time outside of the typical operating hours, it is best to confirm that your location will be open before you head out. You can either contact your local post office directly or go to the USPS website for additional details.

Have you ever needed to go to the Post Office on Easter Sunday? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started.

2019 Post Office Holidays and Schedule

April 14, 2019 By Amanda Blankenship 25 Comments

For those who use the United States Postal Service (USPS) on a regular basis, and especially those who have small businesses which rely on the postal service to get their products delivered, the post office holiday schedule can be vital. It’s important to know when the post office is open and when the post office is closed. The USPS is part of the U.S. government and, therefore, follows the federal holiday schedule. On the following federal holidays, the USPS will be closed, including post office branches, and there won’t be any standard mail delivery.

2019 Post Office Holidays

The post office closes on all of the major federal holidays throughout the year. Here are the holidays honored by the post office in 2019:

January 1 (New Year’s Day) The post office is closed New Year’s Day 2019
January 21 (Monday) The post office is closed Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
February 18 (Monday) The post office is closed Presidents’ Day
April 15 (Monday) Some post offices are open extended hours on Tax Day
May 27 (Monday) The post office is closed Memorial Day
July 4 (Thursday) The post office is closed on Independence Day
September 2 (Monday) The post office is closed Labor Day
October 14 (Monday) The post office is closed Columbus Day
November 11 (Monday) The post office is closed the day after Veteran’s Day in observance of the holiday
November 28 (Thursday) The post office is closed Thanksgiving Day
December 15 (Sunday) Some post offices are open the second Sunday before Christmas
December 22 (Sunday) Some post offices are open the Sunday before Christmas
December 24 (Tuesday) The post office is open Christmas Eve but many locations may close early
December 25 (Wednesday) The post office is closed Christmas Day
December 31 (Tuesday) The post office is open New Year’s Eve but many locations may close early

Postal Holidays to Remember

Most of the postal holidays above are ones you’d expect the post office to be closed. While tax day isn’t a holiday, many larger post offices will be open extended hours on Monday, April 15, to accommodate all the people trying to get their tax return letters in under the deadline. By extending the hours, it will ensure people get the needed April 15 postmark on their taxes up until midnight, when the post office usually closes much earlier. You will need to call your local post office to see if they will be open extended hours for tax day, and if so, until what time they will accept letters for postmarking.

The USPS is usually closed on Sundays, but there are exceptions. At the end of the year when people are mailing holiday gifts, some larger post offices remain open the two Sundays before Christmas to help deal with the added demand of sending packages. Since this doesn’t apply to all post offices, you need to call your local post office to see if any in your area will be open on these days.

Photo Credit: tales of a wandering youkai