Save money on your holiday cards

From Consumer Reports:

Printing your holiday photo cards through a photofinishing Web site can save you time and money, especially if you do so in the next week or two. A number of sites are offering limited time discounts and free shipping. Below are some deals that I found at larger sites.

To take advantage of an offer, you must register with the site and provide contact information, such as your e-mail and shipping address. You'll also need to upload any photos you want to use on the card. Be sure to note the expiration dates on all offers:

• Shutterfly Save 20 percent on holiday cards. (The offer does not apply to note cards and calling cards.) Also, you can get free shipping on your order if you spend $30 or more. A comparison page lets you compare card types. Shutterfly has a wide array of other gifts, many of which are also being discounted.
• Kodak Gallery This site is offering free shipping on orders of $75 or more.
• Snapfish This site is offering free shipping on orders of 40 or more flat cards. They are also offering 20 percent off on everything in the Snapfish catalog.
• PEphoto.com They're offering 10 percent off orders of 25 or more photo greeting cards. Also, buy one photo album, get $10 off a second album.
• Walmart photo center Free shipping on greeting cards.
• Winkflash They're offering 40 percent off all holiday card orders.

• Clark Color labs Has several promotions: 40 percent off photo greeting cards; free shipping on photo gifts of $25 or more; 7 cents per prints; $8 off hardcover photo book orders of $20 or more.

• Photoworks Buy one photo calendar, get one free.

In addition to holiday cards, these sites also offer other photo-related products, such as ornaments, calendars and photo books. With any promotion, be sure to read through all details and check back at the site for any new promotions and special offers.

Here some other factors to consider when using an online photofinisher:

• There a various types of formats you can use to print your photo, including folded cards, flat stationary cards, photo cards and other formats, like according-style cards.
• You can choose between traditional photo paper, and more expensive premium card stock, which may be easier to write on.
• Some cards are available in different finishes, such as matte and glossy.
• Some sites let you add more than one photo.
• Generally, the more cards you buy, the cheaper each one is.
• Most offers include envelopes.
• Card sizes vary. Common ones include 4x8 and 5x7.