Beat the Postal Increase May 9, 2008

The U.S. Postal Service is raising its First-Class Mail postage to $.42 effective May 12, 2008. While the 1-cent increase is the most visible change to the consumer, there are broader changes related to shipping packages. For more information see “New Prices Coming May 12, 2008“.

You can order Forever Stamps until May 12, 2008. The Forever stamp  will always be valid as First-Class postage on standard envelopes weighing one ounce or less, regardless of any subsequent increases in the First-Class rate. However, doesn’t mean you should stock up on a lifetime supply. According to a post in Meme Menagerie, the $5.00 you save by buying 250 Forever Stamps prior to the rate increase would be gone in 6 months if you compare to an investment that yields a modest 5%.

What I like about the Forever Stamp is that you don’t end up with an odd number of 1-cent stamps or find a 33-cent stamp in your desk drawer (yes, that’s me) that looks ridiculous with the number of 1-cent stamps required to use it. Bonus, you don’t have to go on-line to figure out what the current rate for First-Class Mail even is. The only time I send a real live letter is when I can’t find an email address. I can type waaaayyyy faster than I can write and don’t have to scratch out misspelled words.

You can buy Forever Stamps using your credit card and only pay $1.00 (one dollar) for delivery. They are usually shipped the next business day. That one dollar beats the cost of gasoline to drive to the Post Office and the value of my time waiting in a line that looks like the DMV.

Now, if you really want to save time, money and natural resources:

• Use email
• Pay your bills online
• Call your Mom on Mother’s Day