Postage Rate Increase

New postage rates take affect today:

• Domestic First Class- 45 cents
• Domestic Postcard - 32 cents
• International Letter to within North America- 85 cents
• International Letter elsewhere- $1.05

Be sure to affix the correct amount of postage to all your letters today and be mindful of the fact that other shipping and service prices may have changed as well. For more information be sure to check out USPS.com .

2012 Postage Increase

Were you aware that postage next year may cost more here in the US? I knew they were talking about increasing it, and really we get a good deal for what we pay currently. In fact, I wrote a post about that here. The new price changes (if approved) will take affect January 22, 2012.

Some of the postage changes are as follows:

First Class- 45 cents for the first ounce
Postcard- 32 cents for up to 4X6
International - $1.05
Letters/Cards to Mexico or Canada - 85 cents

Other changes were mentioned here, but not detailed as to how much the increase will be.

Some things are getting more expensive, but others aren't that big of a difference. I know for myself, the big difference is in the international mail. I don't send too much internationally (yet) but I can see where I may have to limit myself on how many postcrossing cards I send out each month. Because they could certainly add up quickly!

What do you think of these changes? Are you happy? Angry? Indifferent? Will these changes affect how much mail you send? I would love to hear your opinion on this. =)

2 Posts in One Night!!

So I was reading over the blog 100 Days of Snail Mail and saw that she was talking about the price of postage. Well..upon reading hers (she is based in Canada) I decided to do my own calculations for the US..and share them here of course.

In 1985, (the year of my birth), the cost to mail a letter within the country was 22 cents. Today that rate is 44cents..though people have probably forgotten about that because of our nice Forever Stamps. So we are actually even as far as that calculation goes. The inflation calculator says that it should be 44 cents today.

Now on to postcards! Postcards mailed inside the country in 1985 cost a blistering 14 cents to mail...and as the inflation calculator shows...they should have cost 28 cents in 2010. Obviously you cannot calculate what it would cost in 2011 because the year is only getting started. So again...we break even.

But what about International postcards and letters? In 1985 they cost 68 cents to mail and according to the inflation calculator...that same letter today should have costed $1.36! Which means that we are actually getting a discount! Our rate is only .98 cents. So we are actually saving some money according to inflation.

So next time you think about whether stamps are too expensive just think about this little post. At least here in the states, we are getting a really good deal.