Save on Postage
April 18th, 2008. Filed under: Finance & Fitness Fridays.You’ve probably heard about the new postal service charges which go into effect on May 12th. USPS just did this a year ago. Hopefully, we won’t have to go through this every year. For now we have a couple ways to save on both present and future postage. A lot of our bill payments are now done online or by phone, but for some things we still need the stamped envelopes. It’s especially nice to send a greeting card or personal letter for special occasions or just because. It’s also necessary for bill paying at the companies who do not have electronic payment options. I like to do as much business as I can locally. Many of these establishments aren’t set up for anything except checks or credit cards. I’ve learned the hard way that the credit card option is a bad choice.
Since everyone needs to have some stamps on hand, go out now and buy some Forever stamps. While you’re at the post office, look over the priority mail offerings. I’ve been using the flat rate priority for several years now and have saved a bundle by sending heavier items to charities and family in other states. A built in bonus with priority mail is the time factor. It gets there faster than first class and much faster than the “slow boat to China” rate.
The flat rate priority items include an envelope 12.5″ x 9.5″ for $4.60. The flat rate boxes come in 2 shapes. The 12.625″ x 11.875″ x 3.375″ is shaped like a large shirt box. Don’t you just love those measurements? Couldn’t USPS just round them up? It’s possible to send 21 paperbacks, 2 tins of smoked oysters, a card and have room left for something small tucked in. The other is 11″ x 8.5″ x 5.5″ and is shaped like a large shoe box. You can load it with a lot of heavy cookbooks to send to your son, the chef. The good part is that no matter how heavy you load them, they always cost $8.95.
Yesterday during a visit to the neighborhood post office I picked up some of the new, larger flat rate boxes. These are 12″ x 12″ x 5.5.” You can send these new ones for $12.95. All the prices quoted are for sending within the U.S. But there’s a bonus to these new boxes. If you’re sending to a loved one stationed outside the U.S., they can be sent to any APO/FPO address for $10.95. I can hardly wait to see how much I can load into one of these puppies.
Another way to save with USPS is to use the online services. You can receive up to 10% discounts on your postage. So, way are you waiting? Join me in buying up those Forever stamps and loading the boxes to get sent out before the May 12 price increase.
May 15th, 2008 at 21:32
[…] was regarding the “guest post” that Being Frugal posted. This post, original name, Save on Postage, was published here at Sunny Island on April 18th. You have a good point about the amount of […]