USPS rate hike

If you haven't already heard, the US Postal Service (USPS) will be increasing the price of postage effective May 11, 2009, which is less than two weeks away! The price will go up from 42 cents to 44 cents to mail a standard one ounce letter. (So if you haven't gotten those Mother's Day cards out in the mail yet, do it now so that it not only gets there in time, but you get in well before the rate hike takes effect.)

If you still have Forever Stamps, they will still be good after the rate hike. If you don't have them, go out and get some now before the rate hike. If you have a Costco membership, Forever Stamps are $41.75 for a pack of 100 stamps there, saving you .25 per pack over the price of them through the USPS. The savings will be even more after the rate hike, at a total of $2.25. Costco's stamp prices will go up to meet current USPS prices (less a small amount, usually .25 cent savings) after May 11 though.

Here's the USPS's press release on the rate hike.