Entry bubble Stamp Price Increase

By: Colleen | February 11, 2009 | Category: Money

Last week, Jake discussed the idea of the U.S. Postal Service cutting back its delivery services to five days a week.stamps

While that idea is still being tossed around, the USPS has announced that as of May 11th, 2009, the price of postage stamps will increase by 2 cents. That means, it will now set you back 44 cents to send a standard letter.

Since rising costs are the norm right now, the postal service increases rates annually in May and the change is tied to the rate of inflation from the year before. The increase is estimated to cost the average household an additional $3 per year.

Other changes include:

  • A postcard stamp increases one cent to 28 cents.
  • The first ounce of a large envelope increases 5 cents to 88 cents.
  • The first ounce of a parcel increases 5 cents to $1.22.
  • International postcard and letter prices, for one ounce, are 75 cents to Canada, 79 cents to Mexico, and 98 cents elsewhere.

Before May 11th, you might want to stock up on Forever Stamps, which still sell at the 42-cent rate until the increase occurs.

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Entry bubble The Post Office Dilemma

By: Jake | February 02, 2009 | Category: Money

postal carrierWhen I was a kid, I loved Saturdays because I was out of school, cartoons were on all morning and I got to check the mail. Nowadays I don't look forward to the mail unless something I buy online ships USPS ground.

It's not just bills that have made my enthusiasm wane for mailbox deliveries, it's the fact that I do more socializing and business online. I am part of the reason why the Postmaster General recently told the U.S. Congress that the United States Postal Service (USPS) may be forced to cut service from six days to five. 

While some of that money the IRS takes from you goes to the United States Postal Service, most of their money comes from you and I buying their services. Use of email, online ordering, using other delivery services and the economic downturn (less bulk mailings, etc.) has really put a dent in post office sales. In fact the USPS could face a deficit of more than $6 billion this year.

The post office could cut back on those losses by suspending service on Tuesday or Saturday, their slowest days. Congress and postal officials would need to approve this plan, which a member of Congress says he will not do.

Even though I don't look forward to the mail's arrival anymore and it makes business sense to me for them to cut a service day, there's just something wrong with the idea of mail being delivered five days a week.

What's your opinion? Should the USPS suspend service one day a week and if so, what day would you suspend it?

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Entry bubble Moving Out!

By: Jake | October 15, 2007 | Category: General

postal stamp: return to sender for better address

The apartment hunt is over! I found a new place in Alexandria and I move in early November. One of the first things I will do is tell various government agencies about my change of address.

I've found in the past the best place to start is the post office. I can change my address at any post office, or go online and do it for a dollar. After changing my address, the U.S. Postal Service will forward my mail to my new address for a year.

Though USPS will not tell people who mail me I have moved, they will forward my address change information to the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS will send my tax forms to the last address change furnished by myself or USPS. The last time I moved I did not change my address with the Internal Revenue Service and my tax forms arrived at my new address (though the IRS also got my new address when I changed for W-2's at work).

If this move were taking place during tax season and I had filed my tax return before changing my address, I would have notified my old post office and the IRS of the change so my refund and any other materials went to my new address. If you are collecting social security benefits,  have a passport or receive other services from federal agencies you should notify them of your address change.

For address changes on the state level, I've found the best place to start is at the state motor vehicles office. I can get my driver's license and car registration updated here, and most department of motor vehicles offices also allow you to update your voter registration.

Many municipalities require you give notice if you have a vehicle in their limits, so they can assess and collect property tax.  In the past I have received bills from former counties, so I will notify my old municipality so they don't send me a personal property tax bill.

After all the address changes are done, the Pueblo website has a moving checklist of things I need to do. I will be addressing things such as choosing a mover and utilities next week.

| View Comments [2] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: address   apartments   change   housing   irs   moving   taxes   usps