Once again the price of a stamp has gone up. It now costs $0.41 to mail a First-Class letter. It shouldn’t come as a shock since over time prices go up due to inflation.

What’s interesting about this postage rate increase is the release of a new type of stamp called the Forever Stamp. These new stamps are good for mailing First-Class letters now and anytime in the future, regardless of any future price changes.

I think these stamps are a really great idea and a long time coming. It’s always extremely annoying to have to go and purchase those 1 and 2 cent stamps when a rate increase goes into effect.

These new stamps shouldn’t, however, change your stamp purchasing behaviour. They should not be purchased as an investment. The stamps won’t go up in value again until the next rate increase and by then people will be buying them with cheaper dollars due to inflation. There’s no sense in tying up any more money than you usually would in stamps.

The great benefit of these stamps is that you won’t have to buy those 1 and 2 cent stamps. You’ll still be able to use up the stamps that you already have. This benefit won’t be realized until the rate increases again. As far as I’m concerned, it’s business as usual without the added hassle of dealing with a sudden rate increase.

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