by Kimberly A. Smith

Created on: April 14, 2008   Last Updated: January 25, 2009

Do you feel like the price of stamps increases every time you turn on the news? Though a penny at a time may not seem noticeable, the high prices do add up if you send lots of letters or pay all your bills by mail. Finding quick and easy ways to reduce the amount of money you spend on stamps can help free up that extra cash for other areas of your budget. Use these easy tips to save your stamp money for more important purchases.

Pay your Bills Online

I used to use seven or eight stamps a month to pay my bills. While this doesn't seem like a huge expense, I was averaging $2.50 a month just on paying bills. Over the course of a year, this adds up to thirty dollars! Living alone in a one-bedroom apartment, that is often the cost of my electricity for a month. It began to seem like a waste of money to spend thirty dollars a year on paying bills.

I decided to change my spending habits and set up all my payments to be automatically withdrawn from my checking account each month. Not only do I save money by skipping the stamps, I save time because I only had to set up the payments once. Automatic payment plans also means that you will never have a late payment or lose your bill.

Buy Forever Stamps

The United States Post Office now offers a new stamp called the Forever Stamp. These stamps are exactly what their name implies - they retain their value as a first class stamp forever. No matter how many times the price goes up, you can keep using the same stamps.

If you are a professional writer and sending lots of query letters, your stamp budget is probably already high. I know many writers who purchase these Forever Stamps one hundred at a time for queries and submissions to publishers. As an added bonus, these stamps will be fine on your SASEs, even if the price goes up while you are patiently waiting for a reply!

Check Stamp Dealers

Online stamp dealers such as Hgitner.com often sell stamps for a 10% discount. Collectors buy large volumes of stamps when they are released, but the ones that do not appreciate can often be found at significantly lower prices. Current stamp production is often too high for the number of collectors out there, but you can profit from the discrepancy.

Visit your Local Warehouse Store.

Club warehouse stores like Costco often can offer discounted postage as well. If you are a member already, this can be a convenient solution to your postal needs. While you are shopping for your bulk needs, pick up your necessary stamps. If you do not already shop at a warehouse store, consider purchasing a membership. You can buy tissue and pantry staples in bulk, saving even more money from your monthly budget.

Even if you only save a dollar a month by reducing your postage costs, that twelve dollars a year can be better put towards a different need. In today's economy, every little bit can help. Paying even an extra couple dollars a month on your credit card bills can help you eliminate debt and save money on interest charges. Don't waste money where it isn't needed!

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