Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Postage Stamps Going Up to 44 Cents

Time to purchase a book or two - or even a roll - of some more of those Forever Stamps because postal rates are scheduled to go up in May of 2009.

The cost of a first-class stamp will go up by two cents in May which will bring it to 44 cents for a stamp. The postage increase will begin on May 11, 2009.

Now is the time to stock up on Forever Stamps, which will continue to sell at the current 42-cent rate until the increase occurs. They will remain valid in the future regardless of rate hikes.

The U.S. Postal Service announced that the overall change is due to the rate of inflation in the year before.

While the new 44-cent rate covers the first ounce of first-class mail, the price for each additional ounce will remain unchanged at 17-cents.

Postal officials believe that the increase will cost the average household an additional $3.00 per year.

The Postal Service stated that it lost $2.8 billion in 2008, and that unless the economy turns around in 2009, it is headed toward much larger losses this year.

The agency could have cited extraordinary circumstances and asked the independent Postal Regulatory Commission for larger increases, but officials felt that would only result in a greater decline in mail volume.

The post office has been cutting costs, reducing work hours, and has asked Congress to ease requirements for advance funds for retiree benefits and to allow mail to be delivered five days a week instead of six.

Other U.S. Postal Service charges will be taking effect on May 11, 2009, and they are as follows:

• The postcard stamp increases 1-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.

• New international postcard and letter prices are, for one ounce, 75 cents to Canada; 79 cents to Mexico; and 98 cents elsewhere.

Most Postal Service shipping services prices were adjusted in January and will not change in May.
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An up and coming business with very little overhead

Have you considered grass painting?

As seen in Fortune and Inc. Magazines

Anyone here been out of work for quite some time and trying to find a way to start your own business so that you can get back to work and getting some income? I have been thinking that maybe it is the best and quickest way to earning money once more. Not to mention that perhaps in this day and age, it is best to be dependent on no employer. After some extensive research, I have learned that grass painting is an up and coming business and very cheap to get started. You just need to know the "ins and outs" of the business. I did an online search to see what is available to those wanting to start their own lawn painting business, and frankly, I was disappointed at the lack of resources. To be even more frank, I was surprised by advertisers who seem to be offering a lawn painting business in a box, for lack of a better term, and at a huge upfront investment to the entrepreneur. It is not wise to put so much money out up front at the beginning of any business.

There is an ebook available that can get you started for much less than anyone else is offering to get a lawn painting business started, and there is already a 2nd edition available. In the 2nd edition of "How to Start a Lawn Painting Business" ebook, the following topics are covered:

  • How to formulate a business plan and how to reach your personal/professional goals;
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Learn how to get your copy here.