heidzilla helps: postage increase alert

the usps just announced today that the postage rate for a one ounce first class mail stamp will increase from $ 0.42 to $0.44 on may 11, 2009. postcard stamps will increase from $0.27 to $0.28. “forever stamps” will continue to work as intended. thicker, two ounce wedding invitations that were $0.59, will now be $0.61.

so what does this mean for you brides out there sending invitations for your summer weddings? well first, remember that invitations are traditionally sent out eight weeks prior to your event. so, if your wedding date is around july 4, you’ll be affected by the postage increase when you send your invitations. sending them out early might not be an option. if you have to send them out in the weeks just following  may 11 when the increase occurs, you might be stuck with the first issue stamp designs that have flags or eagles on them. last year it took 2 or 3 weeks until local northeast ohio post offices carried the 2008 wedding stamps:

if you have to send your invitations past may 11, in lieu of using the boring forever stamps, the first issue $0.44 and $0.61 stamps, or your old $0.42 and $0.59 stamps with $0.01 tiffany lamp stamps…

…consider paying a few cents more for your invitations and use these current designs from the usps. they might match your invitations much more anyways:

for those of you using postcards for rsvps and your guests will have to send them back to you after may 11, you’re going to need $0.28 on them.  you could put the current neon fruit $0.27 stamps with one $0.01 tiffany lamp stamp (ick!!! :::waves hands::: no please dont!!!)

OR:

think of postage as just another element of your stationery design by using a variety of stamps as part of your postcard design.

from: marthastewartweddings.com

i used three $0.10 stamps on my personal wedding invitations. (i preferred this when the rate was $0.27 because the neon stamps were a little too bright for my navy and gold color scheme)

there’s dozens of lovely stamps that you can mix and match in order to get to $0.28 or $0.61 per piece.

need help? visit stationer, jonathan wright and company’s site and click on “art of postage” to see all the ways to design your stamps and to buy stamp designed envelopes instantly. (they use 10 stamp combinations in pyramid arrangements)

search for more stamps on usps.com. or, a little bit more expensive route is customizing your own stamps! add a photo, your monogram or select from others’ designs already uploaded from these popular stamp-customizing sources: zazzle.com  ~   stamps.com  ~  artisticpostage.com ~  or check out ebay to see what postage stamps people have on sale!

and don’t forget to stock up now on the $0.02 navajo stamps if you have a lot of the $0.42 stamps, you know they’ll be out of stock come may.