What are Forever Stamps?

So the USPS is raising stamp prices again, which means it's time to invest in Forever Stamps! Forever Stamps will cost you $0.42 ($8.40 for a book) currently and can be attached to any first class envelope weighing one ounce or less. This ensures that if you buy a booklet of Forever Stamps and they raise the price before you've used all of them, you can keep on using them until they're gone! If you stock up now you can avoid paying the increase next time you need a stamp, especially if buying stamps is inconvenient. (If that's the case, the USPS offers an online service so that you can buy Forever Stamps online if it's difficult to get to a Post Office!) 

The Forever Stamp design features a digitally drawn image of the Liberty Bell by artist Tom Engemann of Brunswick, Maryland, as well as the words "USA First Class Forever". These words indicate that you are using a true Forever Stamp. There has been some controversy over some Post Offices issuing the wrong set of stamps when customers ask for Forever Stamps. When you purcahse books of these stamps, please make sure that they say the words "USA First Class Forever". 

Current postage prices will be in effect until May 11, 2009 when the rate will increase to $0.44. Until then, Forever Stamps can be purchase for $0.42. After May 11, 2009 they will be selling for the current cost of First Class postage, which will then be $0.44. These Forever Stamps have been available since 2007 and since then consumers have bought 6 billion of them! 

The increase in postal rates are not going to break anyone's bank, but they can cause a lot of inconviences (like important time sensitive material getting returned to sender). Don't get caught up in this. Buy a pack of Forever Stamps the next time you buy a roll! One thing to remember however! Be sure to specifically ask for Forever Stamps, because the Post Office will not willingly offer them unless you say something!