Standard first-class stamp prices to rise by an inflation-busting 8% from 2 April

soolin

Just a word of warning before anyone rushes out to buy stamps. It is cheaper to buy parcel post online from Rm or eBay than use stamps, so calculate any savings carefully. Online postage, and even buying direct from the PO also gives you delivery confirmation.

RFW

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Mutton_Geoff said:

The MSE article suggests buying in bulk ahead of the rise. If you do this, make sure you buy from Royal Mail directly as Ebay & Amazon are awash with fakes.

Or from official other sources like Costco or WHSmith. 
But an excellent point, definitely be wary of buying anywhere other than RM online 

I've often thought that that advice can be some of the worst money saving advice on here.
So first and second are rising by 10p. If I buy 100 first class stamps now and it takes me a year to use them, I'll have saved £10 by this time next year but will also have £125 invested in stamps for a year.

Admittedly if you'd bought a few hundred in March '22 when they were 85p you'd have had more savings but even then you'd have had a lot of money stuck in stamps for 2-3 years.

If you're using that many stamps for it to be a good saving then you could probably get a better deal with an account or a franking machine rather than having £100s of stamps stuck in a drawer.

MSE_Molly_G

Mutton_Geoff said:

The MSE article suggests buying in bulk ahead of the rise. If you do this, make sure you buy from Royal Mail directly as Ebay & Amazon are awash with fakes.

Hi there, thanks for this comment. We have now added a line on how to avoid counterfeit stamps into the story: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2024/03/royal-mail-stamp-price-hike/. 

buttonspo

As of today the Universal Service Obligation which defines the Post Office operation says, among other things, that a first class stamp is Next Day delivery and Second is 1-3 days; this is not happening! The reality confirmed/explained by PO counter staff is First Class 1-3 days, Second 3-5 days, (if you're lucky). To promise a service, take money up front while knowing it cannot deliver - is this FRAUD??