Good News: USPS Isn’t Raising Forever Stamp Prices This January
Is another stamp price increase is on its way? Here’s what you need to know.
Great news! The USPS just announced that it will not be raising the price of First-Class Forever Stamps in January 2026.
This means it will continue to cost 78 cents for anyone to send a standard-sized, one-ounce First-Class envelope to anywhere in the United States and its territories.
Hip Tip: It is always wise to stock up on USPS Forever stamps, as there is no expiration date so they can literally be used forever. So if you stocked up on Forever stamps when the concept was first introduced in 2007 for its then-rate of 41¢, you can still use those same stamps to mail a letter today, even though the current First-Class Mail rate is 78¢.
Shop stamp sheets and books online (USPS offers free standard shipping, though there is a small handling fee), or skip the cost and grab them in person at your local post office, grocery store, or bank.
Looking to save on shipping?
Consider using Media Mail when eligible. Media Mail is a shipping service offered by the USPS that can be used to send non-time-sensitive, educational materials. These can include items like books, educational references, CDs, DVDs, and more. Check the USPS website for a full list of eligible items.
If your items qualify, Media Mail starts at just $4.13 and costs way less than other USPS options. Just keep in mind that in exchange for the low price, Media Mail shipments take a little longer to be delivered, typically between 2-8 business days.
If you ship packages frequently, you may also want to consider joining the FedEx Rewards program to snag discounts of 15% – 30% off your shipments. If you prefer UPS, the shipping service offers discounts to AAA and AARP members. In addition, many readers recommend trying Pirate Ship, which claims to save you as much as 87% off USPS & UPS rates with no markup, fees, or minimums.
How generous of them! haha.. then in July they will go up .15 instead…. lol 🙂
Buy stamps MUCH less online
Be very careful about buying stamps online, a lot of them are counterfeit. USPS policy for any mail sent with counterfeit stamps is that it is not delivered to the address nor returned to the sender. You get no notification that your mail wasn’t delivered because the postage was counterfeit; it just never arrives.
See: https://faq.usps.com/s/article/Counterfeit-Postage-and-Unpaid-Postage