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Martin Lewis is urging people to stock up on stamps before a price hike. The ITV This Morning star and Good Morning Britain regular spoke out ahead of a Royal Mail price hike, with stamps set to soar in price and hit Brits in the pocket during the ongoing Cost of Living crisis.
Mr Lewis said: “For years, every time stamps go up in price I’ve suggested people stock up and bulk-buy in advance, as provided the stamp doesn’t have a price on it and instead just says the postage class, it’s still valid after the hike. This has been an effective tactic, as a first-class letter stamp is now £1.10, soon to be rising to £1.25 – in 2012 it was just 60p.
“So you may as well stock up now, even if it’s just for Christmas cards for the next few Christmases.” From October 2, first-class stamps will rise from £1.10 to £1.25. A pack of four first-class stamps costs shoppers £4.40, but from October 2, that same amount will cost you £5.
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Mr Lewis was speaking after Jon Good, address validation expert at Hopewiser said: “Although other stamp prices are rising up to 40 percent, standard second-class stamps will remain at 75p.
“Additionally, Signed-For prices have increased up to £2.75 for a first-class letter weighing 100g as well as Worldwide Next Day and Two Day UK services, to £12.45 for a 5kg parcel delivered in 24 hours and £11.95 for a 5kg parcel in 48 hours respectively.” On July 31, Royal Mail discontinued regular non-barcoded stamps that featured Queen Elizabeth with barcoded versions.
If people still have any remaining old stamps, they can exchange them with new barcoded versions. According to the Pitney Bowes Parcel Shipping Index, the average adult in the UK sends 74 parcels a year.
