Martin Lewis warning to stock up on household item before prices rise next month | Personal Finance | Finance

Martin Lewis has urged families to stock up on stamps before prices increase next month.

He told listeners to his BBC podcast: “They’re going to get more expensive quite soon. If you buy your stamps now, while they’re still cheaper, and they say first and second on them, they will last in perpetuity.

“So if you’re going to need to use stamps over the next couple of years and you send lots at Christmas, go and stock up now before we get towards the end of this month, when prices go up again.”

These price rises will come in from April 2:

• First class – standard – £1.35 (up from £1.25)
• First class – large – £2.10 (up from £1.95)
• Second class – standard – 85p (up from 75p)
• Second class – large – £1.55 (no change).

Prices are also going up for Royal Mail’s signed for, special delivery guarantee and tracked services.

Mr Lewis said previously: “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.”

Several other household bills are going up in April, including water bills, mobile and broadband and council tax.

Most councils in England are set to raise the levy by the maximum five percent while some cash-strapped authorities are increasing rates by 10 percent, such as Birmingham.

The bill for an average Band D property is increasing to £2,171, an increase of £106 a year.

Mobile and broadband bills are increasing by up to 8.8 percent from April, as many providers base their mid-contract increases on the rate of inflation plus an additional amount.

Providers including BT and EE are increasing some of their tariffs by 7.99 percent, while Virgin Media and 02 are increasing some bills by 8.8 percent.

Mr Lewis previously called for Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to act on the inflation-topping price increases in his Spring Statement, but there were no new policies on the issue.

Andy Aitken, co-founder and CEO of mobile provider Honest, told Express.co.uk previously: “If we truly want to stop inflation and support working people, why wouldn’t we put an end to an unpredictable, unethical price hike that ultimately contributes to the basket of goods that make up inflation?

“Even Ofcom has called time on this whole practice. The only way to fix the current system and protect low-income households is very simple: mid-contract broadband and mobile price hikes must be banned once and for all.”

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