Martin Lewis warns ‘stock up’ on household staple before it’s too late

Martin Lewis has warned savers that stamps are set to rise in April meaning now is the time to buy

Stamps are due another price hike as Martin Lewis urges savers to “stock up” on them before April 7th.

The price of a standard first class stamp will increase from £1.65 to £1.70, while a large first class stamp will rise from £2.60 to £3.15.

A standard second class stamp will increase from 85p to 87p, while the price of a large second class stamp will remain the same at £1.55.

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The cost of other Royal Mail services, such as ‘Signed For’ and ‘Tracked’ deliveries, is also due for a price hike.

As stamps are an essential item for most households, stocking up on them now will only mean you’ll be saving money in the long run and avoiding the price bump next month.

Martin Lewis explained: “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 rise.

“This has been an effective tactic, as a first-class letter stamp is now £1.65, soon rising to £1.70 – in 2012 it was just 60p. So while it’s not a huge saving this time, you still may as well stock up now.”

The increase in costs for stamps has become an all-too familiar reality for Brits, as the price of first-class stamps went up twice last year, in October 2024 and April 2024.

Royal Mail cited fewer letters being sent and delivered as the reason for the increase in costs.

Nick Landon, chief commercial officer at Royal Mail, said: “We always consider price changes very carefully, but the cost of delivering mail continues to increase.

“A complex and extensive network of trucks, planes, and 85,000 posties is needed to ensure we can deliver across the country for just 87p.”

It comes after Ofcom announced plans for Royal Mail to scrap second-class letter deliveries on Saturdays and reduce the service to alternate weekdays.

There would still be first-class post delivered Monday to Saturday, as the authority revealed the service has fallen from 20 billion letters being sent twenty years ago, to 6.6 billion today.