Postage rates going up

[Mick Walker]

Just a reminder that postage rates are going up Monday, May 11. First class will go from 42¢ to 44¢. Now would be a good time to purchase some "Forever" stamps.
So what else is new? Gas jumped 20¢ per gallon here in the last few days, was $1.99, now it is $2.19. Just so it doesn't get back up to the $4.00 range.

[jerrog]

This is a little of the stamp subject but, has anyone else received notice of the "status" of their pensions? My wife and I both have pensions to go with SS. We both got notices that the funds were in the "red zone" for 2009 & 2010. Didn't say any more than the funds would have to be increased to continue at present funding. I think it is a subtle way to warn us it might cease. It seems as if there is some new problem every day, but so far all have been small ones. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest. Whew feel better.
Jerry

[wwalker47]

Good advice, Mick, I just bought 100 forever stamps some weeks ago, so I all set.

Jerry-

I just retired on the 30th of April and my SS won't start until July and I truly hope that it will be here. Man, I hope they get back in the black and soon!

-Bill

[JohnB]

G'day Mick,
One day someone has got to figure these Govt. types out.
Here we are, in the midst of one of the worst depressions known, all economists are Sh*t Scared of uncontrollable inflation and they stick prices up. ??????????????????????????

[scrollpup]

Hey John, that price increase is paying my wifes salary!(Just kidding ) But my wife does work for the USPS and she actually LOST money this past year by investing into her retirement fund!Seems that you have to be a really bad CEO and be on the brink of bankruptsy before you can get ahead in this market!

But to anyone that snail mails--buy those forever stamps, I doubt the USPS will decide later on that their prices are too high .

Jerry C

[miniwoodworker]

Originally Posted by jerrog

This is a little of the stamp subject but, has anyone else received notice of the "status" of their pensions? My wife and I both have pensions to go with SS. We both got notices that the funds were in the "red zone" for 2009 & 2010. Didn't say any more than the funds would have to be increased to continue at present funding. I think it is a subtle way to warn us it might cease. It seems as if there is some new problem every day, but so far all have been small ones. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest. Whew feel better.
Jerry

Jerry, I understand your pain. For years, I've dreamed of a nice workshop. Our home is on a slope. Dream was to jack up our home, cut into the slope for a walk-out basement under it. Above the walk-out, a larger roofed (screened) porch, would cover the outside patio/work area.

Plan included in floor radiant heat for both the shop and our home. Plan included a safe room for hurricanes and tornados. Since it would be approx 1800 sq ft, there'd be space for a small finishing room and a couple of other dedicated spaces.

The funds, held in my retirement account, to build my dream shop, are gone. To make matters worse, COBRA insurance is taking 40% of my SS. If property taxes, (and all the other taxes/fees) keep going up, I won't even have the home to jack up. I thank God every day that we don't have to make house payments.

Thanks for letting me talk about a lost dream.

[Mick Walker]

John, the USPS lost 2.8 Billion dollars last year and so far this year they are in the hole for 1.9 Billion. They have around 220,000 vehicles and last year with gas at $4.00 per gallon probably contributed a lot to their loss.
Just so they don't mess with my pension or health insurance.

[keystonecop]

Mick, Thanks for saving me some money.. I forgot all about the increase.
Have my wife pick up stamps at Samsclub.

Now I hope that all the money you saved us does NOT effect your retirement.

[JohnB]

Originally Posted by Mick Walker

John, the USPS lost 2.8 Billion dollars last year and so far this year they are in the hole for 1.9 Billion. They have around 220,000 vehicles and last year with gas at $4.00 per gallon probably contributed a lot to their loss.
Just so they don't mess with my pension or health insurance.

G'day Mick,
Interesting.
Australia Post is a profitable organisation, rare for a Govt. owned utility.
I don't know about USPS, but Aust. Post has diversified quite a bit by selling stationary, printers, books etc and you can pay just about any bill at the post office.

Message to USPS "KEEP YOUR HANDS OF MICK'S RETIREMENT MONEY"

[KtownScroller]

Just my 2 cents worth... 0.44 cents to mail a letter is cheap. I think they should increase the postage to 0.50 cents a letter and get out of the red completely.

On a slightly different side note... I noticed my junk mail has been reduced considerably. A local company that generates junk mail for various businesses was going head over heals creating unwanted trash (junk mail) for years. I just passed by the joint the other day to find that it had closed up. Hmmmm... they went from 24/7 for the past 20 years to zero. I wonder if they saw that coming? Lots of people lost work when they went belly up! Good for me, but too bad for them.