Reducing postage costs for mailing letters and packages.

     The costs for mailing packages can be reduced by reusing boxes, bubble wrap, peanuts, and styrofoam received from mail order, shoe, or any other merchandise purchases instead of purchasing new and unused material. You can also contact local packaging stores inquiring if they recycle packaging material to be reused at no cost. Use the recycled material for your own packages and recycle the extra material for others to use. Envelopes can be purchased at a reduced cost due to sales and rebate offers. Occasionally, a grocery store may offer a book of first class stamps at a discount for the purpose of enticing you to purchase groceries at their store.

     Don’t wait until the last minute to mail packages around the holidays or close to the date a package needs to be received. The longer you wait, the faster the delivery service necessary for a timely delivery resulting in higher costs to you. Instead, ensure the package is mailed with sufficient time remaining to use the normal first class delivery route, not the express or the overnight rates. Also, consider using third class ground mailing instead of first class air mailing because the cost can be significantly less. Although, the delivery time will require several more days.

     Another less expensive form of ground mailing is the media mail or book rate. It is a special rate intended for the mailing of books, film, paper, binders, and computer media. Refer to the US Postal Service web site for more information at http://www.usps.com/consumers/domestic.htm#standard.

     Consider using the express mail service offered by the Post Office as an alternative to the regular first-class service. The reason is because the cost for purchasing a box, packing materials, then having the package weighed and mailed at the Post Office may be more expensive. Some of the methods of mailing packages will include a box/envelope as part of the price of the mailing. Also consider the Post Office will tape the box at no additional charge to ensure it is properly sealed when using the express mail service.


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