Martin Lewis' MoneySavingExpert team is urging people to stock up on stamps before their cost goes up from next week.
The consumer experts say the cost increase can be avoided by bulk buying at the standard rate. They are reminding people that from Monday, April 3, the cost of first-class stamps will rise from 95p up to £1.10 - making them 15p more expensive.
Meanwhile second-class stamps will increase from 68p up to 75p - meaning a 7p increase. However, people are being asked to make sure they buy stamps with barcodes on, reports the Liverpool Echo.
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Martin's Money Saving Expert website said: "This means you have until Sunday 2 April to stock up on first or second-class stamps to secure them at their current price to beat the hike. Just ensure you're given new barcoded stamps rather than old-style versions without a barcode."
It's also worth noting that another major change is coming in July that will make your postage stickers worthless. From July 31, stamps without a barcode will be rendered unusable. The Royal Mail states: "Mail posted with non-barcoded Definitive stamps after 31 January 2023, will for the first six months be delivered as normal, no surcharge will be raised.
"After this six month grace period, an item with a non-barcoded stamp would be treated as if there is insufficient postage. Any item that has insufficient postage is subject to a surcharge. Surcharge fees can be found on our website."
How to swap out non-barcoded stamps
Non-barcoded stamps can be exchanged for the new barcoded version through the Stamp Swap Out scheme. To swap out stamps, complete one of the Royal Mail Stamp Swap Out forms and send it back to them along with any non-barcoded stamps.
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