POSTAGE HIKE REMINDER

A long-time friend and freelancer (very thrifty) suggested I remind you that although the price of postage has gone up again, many writers seem to have missed the fact that the price for the second and any additional ounces actually went down when the next to last rate hike took effect. The price for the first ounce is now 42 cents, but the cost of each additional ounce is now only 17 cents. If you are putting a 42-cent stamp on for each additional ounce you are wasting money. However, you also need to be aware that if you are sending something in a manila envelope--what the PO calls a "flat"--the postage rate goes up. For example, a 2-ounce flat is now $1. These are first-class postage rates, so you can save more by sending manuscripts by Media Mail.