Two Things Make a Post

[rolanni]

1. The US Post Office, feeling, as do we all, the pinch of the Zombie Apocalypse right in the wallet, where it hurts the most, has decided to increase rates! Brilliant, USPS. Just. . .

Sigh.

When we began serializing Fledgling, in 2007, a first class stamp cost 39 cents. First class postage now costs 44 cents an ounce, soon to go up to 46 cents an ounce. Periodical mail -- which is to say "media mail," which is how SRM orders, for instance, travel domestically, will go up about 8 percent over current rates. God, She knows what's going to happen to overseas rates.

Again.

*deep breath*

2. Regrettably, I will not be going to NASFiC as originally planned. Steve will be attending. I'm sorry to miss everyone; have a great time for me!

Comments

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Postal rates have been going up annually for a while. We were supposed to get an automatic increase in May, but they postponed it.

It's All The Intertubes' Fault.

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

It's All The Intertubes' Fault.

In terms of first class mail -- yes. Yes, it is. I used to send letters to people. I belonged to APAs. Now, I do email; the only things I mail are birthday cards and bills. And I wouldn't mail bills, if I didn't have the Patented Freelancer's Interesting Checking Account.

What corks me off is the really outrageous increases in media mail and in overseas package rates. This is the half-owner of a small business that does almost all of its fulfillment by USPS talking. We're the ones who get yelled at by customers because our s&h is "too high" and all we're doing is recovering the costs.

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

That's because they know they're still cheaper than the available private enterprise. So they gouge.

You'd think someone would come along and, you know, compete, wouldn't you?

You do seem to have a large number of vocal customers.

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

PS Your checking account doesn't have Bill Pay? Bill Pay is god.

I ran into a First-World Problem(tm) recently: I write so few checks any more, I ran out of check registers before I ran out of checks.

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

Your checking account doesn't have Bill Pay?

Oh, I'm sure it does; it has all the modern conveniences. It's the question of when the money is in the account, as opposed to when the automatics want to make a withdrawal that's at the core of my hesitance.

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Bill Pay for my account is not automatic. It's a list of bills that I pay when there is money, and payments are delivered on the date I specify. Say I want to pay le mortgage on the 1st. I can go in as late as the 31st and clicky the clicky. And the payment not only gets there on schedule, if for some reason there is a glitch at the other end, the bank will call and destroy them, and their little late fees, too.

It is a godsend for this freelancer.

[cailleuch.livejournal.com]

I don't automate anything, I rather do my own sending. I also just clicky the clicky. The other thing that is nice is that if the receiver cannot take the money as an electronic transfer the bank prints a check and mails said check. I don't have to pay postage. I don't know if your account works this way but I have found it quite useful.

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

A quick look over at the online banking site seems to offer an automatic payment, which is not what's wanted. However, I have to talk to a Person in order to have the feature turned on, so when I do that, I will ask after more information.

[cailleuch.livejournal.com]

Anything I can do to help. You know my email.

[redpimpernel.livejournal.com]

Also, most utilities and other pay-every-month type establishments let you pay from their websites, you enter your bank account info (just the same routing & account #s that are on your checks, nothing nefarious) and they store it in your profile, and you make the one time payment when you want. You don't have to make any arrangement with your bank. I've been paying my cable, phone, gas, and electric this way for years. I pay when I have the money in the account, and when I want to.

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

That does sound useful. My bank offers something -- bill-cue-pay? -- but I have to talk to a Live Person to turn it on. Will make a phone call tomorrow...

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

If it's not automatic, if you can keep a list and use it to send payments on your schedule, go for it. If they can do a transfer it goes through the next day. If they need to send a check, you may need to schedule a payment 2-4 business days ahead.

It's highly useful when payments come in right up against the wire, and there's no time for a check to crawl through the mail. The only time it gets sticky is if you forget to schedule a Monday payment before the cutoff on Friday--then you have to run to the PO. Otherwise, it is all kinds of awesome.

[keristor.livejournal.com]

So I guess the postal jar needs another contribution. Is that still around or do we just use the trip jar?

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

postageATkorvalDOTcom still works. Congress still has to approve this newest increase. Given the rate at which gummint flows, we'll have the pre-ordered Saltations out the door well before time.

[keristor.livejournal.com]

I'm sure overseas postage gone up since I last contributed anyway, it always does (the same over this side of the Pond).

I won't be going to NASFIC either, so I'll miss not seeing you there *g*...

[grassrose.livejournal.com]

Even my credit union in a small town offers Bill Pay with the features described above. You can make a one-time payment or set up recurring payments. If you set up a recurring payment online, versus going into the branch, you can also edit and cancel it online.

If the credit union can do the transfer electronically, they will. That will take two or three business days. If they can't, they ask you to figure on 6-8 business days for a mailed check.

The only thing that gets pulled from my account is the mortgage. Everything else, I push via Bill Pay. I much prefer it that way. So does my credit union. They offer a higher interest rate on checking accounts, if you meet certain requirements. One of those is to be a netizen - accept e-statements and log in to your online account at least once a month. Another is to use your debit card a certain number of times per month - and Internet purchases count :o)

It's definitely worth asking the question of your bank.

[ellenru.livejournal.com]

Having most of my bills go through the bank acct. is a godsend. As one of the branches is on my walking route to/from work, it's ridiculously easy to stop in and make sure the appropriate bill is taken care of. I still use the occasional cheque, but almost everything, including the realty tax payments, goes through in electronic transfer and I have one account where everything shows up so the bank is helping me keep track.

I'm sorry you won't be at NASFiC as I was looking forward to both of you being there.

OT

[(Anonymous)]

It's an icon cat show. Shiny!
Sue H
Who wishes she were currently en-catted.

Kitty theme going on.

[(Anonymous)]

I noticed that too. dancinghorse's black n white cat is very cute.