The cost of stamps will rise to 46 cents per stamp on Sunday. 

The US Postal Service is in dire shape; the organization nearly defaulted on payments it is required to make twice last year.  A decline in demand for sending items through the postal service combined with rising healthcare and pension costs has put extreme pressure on the Postal Service.

When is the last time you sent a letter to someone?

Aside from occasional bill payment or sending a birthday card, my use of postal services has dropped significantly.  What will the USPS do as demand continues to drop?  Only time will tell.

When things change financially you have to take action. Don’t wait for a Congressional bailout like the USPS. Take action with these articles:

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The flu season has hit with surprising force this year.

Some are calling it an epidemic while others think it is just a stronger flu season than normal.  Nonetheless it seems to be everywhere across the country.  Some areas are running out of flu vaccinations which isn’t helping matters.  The government has set up a pretty slick website over at Flu.gov to guide you in getting through this year’s flu season.

Be sure to check with your insurance company to see if they cover flu shots.  Even if they don’t most walk in clinics charge about $25.  Compared to feeling ill for 7 days and having to miss work, $25 still seems like a bargain to me.

Avoid feeling ill when you look at your bank account and credit card statements by using these great articles to get better with your money:

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As expected our saints in Congress “came through” at the last possible moment to kick the proverbial debt, tax, and spending can down the road for a little bit.

A deal was struck, the middle class was “saved” — or was it? — and everyone can focus on using this small planned victory in the next election cycle.

…said the cynic.

Nonetheless your taxes won’t be jumping up by 27% next year.  Instead, a 2% discount in the Social Security tax that has been in place for a few years will disappear.  Many will moan and complain about having less money in their pockets and how this is a tax increase.  I see it more as you used to be able to use a coupon someplace, but now the store isn’t accepting 2% off coupons anymore.  The drop from 6.2% tax to 4.2% was meant to be temporary to boost the economy.

Considering the rate has been 6.2% since 1990, hasn’t been below 5% since 1973, and hasn’t been below 6% since 1988… I’d say it is the removal of a discount.  But people will still complain about losing 2% next year, and that’s understandable I suppose.  Just realize that you shouldn’t have had that extra 2% for the last few years, move on, and try to save or earn more money this year.

You can cover that extra 2% in Social Security tax easily by implementing a great financial plan to pay off your debt, earn more money, and save for a rainy day.  Here are some articles to help you do just that:

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