You don't have Michael Schmidtforever to get Forever stamps at their current 66-cent price.

The U.S. Postal Service, on Jan. 21, 2024, will raise the cost of Forever stamps from 66 cents to 68.  The price hike is part of a rate increase proposed in October and approved by Postal Service governors in November.

Other services will see an increase, too, including Priority Mail (a 5.7% increase), Priority Mail Express (up 5.9%), and USPS Ground Advantage (a 5.4% increase).

The increases are part of the USPS's 10-year Delivering for America plan, enacted in 2021 by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, which was "absolutely necessary to put the Postal Service on the path to service excellence and financial stability," he told a U.S. House committee in May 2023.

The upcoming increase in the price of first-class Forever stamps will be the fifth increase under the plan. When introduced in 2007, the stamps cost 41 cents. Remember, any Forever stamp you buy is good for sending mail "forever," so a 66-cent stamp bought now can be used next month when the USPS starts charging 68 cents for them.

For instance, a new Love stamp will be released Jan. 12, 2024 and sold at the current first class rate of 66 cents. Then, when most postal offices start selling the stamp on Monday, Jan. 22, all Forever stamps, including the new one, will cost 68 cents. The price change does take effect Sunday, Jan. 21, and will be reflected on usps.com and any post office open that day.

Graphics:Postal Service and Forever first-class stamp price increases

USPS mail prices to increase Jan. 21, 2024

The following price increases will take effect Jan. 21, 2024:

    Product                                Current Prices         New Prices

• Letters (1 oz.)                                66 cents                  68 cents
• Letters (metered 1 oz.)                 63 cents                  64 cents
• Letters additional ounce(s)           24 cents                  24 cents
• Domestic Postcards                      51 cents                  53 cents
• International Letter (1 oz.)            $1.50                       $1.55

More new Forever stamps coming in 2024

• Ansel Adams: The renowned photographer's work will be on 16 stamps; there's images of mountains, mesas, vistas and skyscapes.
• Dungeons & Dragons: For the 50th anniversary of the beloved tabletop game, the Postal Service has designed 10 stamps (sold as a pane of 20) featuring wizards, warriors, a dungeon, and, of course, dragons.
• John Wooden: The stamp has a portrait of the legendary UCLA coach. The two basketball players in the background have the numbers 4 and 10 on their jerseys to mark the 4 perfect seasons and 10 national championships he oversaw.
• The Underground Railroad: Ten portraits of historic figures who escaped slavery via the network, or helped others escape, will adorn each sheet of 20 stamps.

Contributing: George Petras

Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider &mikegsnider.

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