Tuesday, May 15, 2007

I can't believe this!

WOW. I just got back from the Post Office, and the "small price increase" nearly knocked me over!! I had a small international package to send, (that 1/2 dozen cupcakes in a box down below) and the cheapest rate was $50.00! The next highest was $75.00.

I have a feeling this is going to hurt a lot of people who sell on eBay and Etsy :( First gas prices, then the Electric Company raised their fees, and now this. Where do they think people are suddenly going to come up with all of this money to spare? Especially with all of these increases right on the tails of one another.

It seems like before long, there will no longer be a middle class. I hate to see what's happening to the regular working stiff. I know I'm soundind very dreary, but this is just the tip of the iceberg.

My husband is a Carpenter, and fortunatley he's never been laid off in the 17 years that he's been working. We know plenty of guys though that go through it every season, and it always happens in the winter when the work runs out. I don't know how people manage.

I have been lucky to be a stay at home mom for most of my children's lives, and it's been great. I think now its time for me to get a job. My youngest will be in Kindergarten this fall.

Hubby and I have gone over our finances, and between gas for the cars, electricity, and gas for the house, our cost of living has gone up almost 40%.

I know we're very fortunate. I don't know how others are managing, especially single moms, or anyone that is injured or ill. It's very scary.

16 comments:

Sarah and Jack said...

Oh my goodness, $50??? I guess they are real cupcakes so you needed them to arrive quickly? Did you end up mailing them? If not you could do felt cupcakes or something that you could put on the slow boat.

Anonymous said...

Hello, I too just left the post office, and I swear I have the post-ghestappo at ours. He even MEASURED my boxes!! I wanted to laugh. No, I wanted to smack him, then laugh.
So I've decided to stock up on those flat rate boxes, but one was a bit "over stuffed" and wouldn't close properly and he gave me a scolding about that right after he threatened to charge me full weight if I did it again!!!
Yah. Bite me.
Sooooooooooo.... how was YOUR day? hahaha! I hate going to the post office. But anyways, your cupcakes are CUTE CUTE CUTE (I should know since I have some!!!) and I NEED to get started on my cupcake swap now!

Lori said...

Oh wow!!! I had a head's up about the increased postal rates but THIS is rediculous!!! I didn't realize the rates would be SO high!!! Are you going to hike up the rate for shipping on your etsy items/ship only to US?? This stinks!!!

jessielavon@yahoo.com said...

just passing threw darling after a long weel 2 see whats new.xxoo

Mary Timme said...

Wow! I know as retired people we are losing our cushion, but I didn't know for sure if it was hitting others the same way. I see it is! I wonder when enough will be enough!

Anonymous said...

Wow! My sentiments exactly! I was so frustrated yesterday *tears* and postage was a part of it! It just gets so upsetting when costs go up that are beyond our control, such as postage or gas. We cut back and cut back and cut back some more, but pretty soon there's nothing left to cut back on! Grrr.. So, lol, your cupcakes are cute! Swap's on!

Melissa said...

I feel like I drag my sorry butt to work every morning to have 40% of my check to be sucked off in taxes and another 40% sucked off for gas, heating, electric...so that doesn't leave much change for buying paper, glue and paint! Hmmmm to craft or eat? That might be the next question we will be asking ourselves girls!

lindaharre said...

On the eve of retirement, I know exactly what you are talking about. I have already started cutting back on my driving. At 3.03 a gallon, I am limiting my trips this summer to twice a week. That might be good actually...keeping me in the studio producing:):) instead of running around collecting! ANyway, I agree, it is time to make some major changes in our lives in order to survive with grace and dignity.

The Polka Dot Pixie said...

Whoa! That is an insane postage increase. Thanks for the heads up!

Judi W. said...

I picked up a brochure at the post office and it said they are changing their prices based more on size than weight as big packages take more 'handling' than small ones. I can't believe it would cost $50 to mail those cupcakes. Ouch!

Peta said...

Our postage here goes up twice a year and our gas prices are about to increase. It is making it harder to sell internationally on ebay, that is for sure.

Anonymous said...

When I heard that the postage was going up by 2 cents I didn't pay much mind. That is until I went in today to mail off my tag swaps. The postal guy said that what would have cost me 63 cents per envelope before is now costing 1.20 or so....wow. So much for 2 cent increase. What a bummer on the international packages.....

Artifax said...

Some of the mailing categories just went up a horrible amount this time. I don't ship much internationally, but maybe DHL or UPS is cheaper now?

Patsy Terrell said...

I think we haven't even begun to see all the things that are going to go up because of the skyrocketing gas prices.

Renee said...

Oh my gosh that is ridiculous, I so know what you mean everything else rises but we still all make the same, absolutely ridiculous!

Georgia Peachez said...

Those post office rates are something else, but in addition to increasing the international(old priority) rates, they have added a first class for international and it is quite reasonable. It doesn't go to all countries, but I just shipped an item to Canada for $3.75. They told me 7-10 days but it arrived in 4!! That is cheaper than I could have shipped it domestically! The post office is crazy. Anyway, love your blog! Such eye candy!!
xo, Suzy