As much as I love the concept of the Forever stamp, and as much as I appreciate the fact that there is a consistent rate for sending mail overseas now, there is one thing I hate: The cost of sending something—anything—to a foreign country. A letter that meets the very maximum standard requirements to use a global Forever stamp costs the same as a three-line postcard. Quite frankly, it’s a racket. Just as there are different rates for mailing a postcard versus a letter within the United States, I believe there should be different rates for mailing a postcard versus a letter to a destination outside the United States.

I frequently exchange letters with our first foreign exchange student, who lives in Slovakia. When I travel, I like to pick up postcards to send her way, but sending a postcard from every destination I visit would become cost prohibitive very fast, especially on trips where I visit more than one interesting place. On a road trip late last summer, I created the idea of a postcard package, which is a fun and much cheaper way to share my experiences with her. Every day (or at every interesting stop), I pick up a postcard, which I date and then write a short note about the site or what I did during the day. At the conclusion of my trip, I have several dated postcards already written, which I then send in a single envelope, often with a full-fledged letter. I always get this envelope weighed because it often weighs a little bit more than what a global Forever stamp covers, but it is so much more affordable than sending each postcard individually. Plus, our girl gets an eclectic collection of fun stuff in a single mail delivery. Read more…