The private finance knowledgeable mentioned it is an ‘efficient tactic’ with the price having soared during the last six years.
Martin Lewis mentioned folks should purchase stamps earlier than a giant rise subsequent month (Picture: ITV)
Martin Lewis has delivered an pressing warning to British households – advising them to stockpile an merchandise set to surge by practically 140%. Royal Mail has introduced it’s going to increase stamp costs – marking the eighth enhance since 2020.
From April 6, Royal Mail will push the price of 1st class stamps as much as £1.80 and 2nd class stamps to 91p. Again in 2020, a 1st class stamp value simply 76p.
From seventh April 2026, customers will face paying £1.80 (a 10p rise), representing a 137% enhance over six years. In response to Residents Recommendation, 1st class stamp costs have climbed eight occasions since 2020.
Quite a few Royal Mail providers together with ‘Signed For’, ‘Particular Supply Assured’ and ‘Tracked’ choices may even see worth hikes from Tuesday seventh April, alongside elevated prices for sending first and second class parcels. See a full checklist of costs.
This week, private finance specialist Martin Lewis suggested customers to buy stamps instantly and stockpile them forward of the rise, as they continue to be legitimate for future use. He mentioned: “For years, each time stamps go up in worth I’ve urged folks refill and bulk-buy prematurely, as offered the stamp does not have a worth on it and as an alternative simply says the postage class, it is nonetheless legitimate after the rise.”
“This has been an efficient tactic, as a first-class letter stamp is now £1.70, quickly rising to £1.80 – in 2012 it was simply 60p. So it’s possible you’ll as properly refill now if you are going to want stamps.”
Royal Mail final achieved an annual supply goal in the course of the 2019-2020 monetary yr. This week, MPs accused the corporate of “mendacity” about its efficiency and “pretending” to not prioritise parcels over letters.
The criticism follows rising issues that Royal Mail is failing to satisfy Ofcom targets for supply timeliness, probably leading to tens of millions of letters arriving late.
Labour MP Dave Robertson mentioned constituents in his space are “sick of being lied to by Royal Mail”. Talking on Wednesday, the Lichfield MP mentioned: “I met Royal Mail simply earlier than Christmas to complain to them concerning the complete lack of a postal service that now we have in Lichfield. We had been most likely the worst space within the nation at that time.
“I used to be instructed once I had that assembly that the entire first-class mail went out that week. That may be a lie, it’s an absolute lie, as a result of my constituents instructed me. Royal Mail clearly do not have a deal with on this – they’re both not measuring their efficiency or they’re overlaying up their efficiency.”
Anne Pardoe, Head of Coverage at Residents Recommendation, mentioned: “The worth of 1st and 2nd class stamps cannot be handled as a dial that’s turned up with out a clear justification for customers, forcing folks to dig deeper into their pockets for a failing service.
Royal Mail stamp costs to rise from April – how you can beat the hike… Full particulars right here: https://t.co/LvRLuWOonN #MartinLewis
— Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) March 10, 2026
“Greater than half a decade has passed by because the firm met its supply targets and other people nonetheless face a chance, with many unsure if their vital paperwork or letters like medical appointments will arrive on time.
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“Issues solely threat getting worse when cuts to supply days and diminished efficiency targets come into full impact. Towards this backdrop, Ofcom merely can not wave by way of these will increase any longer. Increased costs should include increased requirements – will increase ought to be tied to Royal Mail’s efficiency on the doorstep.”
Richard Travers, managing director of letters at Royal Mail mentioned: “We all the time contemplate worth modifications very rigorously, balancing affordability with the rising value of delivering mail. On common, UK adults now spend simply £6.50 annually on stamps and there are 70% fewer letters despatched than 20 years in the past. Within the meantime, the variety of addresses we ship to has elevated by 4 million to 32 million addresses throughout the UK.”
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