7 Ridiculously Easy Ways To Save Money And Time

Last week marked yet another increase in postage from the United States Postal Service (USPS). This increase coupled with the enormous increases in gas challenges you as an entrepreneurs or small business owner to focus efforts on cost-reduction activities. As a result, you are working hard to offset these costs by searching for creative ways to save money.

Unfortunately, visiting your local brick and mortar post office won't help, because the real savings happens online. Believe it or not, whether you've got one customer or thousands, USPS.com has several FREE tools to help YOU save money and time. These tools are so simple you'll wonder how you ever managed without them.

I'd like to call your attention to 7 ridiculously easy ways to save money and time using USPS.com:

1. Order shipping supplies - your supplies will be sent directly to your office or home.

Instead of purchasing boxes, envelopes, tubes and stickers USPS has various sized boxes perfect for items that range from large drawings, fishing rods and golf clubs to one or two DVDs or CDs. The envelopes are ideal for sending letters, cards, and other small documents.

2. Print and pay for shipping labels - your labels will be printed without leaving your desk.

Instead of standing in line to determine price and postage print professional shipping labels, pay for postage with any major credit card, calculate and compare postage. Create an address book to standardize information and view shipping history.

3. Track and confirm mailings - your delivery status information will be sent by email.

Instead of spending time entering tracking numbers have the updates can be sent to as many as three email addresses for a period of 2 weeks following your request.

4. Schedule a pickup - your carrier will pick up from your home or office at a time and place convenient for you.

Instead of spending time loading packages in the car, standing in line and using your gas you can schedule your Carrier Pickup up to 3 months in advance. Your request can be extended as long as your future dates are within the 3 month time frame.

5. Use PC Postage - you will be able to download postage and use your standard printer.

Instead of waiting in line to purchase stamps PC Postage allows you to download postage and use your standard desktop printer to print it directly onto envelopes or labels for your mail or packages. You can also save money with the Forever stamp which remains valid for first-class postage regardless of any increases.

6. Use Direct Mail Services - you will be able toselect the format style that best suits your business needs.

Instead of hiring a graphic artist use pre-designed templates to create a direct mail campaign use your own company logo to create customized direct mailings choose from cards, flyers, postcards, and more.

7. Open an express mail corporate account - you will be able to receive a 3% price reduction.Instead of waiting days for your packages to arrive get a guaranteed delivery time, quarterly rebates, monthly activity report and overnight deliver to most locations.

Not sure if the USPS is the cheapest option? Want to quickly compare real-time rates, delivery and pickup options from the top carriers? Check out FREE web sites that allow you to see different carriers' shipment pricing and compare all on the same page.

Despite the increase from the United States Postal Service, I challenge you to discover how these 7 ridiculously easy ways to save money and time can decrease your business expenses.

By: Tonya Taylor

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Rising Star Ideas, LLC, a Columbia Maryland based company, founded by Tonya R. Taylor over 10 years ago to provide essential information technology solutions. Ms Taylor is a Business Success Coach who specializes in teaching how to leverage online tools through her seminars and workshops.