4 ms·
Wow! That's expensive. In the US it's certainly quite a bit higher than it was when I was a kid, but right now stamps cost $0.78 per. I think that's going up
by kelnos 6mo ago
Wow! That's expensive. In the US it's certainly quite a bit higher than it was when I was a kid, but right now stamps cost $0.78 per. I think that's going up a few cents later this year. Just looked it up; in the 90s when I was a teenager, it was between $0.25 and $0.32, so it's grown faster than inflation, but still feels manageable.
- terinjokes 6mo agoThose are USPS domestic stamp prices, an international stamp is currently $1.70. While a domestic pen pal probably isn't uncommon, the programs I recall tended to match you with someone international.
- rationalist 6mo agoStill cheaper than a cup of coffee just about anywhere in the U.S.
- kelnos 6mo agoAh, that's true. In the US I think it was a lot more common for penpals to be domestic, given the size of the country (IIRC all of mine as a child were in the US). In Europe it makes more sense that penpals would often be in a different country. Still, is $1.70 (or even the 3 euros mentioned above) really that much to pay every week or two in order to maintain a meaningful friendship? An espresso drink costs more than that in many places. Of course, email is free, so I could understand someone preferring to have a penpal relationship that way.
- rationalist 6mo agoAnd add the cost of the envelope, it's still less than the cost of a candy bar. I send handwritten letters to a couple of friends every few months.