‘I think it's about £6’: do you know the cost of a first-class stamp?

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Royal Mail is putting up the price of stamps – but does anyone still send letters any more? We take to the streets to find out

Royal Mail has announced that it will raise the price of stamps to offset recent losses in “a challenging business environment”. A first-class stamp will rise from 70p to 76p, and a second-class stamp from 61p to 65p, on 23 March. But does anyone know the cost of a first-class stamp any more? And how much is too much to pay to send a letter?

Shirley Chung, 41, a nurse

I think it’s about 60 pence? But I’m just guessing. I suppose it’s getting more expensive because of inflation. And more people are using email. Everything used to be a lot cheaper back in the day! You could buy a house for £2,000. I got a letter just last week from a friend of mine who lives in Scarborough. She’s turning 90 next week. She always sends me letters. The last time I posted a letter was my Christmas cards. It’s lovely, getting letters. The only problem is that I never know what to do with them. Should I throw them away?

Pierce Byrne, 20, a student

I think it costs about £6 to send a letter? Maybe? I don’t know – I don’t send a lot of things. I send emails! I sent a letter overseas to my mum a few months ago. It was a parcel with some stuff she left at my house, but I put a handwritten note in there to be cute. I think you can tell that I don’t send many letters. But it’s always nice when you receive something that is physical and has emotion in it.

Julie Kelly, 57, a hairdresser

I think a first-class stamp is about 58p … It’s 76p? Oh my goodness. That is a lot. I suppose people aren’t sending letters any more, so that’s why the price is going up. The less we send letters, the more it costs. I don’t use email or anything – if I want to speak with someone, I ring them or send a letter. I just find it easier to write. I can type, I just choose not to. I prefer to put pen to paper. If you get a letter, you can save it for ever. It’s not like you’re going to save an email.

Ruben Kirin, 19, a student

I actually know this – I saw it on the news. It’s about 79p, right? I think that’s too high. Back in the day, people would send letters all the time. But I don’t think I’ve ever sent a letter. Sometimes I post clothes that I sell on Depop. In today’s day and age, everything is online. But it’s nice to receive a letter – it’s more personal. Politicians should know the price of a first-class stamp. They should be more in touch with normal people.

Lucy Eyeington, 36, a surveyor

Wow, 76p sounds like a lot. I thought it would be about 60p. If you’re sending out a group of letters, that’s really going to cost you. The last things I posted were over Christmas. I always send thank-you letters, birthday cards and Christmas cards. I make my children send thank-you letters, too. The last letter I got was from my grandmother, saying thanks for having her over Christmas. I just think it’s nicer to receive a letter. I don’t think the art of letter-writing will ever die out.

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