Starting Sunday, it's going to cost an extra penny to send a first-class letter via the cash-strapped U.S. Postal Service.

The increase means it will cost you 45 cents to send a letter within the United States.

So if every penny counts and you're running low on stamps, it may be worth your while to buy a sheet or two of Forever stamps today or Saturday. You'll pay the lower price but the stamps will be good "forever."

In addition to the one-cent increase on a first-class letters, other rate increases that begin Sunday include:

• a 3-cent increase in postcards to 32 cents.
• a 5-cent increase to 85 cents for 1 oz. letters sent to Canada or Mexico.
• a 7-cent increase to $1.05 for letters send to other international destinations.

With more and more folks replacing letters and cards with email and e-greetings, the American Greetings company has come up with a pretty cool promotion just in time for Valentine's Day.

American Greetings is offering you the chance to design your own paper card for 99 cents AND the company will pay the postage to mail it.

It's a bargain for you. And a smart move on American Greetings' part to try to keep the paper card tradition alive.