Kathryn Vercillo

Does 711 Sell Stamps?

May 2, 2019 By Kathryn Vercillo Leave a Comment

If you need to buy stamps then certainly you want to get them at the store closest to you. Therefore, you might find yourself asking, “does 711 sell stamps?” After all, 7-Eleven seems to be on every corner in some cities. You might already stop in there regularly to get coffee or snacks. If you’re already going to be there, then it would be great to save yourself a trip to the post office by getting your stamps there instead.

So, Does 711 Sell Stamps?

The short answer to this question is yes. Most 7-Eleven stores do sell stamps. If you are going to be at 7-Eleven anyway, then you might as well ask if they have stamps for sale. Chances are that they do. However, there is always some variation in the availability of stamps at stores like 7-Eleven. In other words, although the store will probably have stamps, they might not. Individual stores can vary. For example, they may sell out and not re-stock right away. Therefore, if you would have to make a special trip to your local 7-Eleven to get stamps then you might want to call ahead to confirm availability.

Which Stamps Does 711 Sell?

If you go to your local post office to buy stamps then you have a wide variety of different options. You can purchase stamps at the post office in many different denominations. Moreover, you can select from many different design styles and images for your stamps. If you go to 7-Eleven to buy your stamps then you don’t get as much selection. However, if you just need to mail some basic letters then 7-Eleven should have what you need.

Most 711 stores will sell two types of stamps. They will sell Forever stamps. They will also sell First Class stamps. The Forever stamps are used to mail first class letters. However, they never expire. Regular First Class stamps retain their denomination. For example, when it cost $0.49 to send a first-class letter, the first class stamp was worth $0.49. The Forever Stamp could also be used to send that letter. However, now that rates have increased to $0.52 for a first class letter, you would have to purchase an additional three cents in stamps to supplement the regular first-class stamp. In contrast, you could still use the Forever Stamp as is. Therefore, if you don’t send mail frequently, you might want to get the Forever Stamps instead of the first class stamps, despite the fact that their current value is exactly the same.

Most 7-Eleven stores only sell books of stamps. Therefore, you need to buy 20 stamps at a time when you purchase stamps at 7-Eleven. That said, some individual stores have been known to sell single stamps upon request. Therefore, if you only need one or two stamps, then it’s worth asking if you can purchase them singly rather than in booklets.

Where to Find Stamps at 711

If you’re at your local 7-Eleven to buy stamps then you might be wondering what aisle they are located in. Well, they aren’t in an aisle. Instead, they’re located up front with the cashier. Do any other 7-Eleven shopping first. Then head to the cashier to check out. When it’s your turn at the cashier, let them know that you’re interested in purchasing stamps. They typically have them right there in their register drawer so it’s quick and easy to make the purchase. Quick and easy is exactly what you want when you shop at a convenience store, right?

How to Find a 711 That Sells Stamps

If you already go to 7-Eleven regularly, then you can simply stop in to your local store and ask them if they sell stamps. If they don’t then they can probably tell you where the next closest store is that will have them. However, if they can’t tell you (or if you don’t already have a specific 7-Eleven location in mind) then you might want to do your research online first.

Of course, you can use your favorite GPS tool to locate the 7-Eleven closest to you. Then you can either take your chances or call in advance to find out if they have stamps for sale. Another great way to find the closest 7-Eleven to you is to use the store’s online Store Locator. You can go to the individual web page for each store, which will also tell you the three stores closest to that location. That way, if the first one you call doesn’t sell stamps, you can easily see which other locations might be able to help you out.

Interestingly, it doesn’t seem to work to use the USPS Store Locator to find 7-Eleven stores that sell stamps. Typically, you can use that tool along with the filter “alternate location to buy stamps” to find all stores that sell stamps in a given area. However, I searched several different locations and none brought up a 7-Eleven that sells stamps. I called a few 7-Eleven stores within those given areas; some (but not all) did sell stamps. Therefore, you should use 7-Eleven’s store locator and call in advance to make sure that they sell stamps.

What to Do if Your 711 Doesn’t Sell Stamps

If you have called a few 7-Eleven stores and they don’t sell stamps near you, then you might want to look at alternative options. This is where the USPS Store Locator will work to your benefit. You can find all of the local stores that sell stamps. Alternatively, you can filter by “alternate location to buy stamps” which will give you places similar to 7-Eleven that sell stamps. For example, one of my searches pulled up several nearby stores including CVS, Circle K, and Walgreens. If you want to go to a convenience store, then you might choose the Circle K from that list. The USPS Store Locator tool will tell you if the store only sells booklets.

Of course, you can always go to your local post office to buy stamps. They will always have exactly what you need. People sometimes try to avoid this option because of limited hours and long lines. However, if you plan ahead, then you can get exactly the postage that you require without any hassle.

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How to Talk About Money with Everyone In Your Family

April 30, 2019 By Kathryn Vercillo Leave a Comment

Money affects every aspect of our lives. For most of us, it’s more than just a practical tool. Yes, it’s a means to an end. However, money also has psychological and emotional aspects that can significantly impact us. The decisions that we make about earning, saving, and spending are complex, multi-layered, and often subconscious.

As a result, money tends to play a complicated role in all of our relationships. We operate with a certain money mindset, perhaps one we haven’t even explored in-depth. The people in our lives all operate the same way. Without discussing the deeper implications of money, this can lead to friction. If we can learn to talk about money openly, honestly, and from a place of deep self-understanding, then we can improve all of our relationships, including the relationship that we have with money itself.

Talking About Money is Tough

Talking about money isn’t easy, though. You may have some relationships where you’ve learned to talk about it out of necessity, such as in your marriage. You may also have some relationships where you’ve decided never to talk about money; coworkers often don’t discuss money with one another. Society has taught us many mixed messages about money that further complicate discussing the issue. The more we can learn to talk about money with everyone (and to know very clearly when we should not), the better we can all do when it comes to finances.

Learning to talk about money starts with working on your money stuff. You can’t have strong, honest, useful conversations if you haven’t dealt with your money issues. You can go to a therapist who specializes in financial issues to have these conversations. Alternatively, you can work through your thoughts by journaling or whatever other method works for you. Don’t underestimate the importance of looking at all of the complicated things that money represents in your life. Some questions to ask yourself include:

What are my earliest memories of money? How did they make me feel?
On a scale of 1-10, how comfortable do I feel talking about money?
What does money represent for you? (It might be security, power, love, opportunity …)
When you think about money, what emotions arise? (Fear, joy, confusion …)
What is one thing that you’re very proud of when it comes to money? What about one thing that brings you shame?
How are you doing financially compared to how you would like to be doing?
What are your financial goals?

You might also brainstorm lists. For example, at the top of a piece of paper, you can write, “Money means …” and then brainstorm as many things as possible to get to your core truths. Other examples include:

Money represents …
When I think about money, I …
The problem with money is …
If I have to talk about money …

Talking About Money With Your Family

Your family is one of the first places to start when you want to open up conversations about money. After all, they’re often the people who are most closely involved with your financial life. Of course, just because they’re close doesn’t mean they’re easy to talk to. Some families have so many nuanced challenges with money that they have become the hardest people to talk to. That said, if you can learn to talk about money with your family, then you have tackled one of the most important battles of your financial life.

Talking About Money with Your Spouse/ Partner

People who share money should definitely be talking about money. Even if you and your spouse have separate accounts, you’re contributing to the same household, and therefore you’re sharing money. It’s important to get on the same page about current and future finances. Even if you think you’ve discussed this topic to death, you might find that opening up new conversations about money can reveal new insights. Things to discuss with your spouse include:

What are your individual and shared goals when it comes to money? Think next year, five years, ten years, and more into the future.
What are the most significant financial concerns that you each have immediately and for the future?
List some things that you appreciate about your partner’s money style.
Share your truths about what money represents for you at a deeper level.
Likewise, explain your emotions around money.
Share how you feel when you two argue about money and what you would like to be different.
Express how you feel your partner sees you when it comes to money. Ask if this is true. Listen carefully to what they say.

When speaking with your spouse, here are some general guidelines to follow:

Begin the conversation in a calm state of mind.
If things get tense, call a time out. Set a time to resume the conversation when you’re both calm again.
Come to the table with curiosity about your partner’s experience.
Listen to everything your partner says with an open mind. Leave behind all judgment.
Share your experiences as authentically, honestly, and completely as possible.
If you feel upset, dig deeper to figure out why. Your money history may be influencing you.
If you can’t have these conversations in the way that you want, consider going to a couples therapist to jump-start the money conversation in a safe setting.

The goal when talking with your spouse about money is ultimately to come to both short-term and long-term money agreements in your household. Look for solutions that work for both of you. You can only do this when you truly understand where you’re each coming from.

Talking with Your Children About Money

Talking to your kids about money is an ongoing process. It’s your job to impart financial know-how to help them succeed in life. Of course, you need to do this is a developmentally-appropriate way. Some families use allowances to teach kids about money, although that’s not the only option. The most important thing to remember is that your kids are learning from you all of the time. Pay attention to what you say about money when you’re not actively trying to teach them anything. If you’re constantly stressed about debt, bills, or sharing finances with the other parent, they’re going to pick up on that. Make sure that the messages that you send them are the ones you want them to take in. Here are some tips for talking with young children, tweens, and teens about money:

Set your own goals for what you would like to teach them.
Use money mentions in their media to open up conversations.
Ask them their thoughts about money so that you understand where they’re coming from.
As they get older, show them what you’re doing when dealing with your finances. Explain why.

If you have adult children that are still coming to you for money, then it’s also important to start having some serious conversations with them. Often families get into a rut. They may discuss money, but in ways that aren’t productive. For example, if you pay your child’s rent, and you resent doing so, then you may not say anything for a long time then make a snide passive-aggressive comment that hurts their feelings. Talking more openly about money is a much healthier option. Here are some tips:

They are adults. Treat them as such. Show respect, ask questions, listen to their point of view.
Be clear about your boundaries. Know your limits and make sure that they know them as well.
Co-create financial goals together. Set a plan in place to achieve those together.
Admit a money mistake you have made in the past. This helps even the playing field so that the money conversation doesn’t feel like a shaming lecture from mom or dad.
Give them insight into your current financial status as well as your financial future. Allow them to see the whole picture.

Talking with Your Aging Parents About Money

As your parents get older, you may need to talk to them about financial matters. If talking about money isn’t comfortable in your family, that can be a challenging task. Nevertheless, avoiding it could be worse. Do you know what your parents’ financial situation is? Have you discussed what type of lifestyle they want as they age and how those costs will be covered? Do you know if they have life insurance or how you may pay for a funeral if they do not?

Sometimes these conversations are about more than just money. For example, if your parents can’t afford to live in their home any longer, you need to discuss their options. While you’re talking about money, you’re also talking about an emotionally-laden experience of having to move out of a treasured space. It’s important to be practical about money while also attending to the emotional experience of the more in-depth conversation at hand. Here are some tips for talking with your aging parents about money:

Show them respect. They may not be able to reciprocate, which is hard, but you can still do your part.
Stay aware of feelings that arise for you. Process those with a therapist or friend as needed. Don’t let them butt in on these challenging conversations.
If possible, deal with one challenging issue at a time. Give space between issues for parents to adjust to changes.
Let your parents know that you’re open and available to discuss other money issues when they’re ready.
Get support. Is there a family friend that might be able to mediate this conversation better than you alone?

Talking with Your Siblings About Money

There are so many different sibling relationships that it’s hard to categorize them in just one way. You may have a super close relationship with your siblings where money is rarely an issue. On the other hand, you may each handle money very differently, and that can bring up challenges in your relationship. If one of you pays for the other or owes money to the other, then that can complicate things even more. Likewise, if you each have significantly different money relationships with your parents, there may be underlying hurts that you’ll need to address. Perhaps everything is fine because you don’t talk about money, but what will you do when it comes time to deal with your aging parents’ finances?

Talking with your siblings about money is actually a lot like talking to your spouse about money. Follow the same rules about respect, sharing goals and dreams, listening with curiosity and kindness, and leaving judgment at the door. If you have past money challenges, it’s time to talk about them. If you can’t do that alone, it’s possible to get family therapy to open those doors. It’s scary to talk about money when you haven’t been – or to learn to talk about it in a new way – but it’s well worth it. If you can have those conversations, then you can stop letting money control your relationships. You can work together to meet your shared financial goals while respecting each other’s differences. It’s not easy, but it’s so very worth it.

Can You Drive for Uber With a DUI?

April 23, 2019 By Kathryn Vercillo Leave a Comment

You don’t have to have a perfect driving record to drive for Uber. However, you do have to have a relatively clean driving record. In other words, if you have a couple of speeding tickets then most likely you’re still going to meet their minimum driver requirements. However, can you drive for Uber if you have a DUI? The short answer is no, but there is a little bit more to it than that.

Uber Checks Your Driving Record

To drive for Uber, you and your car both have to meet some minimum requirements. For example, you need to have a 4-door vehicle, rather than a 2-door car. Additionally, you need to have a minimum of one year of driving experience. Once you’ve met all of the minimum requirements, Uber will do a final background check on you. There are two parts to this background check: your criminal record and your driving record.

A DUI might show up on your criminal record or your driving record. Therefore, there are two potential chances for Uber to screen you out as a driver based on having a DUI. This is important to know because some people wonder if they can drive with Uber if they get their DUI expunged from their record. Doing so isn’t a bad idea, but it will only erase the DUI from your criminal record. The DUI will still show up on your driving record. Therefore, Uber will still see that DUI when they screen you as a potential driver.

If Your DUI Was More Than 7 Years Ago, You Should Be Okay

According to Uber’s official policy, they look at the past seven years of your driving record. Therefore, if you had a DUI 8 or more years ago, then it shouldn’t affect your ability to drive for Uber. Similarly, Uber checks your driving record for fatal accidents and a history of reckless driving. Sometimes people make mistakes when they are young, so if you have a very old DUI but haven’t had any issues since that time, then you should be fine.

That said, it’s unclear whether Uber strictly follows that “7-year rule” in every state. Some states clear your record after seven years. In other words, if Uber pulls your driving record in certain states, then all they will see is information for the past seven years. However, each state’s rules are different for how long a DUI remains on the record. In many states, including California, a DUI stays on the record for 10 years. Uber reportedly only checks the last seven years, but if they pull your California driving history, they’ll see a DUI on there anytime in the past decade. At least one Reddit user reports that they were able to drive for Uber in California with a DUI that was older than seven years but hadn’t expired off of the 10-year record, yet.

Some states have even stricter rules when it comes to DUI records. For example, in Florida, a DUI stays on your record for 75 years, which is effectively your entire driving lifetime. Similarly, DUIs never go off of your record in Alaska. That said, Uber probably isn’t going to reject a driver who had a DUI 20 years ago and has had a clean driving record ever since. After all, the reason they look at your driving record is simply that they want to make sure that their drivers are safe to be on the road.

A Criminal DUI May Never Go Away

There is one more important thing to understand about that time frame for getting a DUI off of your record. The laws are about how long the DUI stays on your driving record. However, they aren’t the same as for your criminal record. If you got convicted of a felony DUI, then you are legally considered a convicted felon. Uber has a policy against hiring convicted felons of any kind. Therefore, if you have a felony DUI on your criminal record, then you can’t drive for Uber, even if that DUI happened decades ago. If you have an old DUI like that and you want to drive for Uber, then it might be to your benefit to try to get that DUI expunged from your criminal record.

What if I Get A DUI While Driving for Uber?

If you are already an Uber driver and you get a DUI, then the chances are that you’re not going to be able to continue driving with Uber. They periodically check the driving records of current drivers. Therefore, they’ll see that DUI. It isn’t safe for their drivers to drive around drunk (whether or not they’re on the clock at the time) so they won’t allow you to keep driving for them if you get a DUI.

Of course, you may get a DUI then go to court and have the charges dropped. If that happens, then you can contact Uber. If you can prove that you never actually got convicted of a DUI, then it’s the same thing as never having had one, and Uber will likely allow you to resume driving for them. Therefore, it may be worth it to go to court if you get a DUI.

Uber Got In Legal Trouble For Allowing Drivers with DUIs

In the past, Uber has gotten into legal trouble for their failure to carefully screen their drivers for DUIs and other violations. For example, in 2017, they lost a nearly $9 million lawsuit in Colorado. State officials there found that the company had at least 50 drivers who violated the minimum rules including felony convictions, driving without a license and DUIs. This is just one example of a state where Uber has gotten in trouble for this. Therefore, they’ve cracked down more in recent years. They’re more careful with the initial background check. Furthermore, they check their driver’s current records more frequently than they did in the past.

DUI Rates Lower in Uber Cities

One of the things that Uber is quick to point out is that despite the legal problems with their drivers, Uber tends to reduce DUI rates overall. In 2014, they reported that DUI arrests were down 10% in Seattle since Uber came on the scene. The conclusion they draw, of course, is that if people can easily Uber home from the bar, then they won’t take the chance on drunk driving. Uber frequently offers deals, promotions, and collaborative opportunities to further reduce drunk driving on holidays including New Year’s Eve.

How to Become an Uber Eats Driver

April 22, 2019 By Kathryn Vercillo Leave a Comment

If you’re looking to make some extra money on the side, you might want to know how to become an Uber Eats driver. If you are already an Uber driver, then it’s easy to add Uber Eats to your route. However, you can deliver Uber Eats even if you don’t qualify as a regular Uber driver because there are much fewer restrictions.

How to Add Uber Eats if You’re Already an Uber Driver

First, we’ll cover the natural part: how to become an Uber Eats driver if you already drive for Uber. You might want to do this because it’s a way that you can earn even more money as you drive. After all, you can only fit so many people in your car, but you can fit in extra food for delivery.

Since you’re already an Uber Driver, you need to change the settings in your app to add Uber Eats to your route.

Open the Uber app.
Select “account.”
Select “vehicle options.”
Accept the “terms of agreement” to receive Uber Eats delivery requests.

That turns on Uber Eats. Congratulations, you’re an Uber Eats driver now. If you only want to deliver food sometimes, but not during every ride, then toggle the feature on and off accordingly in the “vehicle options” tab.

Sign up to become an Uber Eats driver today!

How to Become an Uber Eats Driver if You Aren’t Driving Uber Yet

If you don’t already have an Uber driver account, then you need to go through a little bit more of a process to sign up to deliver Uber Eats. You can deliver food for Uber by bicycle, scooter, or car (although this varies by city.) However, you have to meet certain Uber Eats driver requirements.

Do You Meet Uber Eats Driver Requirements?

You will need to check with the rules in your city to make sure that you meet the local requirements for delivering food with Uber. However, here are the general requirements:

You can deliver Uber Eats by bicycle if:

You’re at least 18 years old.
You have a government ID, but it doesn’t have to be a driver’s license.
You have a bicycle.

If you have a scooter, then you can deliver Uber Eats provided that:

You meet your state’s minimum age to drive a scooter, which is usually 19.
Additionally, you must have at least one year of past driving experience.
You have a scooter with a 50 cc or less motor that doesn’t go any faster than 30 mph.

You can deliver Uber Eats by car if:

Your 2-or-4-door vehicle is from 1998 or newer.
You meet the minimum driving age for your city, which is usually 19.
Plus you’ve been driving for at least one year.
Your driver’s license, insurance, and registration are all up to date.
There are no major moving violations (such as a DUI) on your record in the past seven years.
There are no more than three minor moving violations (such as a speeding ticket) on your record.

If you meet those requirements, then you’re ready to sign up to be an Uber Eats driver. Of course, you also have to have a working smartphone to use the app to receive orders.

Do You Have an Uber Eats Sign Up Referral Code?

If you’re looking into how to become an Uber Eats driver, you shouldn’t proceed any further until you’ve hunted down an Uber Eats sign up referral code. This is a code that allows you to maximize your early earnings when you first become a driver. The referral code also kicks back some money to the person who referred you, so try to get one from a friend or co-worker you’d like to support.

Enter that code on the sign-up page where it asks for an optional invitation code. Instead of an invitation code, you might receive a special link to follow. It will take you to the sign-up page using the referral code built into it. That link is your referral code link.

Make sure that you’ve read the terms of how to use your referral code. Usually, you’ll get a certain amount of money for signing up to drive, but you’ll have to meet a minimum number of deliveries in a certain amount of time. The details vary over time, but it’s always to your benefit to sign up with this type of link.

Sign Up to Become an Uber Eats Driver

Once you follow the referral code link, you’ll see that you have to follow a series of steps to apply to become an Uber Eats driver. It’s all pretty straightforward.

First, you’ll enter your name, email address, phone number, and city. Plus you will create a password to start your account.

Next, you will see a set of options for how you wish to make your deliveries. If your city offers delivery by scooter or bicycle, then that will show up here. If you only see “delivery by car” then your city doesn’t currently allow those other options for Uber Eats drivers. Select the one that you’re going to use.

Then the site asks you to enter your social security number. They do a background check on both your driving record and your criminal history to make sure that you qualify as a driver. This doesn’t affect your credit report. A screen will pop up with information about the background check. You can opt to receive a copy of the report if you wish. You have to accept this screen’s terms to move forward.

If you are going to deliver by scooter or car, then the site will prompt you to take a photo of your driver’s license. Once that’s accepted, you will receive a prompt to take a photo of your vehicle insurance. You’ll also have to upload proof of vehicle insurance.

Then you wait for Uber to approve or reject your application. You should receive notice of your acceptance in approximately 3-7 days. Once accepted, you can begin delivering food with Uber immediately.

Sign up to become an Uber Eats driver here!

Beyond Lyft: IPOs to Watch for in 2019

April 17, 2019 By Kathryn Vercillo Leave a Comment

Watching the Lyft IPO and its effect on the market has been fascinating. It was the first ride-hailing app to go public, which it did in late March. Initially, everything looked great. The company had ambitiously priced its IPO at $72 per share. Right after the launch, shares soared to $87.24. This meant that the company’s valuation was nearly $30 billion, a surprisingly huge amount.

However, in just the short weeks since that launch, Lyft’s value has dropped considerably. In fact, the drop happened fast. Shares fell below IPO price by the second day of trading. By April 15th, they were down to just $56.57 per share. That’s a 27% decline from the close of the first day of trading. Moreover, it’s 35% below that opening price of $87.24. Watching this saga has everyone curious about what’s going to happen with all of the other big IPOs set to happen in 2019. In particular, market analysts can’t stop making predictions about Uber.

What Will Happen When Uber Goes Public?

Lyft beat competitor Uber to the public offering. However, Uber is poised for its launch. People everywhere are speculating on what will happen with Uber’s IPO. Moreover, there are diverse opinions about how Uber’s launch will affect Lyft’s value. Uber is a bigger company with about five times the revenue of Lyft. It’s expected to open to the public at about that same ratio, with a valuation of around $100 billion or about $95 per share.

Most market analysts seem to expect Uber to follow a similar trajectory, starting off really strong but then fading quickly in terms of value share. However, some analysts are already coming out to say that Uber isn’t worth nearly as much as that projected launch number. CNBC reports that valuation expert Aswath Damodaran values the company at somewhere between $58 and $62 billion or between $51 and $54 per share. Moreover, initial investors may be more cautious after seeing the early days of Lyft’s IPO.

Uber has a lot working against the company. They continue to face a variety of legal battles. Recently several women have come forward with frightening tales of sexual harassment/ assault from their drivers. Moreover, they’ve reported that the only help the rideshare has given them is a $5 credit for the “trouble.” Uber tried hard to turn its image around with its new CEO, but it’s just not working quite as expected. Moreover, in addition to the legal troubles, Uber still isn’t a profitable company.

What Will Happen to Lyft with Uber IPO?

Lyft is a smaller company. It tends to have a better reputation than Uber, although it’s had its problems over time. The company recently had to pull many of its electric bikes out of service after reports of potential brake problems. That said, it’ll be interesting to see the effect that Uber’s IPO has on Lyft shares. Some people say that Lyft’s stocks may improve once Uber launches.

It really depends on what Lyft does shortly and how the public perceives its changes. They’re expected to launch their version of Uber Eats, which could increase their value considerably. Likewise, they’re making headway with driverless cars, which may or may not lead to improved profitability in the future. It’s hard to say which company will dominate the industry in the years to come, even though Uber is the bigger company at this time. Therefore, if you have shares in Lyft, you just might want to hang on to them.

More IPOs to Watch for in 2019

Lyft and Uber drew a lot of attention for their public offerings this year. After all, they were in a race to go public first. They’re natural competitors in a market where no other similar competitors really exist, let alone have gone public. Therefore, all eyes have been on them. However, there are a lot of other big IPOs to watch for this year. Although, with Lyft’s IPO struggles, along with other changes in the marketplace, there has been a delay of many of the IPOs anticipated for the year.

Will Airbnb Go Public?

In the frenzy of news about big companies going public in 2019, Airbnb was on everyone’s radar. However, as we have gotten a little bit further into the year, it’s become increasingly unclear whether or not they’ll have a 2019 IPO after all. Recode points out that the company hasn’t gotten any investment money in more than two years, which is a long time for a Silicon Valley startup. Therefore, interested investors have to carefully eye everything they can find out about the company’s financials.

Airbnb recently sold common stock at a price that would value the company at about $35 billion. However, the share value is unclear if they go public. Forbes reports that Wealthfront CEO Andy Rachleff accepts a current market valuation of $31 billion for Airbnb. Nasdaq reports that Airbnb has made some key acquisitions in the buildup to their IPO. Nevertheless, the company says that while they may go public before year’s end, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they will do so. Therefore, this remains one to keep an eye on.

Slack Will Go Public with a Direct Listing of Shares

If you work in the Bay Area, you’ve almost certainly used Slack to communicate with coworkers. Of course, people use it elsewhere as well, but it’s become particularly popular in the Bay Area. Email is out. Slack is in. So it’s no surprise that the company plans to go public.

Slack isn’t planning the usual IPO though. Instead, they plan to directly list their shares on the New York Stock Exchange. It’s not a common approach for startups going public. However, Spotify successfully used this approach when they went public. Most likely, Slack will go public this summer.

Bloomberg reports that in advance of that, investors are betting big on Slack’s value. During the company’s last fundraising round in August, the company had a value of approximately $7 billion. Investors are currently paying between $24 and $27 per share, which places valuation closer to $16 billion. Notably, high prices like that don’t always translate to a high value when the company goes public. Again, this will be an interesting one to watch.

Pinterest Manages IPO Expectations

Pinterest is a popular company. In certain niches, if you don’t have a Pinterest account, then you can’t effectively market your business. However, The New York Times reports that the company is working to manage expectations in advance of going public. Pinterest conservatively priced shares at $15 – $17. This gives the company a valuation of around $11 billion.

High Hopes for Palantir IPO

Peter Thiel is no stranger to making money from startups. His data mining company Palantir is no exception. Although it’s not as flashy as Airbnb or Uber in the public’s mind, it just might be the best IPO to invest in this year. For one thing, the company just won one of its biggest contracts ever, beating out Raytheon for an $800 million military contract. The company works with at least 12 differentl government agencies, which bodes well for its continuing value.

Palantir is frequently listed with a valuation of $20 billion. However, that amount is from a 2015 funding round. It’s no small valuation, but Bloomberg reports that it could be less than half of the company’s actual valuation. That $41 billion valuation came even before the news about that huge military contract.

Other IPOs to Keep an Eye on in 2019

Uber, Airbnb, Slack, Pinterest, and Palantir are the companies you’ll definitely want to keep an eye on as they go public. However, you might also want to follow IPO news about:

PagerDuty and Zoom are both going public before Easter.
Stock-trading app Robinhood is looking good for a 2019 IPO.
Postmates has increased marketing efforts in advance of a likely IPO.
Beyond Meat is likely to be the first plant-based “meat” maker to go public.
Dating app Bumble hopes to get an edge up on competitor Tinder by going public but has not set an IPO date.
Cloudfire was expected to go public this year, but a new round of funding may push that back.
WeWork was a highly anticipated 2019 IPO, but a big drop in value may delay them from going public.

Does CVS Sell Stamps?

April 15, 2019 By Kathryn Vercillo Leave a Comment

If you are out running errands then you might ask yourself, “does CVS sell stamps?” After all, if you don’t have to make a special trip to the post office to pick up stamps, then why would you? Save the time and gas or commute money and pick up the stamps where you already have to be for another errand.

Even if you don’t have to go to CVS, there might be one on your route or near where you live. If that’s the case, then it’s helpful to know if CVS sells stamps. That way, when you need them, you know where you can easily get them. So, does CVS sell stamps?

Learn About CVS

You probably already know what CVS is. It’s one of the largest, most popular pharmacy chains in the nation. There are stores all over the United States. In fact, in many cities, it can seem like there is a CVS on every corner.

People obviously go to CVS to buy medication, since it is a pharmacy. However, CVS also sells all variety of other items that you might purchase at any modern drugstore. If you’re looking for toothpaste, lip balm, toilet paper, or snacks, you can probably get them at CVS.

Does CVS Sell Stamps?

Yes, CVS does sell stamps. However, they do not sell single, loose stamps. They only sell books of stamps. Therefore, if you only need to get one stamp, then you probably want to make the extra trip to the post office for that. However, if you mail items frequently, then you can go ahead and easily pick up a book of stamps at CVS.

A book of stamps holds 20 stamps. These are First Class stamps, which are the stamps that you would use to send a regular envelope through the mail. These stamps are often called Forever stamps, meaning that you can always use them to send First Class mail, even if postage rates increase over time. Therefore, you may decide to buy a book of stamps even if you don’t send mail very frequently. After all, the stamps don’t go bad.

CVS Only Sells Certain Stamps

If you need a variety of stamps in different denominations, then you will want to go to a regular post office to get those. CVS only sells the First Class Forever stamps. For example, if you want to send out a bunch of postcards, then it would be better to get postcard stamps, which cost less than First Class stamps. CVS doesn’t sell postcard stamps.

Similarly, if you want to get postage stamps with different designs on them, then CVS won’t be much help. The post office sells a variety of different First Class stamps with designs that change out seasonally. You can always choose from different styles at the post office. However, CVS generally only carries the basic Forever stamp, which is usually a US flag or a similar generic symbol. If you want stamps designed with flowers, famous people, or other inspiring images, you’ll have to get those at the post office instead of at CVS.

Where Are Stamps Sold at CVS?

There you are at the CVS store. You’ve picked your medication up at the pharmacy. You’ve browsed through all of the aisles to pick up the everyday items that you need. Now you just need to get that book of stamps. Where are they?

You’ll need to go up to the cashier to get your stamps at CVS. When you get to the checkout counter, just ask the clerk working there for a book of stamps. They should have them at the ready. Most CVS stores keep their stamps in the cash register drawer so that cashiers can just open the drawer and pull out what you need.

How to Find a CVS that Sells Stamps

If you don’t regularly shop at CVS, then you might not know exactly where there’s one closest to you. Likewise, you could be traveling in an unfamiliar area and need to find a CVS nearby. Of course, you could always use Google Maps or another GPS to locate the CVS nearest to you. However, you might have better results if you use the Store Locator on the CVS website.

Alternatively, you can go to the Find Locations tool on the USPS website. Once there:

Select Post Offices and Approved Postal Providers under “location types.”
Press “refine search” to open a second drop-down menu.
Select “alternate location to buy stamps” in that drop down box.
Enter your city or zip code in the specified box.
Choose the radius to search; for example, select “within 20 miles” of your city.

This will give you a list of places to buy stamps, in order of their distance. Scan the list to find the CVS closest to you. It will actually tell you there that the store sells “stamp booklets only.” This list will also give you other nearby locations where you can buy stamps. For example, a quick search within 20 miles of zip code 94115 pulls up Walgreens, Whole Foods Market, Staples, and Safeway in addition to the CVS locations that sell stamps.

What to Do if Your CVS Doesn’t Have Stamps

You can almost always buy stamps at any CVS store. However, there’s always the chance that for some reason your local store won’t have them. They may have run out and not restocked yet. Alternatively, they may not carry them regularly. If you get to a CVS store that doesn’t have stamps, ask to speak to a manager or customer service representative. They can let you know about their policies for selling stamps. If they restock, they can tell you when that will happen. If they don’t carry them, they can tell you the closest store that might. You can always call your local CVS in advance to ask if they sell stamps so that you don’t waste a trip to a store that doesn’t have them in stock. That said, this is rarely a problem.