U.S. Postal customers are now paying more. The Postal Service increased rates, beginning Jan. 22.

First class mail weighing one ounce now cost 45 cents, up one cent. Two ounces cost 65 cents, three ounces 85 cents and 3.5 ounces now cost $1.05. A post card cost 32 cents, up three cents.

Those who have purchased Forever stamps may still use them, but the new stamps cost 45 cents each. Other increases include pricing for advertising mail, periodicals and parcels, which rose 2.1 percent.

The Postal Service contributes the need for another increase to losses it has incurred over the past few years. Several options are being considered to combat the situation. These include allowing the post office to go to a 5-day work week and phasing out lower rates for nonprofit organizations. There has also been a lot of talk about closing smaller post offices with the Perkins Post Office having been named as a possible target.

The last postal increase was in May of 2009.