Stuck for a stamp? Print one out instead of going off to buy one

Begin by launching a web browser and visiting the Royal Mail website. Hover the mouse pointer over the Personal Customers button and click the Print postage link in the menu that appears to the right. On the next screen, click Register and follow the displayed prompts to set up a Royal Mail account. Be sure to read the ‘Keeping you informed section’ carefully and opt out of mailings you don’t want to receive. Royal Mail will send an email to confirm your registration.

From the profile page, click ‘View your online postage’ then click Create postage. Now create a postage stamp: choose whether to print onto a label, directly onto an envelope, or a piece of paper from the tabs along the top, and then select a label size. Click Continue, then choose where on the page the label should be printed, and click Continue again.

Now type the address of the recipient. If you prefer, simply type the property name and postcode, then choose from the dropdown menu of addresses; alternatively, type the address in full if you prefer. To save the address to your Royal Mail address book, tick the box at the bottom of this screen: if you are likely to be using this service regularly, sending items to the same addresses, this will save time later.

Now we need to use the Price finder, which will calculate the required payment. Choose the destination from the dropdown menu, then tap in the item’s weight. If you don’t know the exact weight, the Sample weight dropdown menu provides approximate weights for the most commonly posted items. Then indicate the size of the item by ticking the appropriate box – again, guidance is provided. Extra Royal Mail services, including Guaranteed Delivery and Track & Trace can be selected from this screen but using any of those means the item will need to be taken to a Post Office, not a post box. Click Continue for the next step.

Now choose the type of stamps (for example, First Class) from the list that appears, and click Continue. The details of your order will be shown on a summary page, along with a sample PDF showing how the postage label will look. If there are no more changes to be made, click Add to basket. To create more stamps, click Create more postage and go through the process again. Once you have made all the stamps you need, click Confirm and Pay.

On the next screen, you will be asked to set up a ‘prepay’ account to purchase the postage. The minimum amount that can be credited to this account is £3.50, paid via debit or credit card. Any money left over after this current postage session is paid for will remain in your Royal Mail account for next time. Type in your payment details, then click to confirm. A thank-you screen will appear. Click the red Print postage button, then open the PDF that’s generated and print it out. Stick the document to your item and it’s ready to be posted.