Beginning Monday, the United States Postal Service rate is increasing by one cent to 42 cents per stamp.

In an effort to avoid any minor headaches local residents may endure while adjusting to the change, Incline Village’s Pak Mail office is offering a free one cent stamp program.

CeCe Elliot, owner of the Incline office, located at 930 Tahoe Blvd., No. 802, said her office will offer the promotion until May 30, for residents who may struggle briefly to meet the new postal rate.

“You have to pay a cent to get them at the post office,” Elliot said. “But we’re offering them for free; we want more people to come here and use Pak Mail.”

The stamps come in books of 20. Elliot said there is a loose rule that only 20 stamps will be given for free to each resident, although exceptions may be made.

Elliot said her promotion is in part to give residents a bit of leeway before they purchase “forever stamps” from the post office.

“Forever stamps” generally are stamps that are valid for first class postage, no matter the rate. The U.S. Postal Service began producing “forever stamps” in 2007.

“It doesn’t matter when you buy them — if you a buy a forever stamp at 41 cents, it’s good forever,” Elliot said.

According to a press release, Pak Mail is a premier specialty packaging, shipping and business support franchise with more than 500 centers worldwide.

For more information about Pak Mail’s free one cent stamp program, call the Incline office at (775) 832-7770.

For more information about forever stamps, visit the U.S. Postal Service Web site at www.usps.com.