We're all feeling the pressure in this recession, and very littleof us are getting stimulus money. To stay ahead, businesses need to make smart spending decisions and cut costs wherever possible. The small business postage meter, around $20 per month, will help you do just that.

Years ago, only big companies with big mailings used postage machines. They were big, costly and needed someone to take the machine to the post office to refill with postage. Today, the biggest users of postage meters are small business-1 to 50 employees-for use with their daily mailing.

First, you no longer have to drive your postage machine to the post office to be refilled. The Pitney Bowes postage meters, for example, have a phone jack built in. Just plug in any regular phone line, push the refill button, and it will dial in and refill itself with as much postage as you decide. The entire process takes literally 60 seconds and you never have to leave your office. This saves a trip to the post office, the time of the person who has to make the trip as well as the expense of the fuel (which no one ever looked at previously) to make that drive.

Second, as people mail envelopes and packages of various sizes, they very often apply too much postage. When sending a letter, the current cost for a first-class mailing is $.44 for a piece one ounce or less. If the piece is slightly heavier, for example 1.3 ounces, more postage is required. However, it is not another $.44 stamp. People using stamps very often put-on too much postage, easily tossing away money needlessly.

With the postage meter, the scale is built-in. It not only ways the piece it also advises you how much postage needs to be applied. Once it shows that, easily insert the envelope or the label and it will print the stamp in the exact amount without wasting a penny.

Third, you never need to run out of postage. Invariably, the stamps, people run out of stamps at the wrong time. They may be halfway through a mailing, sending out important invoices, or simply sending holiday cards. When you run out of postage, you have no option but to ride to the post office to buy more. If you had a postage meter, you could easily plug-in, push a button to refill, in 60 seconds later you can complete stamping your letters.

Fourth, using a postage meter is an inexpensive way of making your business appear more substantial and reputable. It can seem odd, but people have a different perception when they receive a printed letter with a postage meter stamp as opposed to a handwritten envelope with thelove stamp. This little bit of added credibility is achieved without any expensive advertising, marketing strategies or campaigns. Your attention to detail is enough to set you apart.