Is there anyway for those of us very active on the site just to mail and print from home? I signed up for USPS online, but it doesn't give an option for media mail--only there more expensive alternatives. I am not paying for something like stamps.com

try calling your local post office and ask them if your carrier will pick up media mail packages. This is the sort of thing where each post office will deal with it in their own way. Some will not pick up media mail. some will.

You can create postal labels with paypal. It's a free service.

Yes, you can print postage from home and mail from your mailbox! 

I buy postage online from Paypal.  There is no fee, you just pay for the postage.  

I buy First Class and media mail postage. 

When you buy online postage free tracking is included.  

The tracking allows you to mail media mail packages from your mailbox.  No need to go the Post office. 

 I have used this service for years and I love it! 

You can schedule a pickup but I do not schedule a pickup.  I put it in my mailbox and raise the flag.

EDITED:  LAST TIME I CHECKED USPS DOES NOT SELL FIRST CLASS PACKAGE OR MEDIA MAIL ON THEIR WEBSITE.

I use a dymo printer to print postage through endicia; I keep only $10 in the account and just add another $10 when it gets low. There are no other fees except the cost of a roll of labels from staples or amazon & I use the printer for other types of labels too (file folders, address, hanging folders, etc.).  I've used paypal occasionally but it prints the whole label and I find it easier to add my own postage to the PBS label. I also use USPS tracking stickers so I don't have to go to the PO. I use myUSPS.com and enter the tracking numbers and get updated by email when package events occur. I take my packages to work and the carrier picks them up at the front desk.

Remember, as long as some of the postage you use is traceable your package is compliant;  the entire MM amount doesn't need to be electronic when you ship a package.  You could purchase batches of the APM stickers at $1 or any amount that works for you and use those together with stamps to mail.  You can leave the package in your mailbox if your carrier will pick up, or just drop it in any blue box.

Just wanted to comment. I loved mailing from home until mail was stolen from our mailbox.  I have since located all the post office drop boxes to drop mail. My sister lives in rural area and puts her mail out about an hour before postal person gets there. Thieves are looking for checks to wash and then use at Wal-Mart.

pPayPal works great for mailing from home UNLESS you have a USPS box.  Then they will not pick up packages.  Sort of odd - we may USPS over a hundred dollars a year for a box because we live in a rural area yet we get fewer services than the people who get free delivery to their homes.  Go figure.

I have a PO Box, but I also kept our physical address active, so they will pick up there. If your physical address is not active in their system, you cannot schedule pickups.

If you live in a location that USPS does not deliver to, you should not be paying for your PO Box. 

If you are choosing to use the PO Box exclusively but want to ship from home, you can reactivate that phyiscal address, just check your mailbox once a week or so to clear out any junk mail. 

And of course you can print from home and drop off at the PO when you go there to check your PO Box, you still save money using PayPal and printing at home for everything except media mail. 

And you can always put stamps on the package.. Best to have a scale at home cause so many of the weights in the system are off.

And you can always put stamps on the package.. Best to have a scale at home cause so many of the weights in the system are off.â

Yes, you can mail from home using stamps as long as your package is under 13 oz. Over 13 oz. must be either mailed at PO or be mailed with trackable postage.

I use Printable Postage for all my book packages. Then the packages go in the mail box, flag up and my postal carrier picks them up. 

I use the paperbackswap postage and drop it in the blue box when i go to work at Walmart. I can also go to the blue box at the PO. I rarely go IN the post office!

An easy way to have trackable postage “and still use stamps” is to buy a number of postage strips from the APC at the post office. Since you pay with a credit or debit card these qualify as trackable. You can purchase whatever amount you like -something that would combine with stamps to reach the correct postage amount would work. Just one of these strips on a package along with your stamps and you can drop it in any postal box without any further need to visit the counter.

So...how do you create postage labels with paypal?

If you have an account with paypal use this link: 

PayPal.com/shipnow 

Once you log in it will direct you to 'create shipping label'.

If you just log into paypal I'm not sure how to get to that screen. But if you don't have an account you can first set one up, log out and then go to that link and log in again.

Thank you Linda!  I have to have a balance in my paypal acct in order to complete the process...but that is an easy fix.

Another vote for PayPal postage. Best thing invented since iced coffee . . .