Overwhelmed Newbie, Need Help on Sending Mail from US to UK

[Rew]

Thanks for the replies, both of you!

@Kimmy: I used the link someone in another thread provided to the personal stamps (they were Doctor Who-themed), but I still couldn't get past the part where you enter your information because it asked me to provide a UK postal code and UK phone number, neither of which I have, being in the US. Looking at other threads, it looks like other people had similar problems, then contacted Royal Mail, and apparently never heard back.

I think I've settled on the sending cash option though (see below). How much does it cost to send a letter/card to the US from the UK? I want to make sure I include a proper amount!

@Lucky13:

I've answered a bit to you in bold below, let me know if I can help in any other way. Welcome to FM

Thanks for the welcome!

easy enough to fold in half, that's what is done by most.

Good, that's what I was hoping.

There's loads of threads about this but it boils down to a few options...
Get a hold of UK stamps... not easy in short time, but can be done via eBay
Use local currency, if you're in the states or europe, then that can work, but no guarantee
Get a UK fiver from currency exchange and use that

EBay would take longer than I like and be rather expensive. I'm in South Carolina, so no currency exchanges around here (that I'm aware of); I think the nearest would be in Charlotte or Atlanta.

However, like I said to Kimmy above, just dropping in a few American dollars might be my best option (I'm a bit uncomfortable with it, but I'll just have to hope no postal worker opens the envelope and pockets it!).

If I go the dollar route, how much should I drop in? Would $2 or $3 suffice? Or $5?

Length is one of those things... if it's a minor celeb then you never know it might work better, but if they get lots of mail then the chances of it being read are slim. Have you checked for other potential feedback on here or on other sites? I'd say that's too long if I am honest, and you would be better to trim it down more than a bit. There's also no point in getting worked up etc... if it's read it's read, if not, then not. YOu could get an awesome personal response, a standard signed item from a PA or nothing... either way, it's not something to get upset about.

The celeb I'm writing is pretty obscure, so the only results I get back when I search for her are just a couple posts here and there about how they got a picture + autograph at a con or something.

As for the psychological investment, I guess I'll go ahead and confess this is my "celebrity crush" (I don't mention that in the letter of course--I just stick to her career/performances). I've been following her career for over two years and have finally psyched myself up enough to actually make contact. So the thought of her not reading at all would be very upsetting indeed! If it were almost any other celeb, however, I wouldn't care nearly so much.

I'm not counting on an actual response, though. I know someone else who wrote to her and hasn't heard back, so I'm fine with that. I want merely to encourage and brighten her day, and if I happen to get some sort of reply in return, that's just an added bonus.