So, you walk to your mail box to get your mail and behold, nothing but meaningless junk! Those items that clog your mailbox and give you false hope of something important; oh, that darn junk mail! Not to worry, there is hope!
We receive, on average, about 16 pieces of junk mail per week, with only about 1.5 pieces of mail being personal letters that are for us or interests us. That effectively translates into about 41 pounds of junk mail each year. Then there is the waste and its impact on our environment from all that paper, as about 44% (or just over 18 pounds) of mail makes its way to our landfills unopened
We receive, on average, about 16 pieces of junk mail per week, with only about 1.5 pieces of mail being personal letters that are for us or interests us. That effectively translates into about 41 pounds of junk mail each year. Then there is the waste and its impact on our environment from all that paper, as about 44% (or just over 18 pounds) of mail makes its way to our landfills unopened
We receive, on average, about 16 pieces of junk mail per week, with only about 1.5 pieces of mail being personal letters that are for us or interests us. That effectively translates into about 41 pounds of junk mail each year.
When you are pulling out all that throwaway junk mail from your mailbox, do you ever ask yourself - Who is sending me all this junk mail? How did I get on their distribution list, and more importantly, how do I get my name off it?
Let us attempt to offer some clarification(s). If you make a purchase of a product or service, and you give the company your name and address, chances are you will be added to one or more mailing lists used by direct marketing businesses. Companies many times pay for that information, and presto, they become part of the aggravation at your mailbox. The good thing is you can reduce the amount of mail you receive however, but it will take some time and effort on your part, so be patient
Let us attempt to offer some clarification(s). If you make a purchase of a product or service, and you give the company your name and address, chances are you will be added to one or more mailing lists used by direct marketing businesses. Companies many times pay for that information, and presto, they become part of the aggravation at your mailbox. The good thing is you can reduce the amount of mail you receive however, but it will take some time and effort on your part, so be patient
The following are 5 free and effective ways to substantially decrease the amount of junk mail you receive, and though it will not eliminate it completely, it should make your daily experiences at your mailbox more pleasurable. NOTE: While you are eliminating your junk mail, you can also register the names of elderly parents/grandparents for these services as well, as many elderly consumers are unfamiliar or skeptical of online features, which, in our experiences, often leads to paper piles and home clutter.
1. Do not give your information to merchants that question you for it while you are in their store making a purchase, even if they claim that it is their policy and that they do not or would not sell your information. If they try to push the issue, tell them that you will make your purchase elsewhere, then see how their policy instantly changes.
2. Sign up on the following websites and you should see a decrease in junk mail received in about three months:
Contact Equifax, Trans Union, and Experian to have your name removed from their lists by calling (888) 567-8688 (888 5 OPT OUT) or can sign up online at www.optoutprescreen.com. Note: you must register every five years for this service.
Opt out from receiving telephone directories. This is one of the first locations companies scrounge for information: www.YellowPagesOptOut.com.
They collect and sell mailing lists. You must register every three years for this service. https://dmachoice.thedma.org/register.php.
Direct Mail http://directmail.com/mail_preference/ has a national do not mail list form you fill out - you select what types of mail you do not want to receive.
Register to reduce unwanted catalogs and other junk mail that tends to clutter your home
https://www.catalogchoice.org.
3. Register your home and mobile numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry. This will substantially reduce the number of unwanted sales calls you receive. This remains active forever, unless you change your phone number.
4. You can control unwanted paper mail using an app and your phones camera feature. Once you register with PaperKarma , you simply take photos of the unwanted mail you want to stop and you're done! They will automatically contact the mailer and remove you from their distribution list. Please note, they can stop most unwanted mail that is addressed directly to you.
5. For that annoying and emotionally stressing mail that continues to show up for deceased family members, DMA Choice maintains a Deceased Do Not Contact list. There is no fee for this service to register.
*Bonus Tips
Warranty Cards
Warranty cards are often sold. Did you know that most times you are protected, even if you don't send in the card? If you choose to fill out the warranty information card, include only minimal information such as you name, address, date of purchase and product serial number. For some products, you may want the company to have a record of your purchase in case there is a safety recall.
What was delivered to my mailbox today?
Did you know that you can sign up with USPS and they will email you scanned photos of the contents in your mailbox that day? Sign up for free at USPS.com, go to the tab - Mail Preferences, select opt-in, and you will receive a daily email with your mail images sent to you. You can opt-out at any time.
So there you have it! We know that junk mail most times leads to paper clutter, and yes, much added stress. We want you to start your new year right, and hope that these recommendations and tips will help you to cut out potential dreaded clutter before it starts. However, if you feel overwhelmed, Organizing Resolutions with Starks is prepared to help! We can develop and execute decluttering strategies that will assist you in leading a more paperless and stress less life.
To stay abreast of personal experiences, helpful tips, and discussions like this and others, please like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+. We, at Organizing Resolutions with Starks, wish you nothing but success in all you do!
2. Sign up on the following websites and you should see a decrease in junk mail received in about three months:
Contact Equifax, Trans Union, and Experian to have your name removed from their lists by calling (888) 567-8688 (888 5 OPT OUT) or can sign up online at www.optoutprescreen.com. Note: you must register every five years for this service.
Opt out from receiving telephone directories. This is one of the first locations companies scrounge for information: www.YellowPagesOptOut.com.
They collect and sell mailing lists. You must register every three years for this service. https://dmachoice.thedma.org/register.php.
Direct Mail http://directmail.com/mail_preference/ has a national do not mail list form you fill out - you select what types of mail you do not want to receive.
Register to reduce unwanted catalogs and other junk mail that tends to clutter your home
https://www.catalogchoice.org.
3. Register your home and mobile numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry. This will substantially reduce the number of unwanted sales calls you receive. This remains active forever, unless you change your phone number.
4. You can control unwanted paper mail using an app and your phones camera feature. Once you register with PaperKarma , you simply take photos of the unwanted mail you want to stop and you're done! They will automatically contact the mailer and remove you from their distribution list. Please note, they can stop most unwanted mail that is addressed directly to you.
5. For that annoying and emotionally stressing mail that continues to show up for deceased family members, DMA Choice maintains a Deceased Do Not Contact list. There is no fee for this service to register.
*Bonus Tips
Warranty Cards
Warranty cards are often sold. Did you know that most times you are protected, even if you don't send in the card? If you choose to fill out the warranty information card, include only minimal information such as you name, address, date of purchase and product serial number. For some products, you may want the company to have a record of your purchase in case there is a safety recall.
What was delivered to my mailbox today?
Did you know that you can sign up with USPS and they will email you scanned photos of the contents in your mailbox that day? Sign up for free at USPS.com, go to the tab - Mail Preferences, select opt-in, and you will receive a daily email with your mail images sent to you. You can opt-out at any time.
So there you have it! We know that junk mail most times leads to paper clutter, and yes, much added stress. We want you to start your new year right, and hope that these recommendations and tips will help you to cut out potential dreaded clutter before it starts. However, if you feel overwhelmed, Organizing Resolutions with Starks is prepared to help! We can develop and execute decluttering strategies that will assist you in leading a more paperless and stress less life.
To stay abreast of personal experiences, helpful tips, and discussions like this and others, please like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+. We, at Organizing Resolutions with Starks, wish you nothing but success in all you do!