No Waste Wednesday #7–Dejunk Your Mail

Reference:  2013 Resolution posted 12/31/2012

For a while this process was two steps forward, then one step back.  Dejunking mail.  This involves extra work on your part, but eventually you can get the incoming mail down to a trickle.  When we lived full-time in the RV this was a necessity (it costs to have mail forwarded from the mail service provider and the more mail the more expensive).  Not only was the amount of trash from mail eliminated, but the time and effort spent dealing with each piece of mail was avoided.

There are a number of websites that will attempt to globally reduce your junk mail, but the best approach for me, so far,  is to call the number listed on the mail item and ask to be taken off their list.  Then, take the offensive, by doing the following:

• Sign up with all your creditors and investment company for eStatements only.  Receive your bill reminders and statements through e-mail.
• Stop all those catalogs.  I swear Pottery Barn sends out 3-4 a month.  Call the number on the back of the catalog and ask them to take your name off the mailing list.  
• If you must receive magazines, why not try digital magazines sent on your computer or netbook.
• Get tough with solicitors marketing their credit cards.   The global opt-out program seems to work in this area. 

Rather than list all the websites offering to help you with this project, just search on the words “dejunk mail” or “opt out” and you can find one that is right for you. 

Good luck!