We'll start with an easy tip that is bound to have dramatic results in about thirty days. Are you tired of junk mail? Does most of your mail go from the mail box to the recycling bin (after spending a few days cluttering your kitchen counter)? Inspired by Amy at Diary of a Domestic Animal, I have debulked my mailbox. I called 1-888-5OPTOUT to remove my name from the mailing lists of the major credit reporting agencies. I created an account at http://www.catalogchoice.org/ to reduce the number of catalogs cluttering my counter top.
Taking the debulking process one step further, I search for phone numbers on incoming mail and make one or two phone calls a day to remove my address from mailing lists of repair shops, real estate agents, car dealerships, and other businesses that solicit by mail. It takes a few extra minutes, but down the road I will save time by not having to go through large stacks of unnecessary mail.
Of course I won't be able to stop the delivery of all junk mail, but I can always use paper for worm bedding, paper mache, or starting fires come winter. I look forward to the day when the mail box is empty more often than not. I can save a few trees and a few steps for our postman Randall, and there is the added benefit of not having to see a real estate agent in white pants. Someone really should tell her you can see right through them.
Oh, that's awesome! Who knew?
ReplyDeleteOne I love is the glass-jug-in-the-toilet-tank trick. Fill a 1/2 gallon jug (or 2 liter bottle) with water and put it in the tank of the toilet. Because of displacement, the tank will fill 1/2 gallon less after every flush. So you save 1/2 gallon of water, every time you flush your toilet.
you go girl!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the contact info. to opt out of mail. That's awesome!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see your other tips. Did you see the Good Things at the supermarket It's all about smart ideas for a healthy home. Something like 87 topics.
I did the opt out thing a while ago and it has drastically reduced the amount of junk mail we get. Now on to the catalogs!
ReplyDeleteHow crazy. I'm going nuts with sadness today and when I read this, I spent his nap time today calling mailers from the stack of junk mail I've been holding onto for the last week- thanks for the inspiration and diversion. I needed it.
ReplyDeletehi molly - just discovered your blog via PTF.
ReplyDeletegreat suggestion about taking the extra time to find contact information for these companies. And thanks for those links. I'm going to put that on my to-do list this week. See, here's the thing. I have this bad habit passed down to me from my grandmother where I keep rediculous amounts of mail on my kitchen table. molly, you might have just saved my relationship! ha!
hi molly - just discovered your blog via PTF.
ReplyDeletegreat suggestion about taking the extra time to find contact information for these companies. And thanks for those links. I'm going to put that on my to-do list this week. See, here's the thing. I have this bad habit passed down to me from my grandmother where I keep rediculous amounts of mail on my kitchen table. molly, you might have just saved my relationship! ha!
Yes, white pants are not the best for this ad.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to do this. It's nice to recycle it, but better not to have it in the first place.
You should call her and say, "Thanks for the solicitation, but we are neither interested in buying a new house at the moment, nor looking at your see-through white pants. Please remove us from your mailing list, and change your pants, for heaven's sake!"
ReplyDeleteYour post reminded me of my last trip to see your Grandma Mary. She can't get to the phone as fast as I, (to other readers- she is 91) So when a solicitor called I gave them the DO NOT EVER CALL HERE AGAIN OR I WILL.......
ReplyDeleteIf all of us returned the junk, canceled the list etc., we would be much happier. Let those people in those jobs find real work!
To all the new readers- Hi!
Love Dad
thanks molly...i thought i was doing good by not having our bills sent to the house, just receiving them online. but this will help tremendously!
ReplyDeletehope you're having a beautiful week!
~jes
What a great tip. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteCracking me up!!
ReplyDeletethanks for the great link for catalogs!
ReplyDeleteThis is a good tip. I've called the opt-out number too for credit cards. It was very effective. I should try the catalogs next.
ReplyDeleteYou have compost worms? (We do too.) I don't know, but somehow I'm always surprised when I hear that somebody else does that, since it's not very common around here.