Junk mail is a big contributor to paper clutter in mailboxes and homes. What to do to get rid of it without losing your mind?
Here are 7 easy steps to get off of mailing lists.
In doing so, you’ll drastically reduce what’s hitting your mailbox each day:
Get off the List
- Visit www.dmachoice.org and register to get your name off of annoying junk mail lists.
You’ll notice a difference in about 3 months and it’s effective for 3 years.
Opt Out
- Opt out of credit card offers by calling 1-888-5-OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688) or visiting www.optoutprescreen.com.
You’ll have to repeat this process every five years.
You can also begin the process to permanently opt out at that website as well, but you’ll have to pony up some personal information (like your Social Security number) and send in a signed form too.
Alternatively, send a written request to permanently opt out to each of the major consumer credit reporting bureaus.
Make sure to include your home telephone number, name, Social Security number, and date of birth in your request to each company:
Experian
Opt Out
P.O. Box 919
Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion
Name Removal Option
P.O. Box 505
Woodlyn, PA 19094
Equifax, Inc.
Options
P.O. Box 740123
Atlanta, GA 30374
Innovis Consumer Assistance
P.O. Box 495
Pittsburgh, PA 15230
Use an App
- There’s an app for that!
Download the Paper Karma app.
This handy tool removes the hassle of getting your name off of mailing lists by using your smartphone.
Snap a picture of the mail and the app does the rest.
And it’s a free app for iOS, Android and Windows!
Quit the Catalogs
- Cancel unwanted catalogs at www.catalogchoice.org.
Create a free account and unsubscribe from catalogs and phone books that you are no longer interested in receiving.
Take control
- Read the fine print in the annual Privacy Notice sent by your credit card, credit union, bank, & insurance companies and brokerage firms.
The notices all have information on how to opt out of the company offering you “valuable opportunities through carefully selected partners (translation: selling your info!).”
Save a Tree
- Go paperless for bills and newsletters!
Paperless billing can save time by removing the need to deal with the physical paper bill after its been paid.
If you need to reference a cost later on, you can just login to your account and find the information with a few clicks.
Be smart
- Don’t mail it in!
Avoid sending in warranty registrations.
You’ll still be covered by the warranty, and unless you provide it to them, the company can’t use your information to send out offers on other products or sell your name to other marketers.
If you don’t send in a card, the company can’t notify you about safety recalls, so be selective about when the warranty card is sent.
Include only minimal information such as name, address, date of purchase and product serial number.Another situation where less is more!
Bonus Tips!
A few more tips for junk mail banishment success:
Be proactive!
Don’t give your information out to cashiers or telemarketers and watch for opportunities to opt out of getting information when making purchases online or joining online groups.
And finally, don’t waste time shredding your junk mail. Learn what’s important to shred and what can simply be recycled in this post!
Need even more help getting rid of paper clutter?
The Conquer Your Paper Clutter (for once and all) Paper Organizing Course is the perfect way to quickly get a handle on organizing all of your paper in a non-overwhelming way.
Working with a Professional Organizer to clean uo your paper piles will take hours and can be hard on a tight budget.
That’s why I’ve put together this guide to walk you through the exact steps I use with my organizing clients!
You get the same advice, strategies and hacks for cutting through all the clutter, but at a much lower cost that working with an organizer in person.
If you’re motivated to solve your paper problem, then this is the course for you!
