Opt Out of Junk Mail to Save Time and Money

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While saving money is king in my book, conservation of time, energy and resources can be just as important. I am not a time management guru, but I understand that time is as valuable as money. So wasting time to do things I don’t have to really irritates me.

While I can’t fault anyone for trying to conduct business, reducing junk mail is one way to focus your energies elsewhere, as well as conserve the environment. It may only take you a few minutes to go through your mail, but reducing junk mail will also decrease the risk of identity theft, the temptation for credit cards and the enticement to spend money on the next J. Crew catalog.

Here are some cold facts about the impact of junk mail:

Americans receive almost 4 million tons of junk mail every year.
Each year, 100 million trees are used to produce junk mail;
250,000 homes could be heated with one day’s supply of junk mail

It’s not a pretty site, nor is it helpful to you and your time. Yes, I know if makes you feel special that someone thinks enough of you to suck up some time out of your day, but get over it. Here are a couple of websites that can help cut the junk out of your life, and free up your time.

1. OptOutPrescreen.com or 888-567-8688 – this site works will all the major credit card companies and credit bureaus to permanently cut you off of their solicitation list. You have a choice of 5 year or lifetime Opt Out. (But don’t be too concerned. If you are just dying for a credit card offer, you can always pick up the phone.) Also, be aware that once you have an existing relationship, a credit card company is not required to Opt-Out. As such, just call your credit card company directly and say, “No thanks to all solicitations.” (Some companies may mislead you when you are not specific!)

2. DMA – The Direct Marketing Association is the mother of all junk mail repositories. Applying here will get you off of many direct marketing lists. Although all marketing lists aren’t covered, many are.

3. Do Not Call Registry – Everyone has heard of this. It’s not mail, but it still saves you time from being on the phone and the temptation of buying stuff. Couple of tips:

Get the callers name and numbers, as if you are interested.
After, ask them to remove your name from the list. Then hang up.
If you jump the gun and ask to be removed without getting their number, they may call you back and you have to do the same thing.
Once you have the number and they continue to call back, go back to the Do Not Call Registry and report them! It does everyone else a big favor. Some phone companies will also allow you to block some of the numbers.

4. Licenses – some state DMV’s will sell your information to other companies. Make sure your DMV is not selling your name and address. Be aware, the DMV may not be the only bureau selling information either. Once I registered my business at the county level, I started getting calls and mail solicitations on behalf of my business. Make sure every government entity you deal with will allow you to opt out of lists at the time you register.

5. YellowPagesGoesGreen.org – When was the last time you used your yellow book. Here’s a site that allows you to opt out from not receiving any books. As such, you will make a big difference:

It takes over 19 million trees to make half a million directories.
540 million directories are printed annually in the United States.
Over 270,000 cubic yards of landfill are taken up per 500,000 directories

6. Catalog Choice – Here’s an easy online way to get off of catalogs you don’t use. Again, if you have done business with certain companies, then you will have to physically call or email them.

I have done everything on this list, and it works. My junk mail has reduced significantly enough that I now have time to write this post. And I did my part to save a few trees. If you would like to learn more about junk mail conservation, here are a few online resources that offer some fast facts: New Dream and 41 Pounds.

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