Even though I did a thorough cleaning at the beginning of the new year, mail is daily, and despite best efforts, it piles up. I decided that I need some sort of system {it’s tempting for that system to just be the garbage can} to keep it all under control.
If you’re looking to keep your mail in check, here are a couple of organization tips to try:
- Pick one spot for all mail. It’s the worst when you have stacks on the kitchen counter, the office, and the entry way table–and none of the piles have the power bill you are looking for. Get in the habit of putting EVERYTHING in one place, instead of scattering it all over the house. At the very least, you will only have to search through one pile to find what you need.
- Pick a time to open the mail. Don’t let it pile up day after day–you may end up missing something important. Plan to open it daily. Deal with it daily.
- Keep a “needs to be shredded” basket that you can toss junk mail right away. Then, shred it when the basket fills up. Don’t chance all of those credit card offers just getting tossed into the garbage without shredding it.
- Limit the junk mail. Call 888-5-OPT-OUT to stop the flood of offers that waste your time and paper. You can also go to junkmasters.com to deal with the problem.
- Create a file system close to the place you sort your mail. That way, you can easily drop each piece into its designated spot, and grab it when you need it.
Really, I think the key is just keeping on top of it, but isn’t that the way it is with everything? How do you keep your mail in check?
~Mavis
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Julie says
Most of our bills are online now, so we don’t get those. I deal with most junk fliers, etc. while I’m walking the mail back to the house, while keeping a quick lookout for something really important. The rest goes in the mail basket and is not looked at except on Fridays, bill paying day.
Carol says
The best way is to get off all junk mail lists. When I order things online, I ask in the comments section that any information about me not be shared with any other party. Also, unless I want to receive a catalog, I ask that a catalog not be sent. Since I am on several “opt out” lists, from time to time, I will call to be removed from someone’s catalog list, and I always ask where they got my information. Be sure to not only be removed from their list but also ask that they flag your information not to be shared with any other party. Just because you are removed from their list, doesn’t mean they won’t share your information with another company. I don’t receive a lot of junk mail.
Stacey says
I’m on my third decade now of training my husband. He likes to open the mail, then leave everything, including the empty envelopes, wherever he sat to open them. The best way to keep on top of it is to throw away everything not needed immediately, put the important things in a designated spot, and anything you are not sure about in a conspicuous spot where you won’t forget about it.