On Opting Out and Decreasing Mail

This has nothing to do with animals. It’s about the environment.

1.    Go to www.catalogchoice.org and bookmark it. Register–it’s free–and starting today, when you get the three or four daily catalogs you get this time of year, add them to your list. You’re opting OUT of getting them by mail in the future.

• Make sure you enter all possible configurations of your name, as this is done by computer and it’s only correct if it’s completely correct.
• When you get a catalog, choose the name that catalog is addressed to.
• Note that there is a "Current Resident" field.
• If you already have a customer number, there’s a field for that too (your customer number is usually above your address somewhere).

This is a very underwhelming way to do this, as you do a tad a day, right after you get the mail, then toss the catalogs into the recycle bin. Make it a part of your daily routine and it’s no big deal.

2. Go to OptOutPrescreen.com to opt-out of firm offers of credit or insurance (a.k.a., "You’re Pre-Approved!"). You can opt-out for five years through the website (and permanently if you mail in a form available at the website). This is the only site I know of that is legitimate, though I’m sure there are others that use your information to steal your identity. If you want to opt-out and stop this particular kind of junk mail, use this site. It’s free.