Ever notice that junk mail seems to multiply when you don’t have a designated space for it? That is because junk mail only belongs in one place – the round file!
The simplest way to prevent mail pile-up is to attack it right as it crosses the threshold. There is no time like the present, and there is no reason to keep those outer envelopes once they are opened.
A few key moves that will help you eliminate paper that is really garbage:
Keep a basket or letter holder close to the front door and place only the bills, letters and legitimate mail.
Separate out any usable magazines or grocery ads that you USE and thow away those that you don’t.
Immediately open those pesky credit applications and solicitations – pull out the first page or anything listing your name on it. Then, thow away the outer-envelope and the rest of the information. It is best to shred anything that has your name on it – I keep a shredder right next to my bill box and destroy it then and there.
I used to keep an in-box on my desk where I would place my mail to sort through, but it didn’t prompt me enough to do it right away so I bought a simple small bill holder where I keep incoming mail in the back and outgoing mail in the front.
I remove the outer envelopes to any bills and place the bill under the flap of the mailing envelope. I make a small notation on the right side of the flap when the bill is due. Then I set all of my bills standing up in date order (i.e. 1/17, 1/31, 2/1…).
I plan out one day a week to write the checks, address the envelopes and stamp them. Once they are sealed, I keep them in date order and send them out a few days before each due date. Some people prefer to use bill-pay through their online banking which is great, but I prefer to have the real deal.
If you are overloaded with junk mail and feel as if you have been placed on a mass mail list, there are some free things that you can do to prevent it. I have found a pretty good website that gives some basic information on how to do this yourself:
Obviously.com . You can Google "Stop Junk Mail" to find more information about this.
There are many helpful ways to set up your bill-paying system. The important thing is to keep them in a place where you can see at a glance what has come in and what needs your attention. Without that cluttered mound of junk-mail, you are sure to have your bills paid on time and no stress of last minute emergencies.
