How to Block Junk Mail & Get off Marketing Lists
How to Block Junk Mail & Get off Marketing Lists
Want to block junk mail and spam without added stress? desire to turn away from commercials and robo calls so that you can live a quieter, simpler life?
Me too.
Marketers + advertisers are pros at making us feel as though we need items we don’t already have. They are uninvited guests in our homes; worse, their Noise shows up in our mailboxes and inboxes and on our television sets and cell phones.
The Noise is catchy slogans. Promotions. Pretty people. Glitz; faux Glamour that entice us to buy more, more more.
Advertisements take us out of the moment and prevent us from living our best and most authentic lives, too.
I’m over all the Noise, with its junk ads and junk claims. It’s time to hit mute.
While it’s impossible to completely escape from the onslaught of ads everywhere, we’re certainly going to try. Because today we tackle 4 means by which The Noise sneaks into our daily lives – though junk mail, cell phones, e-mail and television – then I offer simple, actionable strategies to both tune it out and turn it all off.
Did you know?
You can find The Sustainable Minimalists podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
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Block junk mail
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On Monday, I retrieved 5 catalogs, 2 pamphlets, and a Valpack flyer from my mailbox. Then I walked straight to the recycle bin and threw it all inside.
Although mailed advertisements account for 59-percent of everything in the average American’s mailbox, only half of it is ever read. And for every single piece of mail one actually wants, he or she receives approximately 20 pieces of unwanted junk. Worst of all, this (literal) trash is made at the expense of – you guessed it! – the environment.
Get smart and implement these 4 steps.
1. Unsubscribe from the mailing lists you’re already on.
Paper Karma is a paid iPhone, iPad and Android app that halts the flow of junk mail. Paper Karma’s friendly interface makes stopping junk mail nearly effortless: Snap a photo of the unwanted mail, summit it to Paper Karma via the app, and you’ll be notified once you’re successfully removed.
Catalog Choice is a free service that unsubscribes you from junk mail. It’s not as user-friendly as Paper Karma; it takes a little longer, too. But it works: Indeed, I have seen a decrease in junk mail by using it.
2. Make an Optoutprescreen account for yourself + other adults living in your household.
Optoutprescreen is a free service that allows account holders to opt out of receiving credit card offers from the biggest credit reporting agencies. Used their online option, which is be far the easiest, fastest way to unenroll.
Know that Optoutprescreen only saves your preferences for 5 years. You therefore must opt out again every five years.
3. Break up with that clunky yellow dinosaur (a.k.a. the phonebook).
In the age of the internet, what’s the point of holding onto that oversized phonebook? Contact Yellow Pages directly and request to stop receiving one.
4. Remove your name from the list marketing companies use to find new customers.
Make an account and pay the $2 processing fee with the Data & Marketing Association to remove your address from the lists companies use to find new customers.
Mute cell phone noise
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Although cell phones are a voluntary purchase, they still produce an awful lot of Noise.
David Pierce of Wired.com argues that,
“Allowing an app to send you PUSH notifications is like allowing a store clerk to grab you by the ear and drag you into their store. You’re letting someone insert a commercial into your life anytime they want. Time to stop.”
I agree.
Here’s how to significantly reduce your cell phone’s unnecessary Noise:
1. Turn off all PUSH notifications.
2. Organize the apps on your phone so that they’re all hidden behind folders on the second screen.
This way, when you use your phone, your social media apps aren’t right there to grab your attention.
3. Double check your presence on the National Do Not Call Registry.
4. Download an app to monitor time spent on your phone.
Moment automatically tracks how much you use your iPhone and iPad each day. You can set daily limits on yourself and be notified when you go over. You can even force yourself off your device when you’re over your limit.
Limit spam e-Mail
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When it comes to staying in touch with potential customers, online marketers know that email is the Holy Grail. It does you no good to stay on marketer’s email lists. So,
Unsubscribe from marketers’ mass email lists.
If you don’t want to do it manually, Unroll.Me is a free app that allows you to quickly and easily unsubscribe from spam.
Get smart about television
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A confession: I don’t let my 4 year old watch much television.
It’s not that I think TV is going to fry her brain or dull her creativity; actually, I believe television is perfectly safe, especially in moderation.
The real reason I don’t let my kids watch much television? It’s because of the commercials.
It’s no surprise that the commercials during kids shows are perfectly tailored to their young audience: marketers are purposely creating little consumers and priming them to buy, buy, buy for their entire lives.
Consider what it would be to get rid of cable.
Perhaps you just keep a commercial-free streaming service like Netflix or Hulu. Is that a possibility for your household?
Weigh the pros and cons – what would you gain by ditching cable? What would you lose?
See television for what it at least partially is – another way for advertisers to enter your home and make you think you need more more more.
One thought on “How to Block Junk Mail & Get off Marketing Lists”
I’ve also used catalogchoice.org to remove catalogs and credit card solicitation.
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