It’s the start of a brand new year and with that comes a whole host of resolutions. Losing weight, finding a new job, stopping smoking, and the list goes on…

Well, if one of your resolutions is to get organized and/or reduce clutter, getting rid of junk mail is a great way to achieve that goal. Over the holidays, retailers bombard us with catalogs practically daily, credit card companies want us to apply for that great low rate, and those good causes want to make sure we get our donation dollars in before the end of the year.

So now that the flurry of holiday activities has hopefully slowed down, here are 3 quick steps you can take to reduce or eliminate the junk mail cluttering your mailbox and your home.

1. Stop credit offer solicitations

Go to www.OptOutPrescreen.com to opt out of credit offers. This will take just a few minutes, but you will be surprised at how much junk mail this will stop. Great for identity theft protection too since you will no longer receive credit offers that could land in the hands of others.

2. Set up your preferences with the Direct Marketing Association

Go to www.DMAChoice.org and set up an account if you don’t yet have one. At this website you can set your preferences for catalogs, magazine offers, and other junk mail.

3. Reduce/eliminate catalog deliveries

If you are swimming in catalogs after the holiday season, there are several methods available to stop delivery:

go to CatalogChoice.org, set up an account and select the catalogs you no longer wish to receive

if there are catalogs you still want but maybe not as frequently, many retailers offer a reduced mailing schedule. Contact the retailer directly by calling the toll free number on the catalog or go to their website to find your options

Following these 3 simple steps will reduce your junk mail drastically. Keep in mind, it may take several months for the junk mail to actually stop due to printing and mailing schedules, but it is well worth the wait! For other ways to eliminate other types of junk mail, check out the Resources page!