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Declutter It!

Easy lifestyle changes to fight paper clutter

by Jennifer on October 6th, 2008

Many of us accumulate paper clutter without even thinking about it. Often we just absent-mindlessly pick paper clutter up, order paper clutter, or stick with old habits that create paper clutter. Try the following lifestyle changes in order to win the paper clutter war:

Avoid front of store paper clutter: You know those obnoxious magazine racks at the front of stores - the ones filled with free home buyer pamphlets, coupon ads, car buying magazines, and more. Don’t go there. Walk right past them; don’t even look their way. You may see these at libraries too. Granted the library racks are more seductive than front of store racks, but unless you honestly need a booklet about community events, let it go.

Don’t order magazines on instant renewal: Every time you subscribe to a magazine, you should carefully think it over, which you can’t do if it’s on auto renewal. Tastes and free-time change all the time. Don’t order a magazine unless you really read it; that’s not eco-friendly PLUS creates unnecessary paper clutter.

Cut down on newspapers: If you only read the newspaper on the weekend, but they offered you all week for just $3.00 more per month, so you took the deal, cancel it. All that extra paper clutter is not worth $3.00 - is it? Also, don’t forget to cancel your whole subscription when you go on vacation, so you don’t come home to clutter.

Quit with the travel brochures: Whether you go somewhere near (the art museum) or far (Rome), there’s bound to be travel info brochures and leaflets galore. Leave them there. I swear, you won’t read them later, no matter how cool they look.

What lifestyle changes have you tried to cut out paper clutter? 

blogtoberfest2008-thumb.jpg

It’s the Blogtoberfest icon! Which means a super keen (and secret) prize is hidden behind this special blog post. If you want to win the great prize that I’m hiding, simply leave a comment on this post. A totally easy way to win a prize. Within a week, the winner of the hidden prize will be announced here at Declutter It, so check back often.

Other ways to win a prize! You have lots of chances to win great Blogtoberfest prizes? Today, October 6th, there are secret special prizes hiding at the following Lifestyles Channel blogs: A Child Chosen, Babylune, Baking Delights, Blog Fabulous, Chocolate Bytes, Inside Motherhood, Keeping the Castle, Mom Gadget, Simply Home Remedies, Tangled Thread, and Weary Parent. Visit all of these blogs, look for the blogtoberfest icon on a post, and leave a comment for your chance at another great prize. 

Good luck and happy blogtoberfest! 

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193 opinions for Easy lifestyle changes to fight paper clutter

  • Jill
    Oct 6, 2008 at 9:49 am

    Paperless billing! Do it do it do it.

  • Lindley
    Oct 6, 2008 at 9:51 am

    Love Blogtoberfest! We try to cut down on paper waste by switching to online bill pay for most of our bills and my son does all his artwork on the back of junkmail! Thanks!
    linjenals at yahoo dot com

  • Suz
    Oct 6, 2008 at 9:54 am

    I’ve done the Sunday-only newspaper and cut back on magazines, too. Makes a huge difference.

  • Lisa
    Oct 6, 2008 at 9:58 am

    I am guilty of the auto renew magazine subscription. :(

  • Karen
    Oct 6, 2008 at 10:27 am

    We switched to practically on online billing and banking. We still have access to our statements if we need to print them off, but we don’t have them coming every month!

  • Shelley
    Oct 6, 2008 at 10:49 am

    Oh, pick me. Am I doing this right?

  • Shasha
    Oct 6, 2008 at 11:04 am

    I never buy a newspaper anymore.

  • Danell
    Oct 6, 2008 at 12:01 pm

    The internet has reduced lots of my paper clutter.

  • Michele
    Oct 6, 2008 at 12:01 pm

    I am so guilty of most of these.

  • Ulla Hennig
    Oct 6, 2008 at 12:05 pm

    I am just cutting down on paper clutter. I am only keeping the magazine pages which are of real interest to me, and then I put them on a scanner. So I’ve got a digital file which I can either keep for further reading or throw that away.

  • Heather
    Oct 6, 2008 at 12:08 pm

    Sometimes it seems the more I try to cut down, the more shows up. I’ve made the calls to (hopefully) end all those junk mail credit card offers - thus savng paper AND interest fees! ;)

  • Peg
    Oct 6, 2008 at 1:19 pm

    I like to do all my bills online, and some direct debit, cuts down quite a bit on paper.

  • Alicia
    Oct 6, 2008 at 2:31 pm

    Oh no, travel brochures! I have a habit of keeping all those when I get back from vacation (just in case, you know) even though I never look at them again. I’ve just been motivated to go find them and throw them away.

  • Tabitha
    Oct 6, 2008 at 2:51 pm

    We have gone to online bills & direct deposit to cut back on paper clutter, I also try to throw junk mail out on a daily basis rather than waiting until the weekend

  • Janelle
    Oct 6, 2008 at 2:55 pm

    We utilize the public library. Our library has a good stock of magazines (even ones for kids) that I can check out and then return! Especially great are those cooking magazines!

  • Jillish
    Oct 6, 2008 at 3:48 pm

    Libraries are our friends, so is paperless bill paying. I gave up our newspapers about 6 months ago as we never read them regularly except on sunday. I tried to go to Sunday only, but apparently I need to live in a city to have that option…

  • Donna V.
    Oct 6, 2008 at 4:28 pm

    We have cut down on the newspaper and magazine subscriptions. It has helped but we still are working on improving our paper clutter.

  • loralie
    Oct 6, 2008 at 5:40 pm

    We live out in the boonies-the Phoenix, AZ newspaper stopped delivering here, so that paper clutter was taken care of for me.

  • Lauren
    Oct 6, 2008 at 6:27 pm

    Picking up the newspaper from a stand lets you pick and choose when you want it!

  • Tonya Froemel
    Oct 6, 2008 at 6:56 pm

    I go to the library for books, but still end up with magazines and books stacked all over. Plus, I am a piler, not a filer so I have tons of paper everywhere. When I do go through the piles I find stuff that is months or years (gasp!) old.

  • reeva
    Oct 6, 2008 at 6:59 pm

    I’m having so much fun blog hopping for Blogtoberfest! :)

    I read the paper when my neighbor sets theirs out for recyling..i set it out for the next recyling day ..i usually snag coupons this way too. I also do paperless banking

  • karissa
    Oct 6, 2008 at 7:01 pm

    I started using 41pounds to help cut mine out (check them out! they are super and i have no affiliation!) no paper billing either!

  • Cami
    Oct 6, 2008 at 7:15 pm

    There are dumpsters and a Newspaper recycling bin by our mailboxes, so I quickly browse the ads then recycle what I don’t want before they even make it to my apartment.

  • Sandy
    Oct 6, 2008 at 7:25 pm

    we read online, reuse mags by donating what we get so they get repurposed, donate books we have read and pay bills online.

  • Jennifer Barnett
    Oct 6, 2008 at 7:28 pm

    We have cut down on our magazine subscriptions and we recycle those that we do get.

  • MONIQUE
    Oct 6, 2008 at 7:30 pm

    I can totally relate to the travel brochures. Six months ago I went to a travel expo and bought home 3 bags of brochures! 3 bags! I never looked at them again. I finally threw them away about 2 weeks ago! Just say no!

  • AmandaK
    Oct 6, 2008 at 7:31 pm

    I have the bad habit of getting free magazine subscriptions, knowing that as soon as I read it, I just lay it somewhere. I might have to stop with that and save some trees!

  • MARILOUISE
    Oct 6, 2008 at 7:31 pm

    I have made repeated phone calls to companies to cancel catalogs. You do ned to be persistant but you can cut back on those filled mailboxes using plenty of patience.

  • Debra B
    Oct 6, 2008 at 7:37 pm

    we’ve been doing online bill pay for a few years that has reduced quite alot of paper, and do not buy the daily newspaper, if we want our news we go online to read it, and we throw out or recycle all magazines within 2 weeks of receiving otherwise they really pile up, thanks for the great giveaway would love to win the surprise

  • Cindi
    Oct 6, 2008 at 8:10 pm

    Your tip about magazines is what I need to do! I have stacks of unread magazines everywhere. Please enter me in your delightful drawing. Many thanks…..Cindi

  • Betsy
    Oct 6, 2008 at 8:27 pm

    Count me in!

  • paper | Packaging & Paper - Packaging Products, Paper, Paper Exporters and more
    Oct 6, 2008 at 8:30 pm

    [...] Easy lifestyle changes to fight paper clutter Many of us accumulate paper clutter without even thinking about it. Often we just absent-mindlessly pick paper clutter up, order paper clutter, or stick with old habits that create paper clutter. Try the following lifestyle changes in … [...]

  • Huguette E.
    Oct 6, 2008 at 8:33 pm

    To cut back we have paperless bills and don’t buy newspapers but we get it from my parents then pass it on.

  • Danai
    Oct 6, 2008 at 8:37 pm

    I’m not very environmentally friendly but I go to the mailbox and then straight to the Dumpster. I won’t even take the junk mail in the house anymore.

  • Alison
    Oct 6, 2008 at 8:57 pm

    Instead of recycling my magazines (read or not), I take them to the local libraries (which is recycling, in a sense..).

  • Roxy
    Oct 6, 2008 at 9:00 pm

    YAY! hope i win

  • Regina
    Oct 6, 2008 at 9:01 pm

    I need all the help I can get as far as organizing goes.

  • Jess
    Oct 6, 2008 at 9:04 pm

    Yay paperless! I just did that for my Schwab account and love it.

  • Nicole (ikkinlala)
    Oct 6, 2008 at 9:28 pm

    I use the library instead of having newspaper or magazine subscriptions.

  • Jenn S.
    Oct 6, 2008 at 9:38 pm

    I have gone to getting digital subscriptions to several magazines. We don’t get the paper either. Most news can be either watched on TV or watched/read online.

  • Shilo Beedy
    Oct 6, 2008 at 9:49 pm

    I never read newspaper and rarely get magazines.

  • Michelle - lovemy3youngens
    Oct 6, 2008 at 9:54 pm

    I go through the back packs and keep the “priceless” art and put the rest in a folder for “trash copies” and scrap paper (kids use it to do calculations and first drafts). This way I recycle what we already have and do not buy extra paper and note pads.

  • Renee G
    Oct 6, 2008 at 10:01 pm

    I’ve actually gone online and requested that certain companies no longer mail out their catalogs to me. If I want to buy, I’ll shop online or in the store.

  • Tiffany Lane
    Oct 6, 2008 at 10:14 pm

    I need to quit ordering magazines and go to online billing.

  • Donna
    Oct 6, 2008 at 10:20 pm

    Anything that would help me with clutter would be fantastic! Thanks!!

  • Tara R.
    Oct 6, 2008 at 10:24 pm

    oh yes please!

  • Elaine R
    Oct 6, 2008 at 10:37 pm

    I pay my bills online-reduces a lot of paper.

  • Noreen
    Oct 6, 2008 at 10:43 pm

    I just did not renew a magazine I rarely read anymore

  • Kathryn Bakken
    Oct 6, 2008 at 11:15 pm

    I use online banking and bill paying. I read the news online and only buy the Sunday paper for the adds and coupons now. I’m slowly getting rid of magazine subscriptions(but never my Martha Stewart)LOL. I try to recycle all the rest.

  • sara l.
    Oct 6, 2008 at 11:18 pm

    I go through our mail every day and throw away any junk mail immediately…Makes for a much cleaner counter!
    sblilly14(@)yahoo(.)com

  • Julianne
    Oct 6, 2008 at 11:26 pm

    What is the surprise??? You have my curiosity peaked!

    About the only hope is throwing away the JUNK MAIL as soon as it comes into the house.

  • Susan
    Oct 6, 2008 at 11:36 pm

    I am so guilty of all of these! I was just thinking I need to stop some of my magazines, I end up reading half of them online now!

  • Sierra
    Oct 6, 2008 at 11:42 pm

    I stopped getting the newspaper and starting reading my news online… Thanks!

  • C. Clemens
    Oct 6, 2008 at 11:59 pm

    YAY i’m entered

  • Kelly Ann T.
    Oct 7, 2008 at 12:30 am

    I use only recycled paper for my computer printer. I have cut down on my junk mail too.

  • Terra Heck
    Oct 7, 2008 at 1:54 am

    Love the tips you offered for getting rid of clutter.

  • Roxanne
    Oct 7, 2008 at 2:42 am

    fun! I want to win a hidden prize! I really dislike paper clutter so I try to stay on top of it and recycle papers as they come!

  • Carol
    Oct 7, 2008 at 2:49 am

    I love your tips, and my tip is to pay bills online, it is so easy! Hope I win this mystery prize!!!

  • Felicia L
    Oct 7, 2008 at 2:54 am

    Home and at work, I do as much as I can over the computer, thanks

  • Jean F
    Oct 7, 2008 at 5:46 am

    I need all the help I can get, with decluttering

  • Adrienne Gordon
    Oct 7, 2008 at 6:23 am

    we went paperless on bills

  • Susan C
    Oct 7, 2008 at 7:10 am

    I am drowning in paper!

  • Tracey Byram
    Oct 7, 2008 at 7:13 am

    Paperless billing is one of the changes I’ve made. I went paperless because it was just easier on me. I am helping the environment as well.

  • Christina
    Oct 7, 2008 at 7:38 am

    I have a degree in Fine Arts (Painting And Drawing) but have spent most of my life writing poetry, short stories and journalistic articles. In the past few years I’ve discovered making two-dimensional collages - recyling all those old magazines and creating with them a world of my own with poetic sensibility! Then the rest of the magazine goes immediately into the the trash, since I like having new responses to images, and others are amazed that I can exhibit work that began with discarded magazines, a pair of scissors and some glue-stick!

  • david basile
    Oct 7, 2008 at 7:40 am

    try t cut paper doing most eveything web based

  • Denyse
    Oct 7, 2008 at 7:43 am

    I get Sun only newspaper deliveries!

  • Cathy
    Oct 7, 2008 at 8:26 am

    I read the newspaper and magazines online. It works great until the children have a homeowrk assignment that involves “cutting out pictures.”

  • Heather S
    Oct 7, 2008 at 8:36 am

    I do not like clutter in general, so I think all these tips are great!

  • Amy Tucker
    Oct 7, 2008 at 8:46 am

    I really like e-books and have started doing this more and more.

  • Ashley
    Oct 7, 2008 at 9:00 am

    great ideas.. I try to sign up for those no junk mail things to cut down on it, and watch when you sign up for stuff on the internet they will try to overload you with “receiving more information” which equals tons of junk mail.

  • Anna
    Oct 7, 2008 at 9:06 am

    I pay and receive my bills online now. I have subscribed to the no solicitation Credit card invitations via the mail. Of course my husband is in the printing industry and says the paper junk mail keeps the printing industry jobs going!

  • patricia skinner
    Oct 7, 2008 at 9:21 am

    I love to recycle newspapers and magazines. It helps keep down clutter too.

  • Rebecca Snodgrass
    Oct 7, 2008 at 9:21 am

    I love surprises!! So cool.

  • Kirby McCauley
    Oct 7, 2008 at 9:22 am

    Blogtoberfest? How exciting! Great post & keep the surprises coming :)

  • CATHI RUSHING
    Oct 7, 2008 at 9:25 am

    GREAT FUN SWEEPS

  • Lori Williams
    Oct 7, 2008 at 9:29 am

    Thanks!

  • Elena
    Oct 7, 2008 at 9:57 am

    Paperless billing is the way to go! Thanks for the contest!

  • Dee
    Oct 7, 2008 at 10:25 am

    a decluttered home is freedom.

  • Sonya Sparks
    Oct 7, 2008 at 10:36 am

    We do online billing. Thanks for the chance.

  • Jocelyn
    Oct 7, 2008 at 10:51 am

    E-billing has helped so much with this! Thanks for the contest!

  • Christine
    Oct 7, 2008 at 10:54 am

    We’ve been recycling all our newspapers and junk mail; every little bit helps. Thank you!

  • Sara Borrink
    Oct 7, 2008 at 11:18 am

    I don’t know where I accumulate so much paper everyday.

  • valerie mabrey
    Oct 7, 2008 at 11:29 am

    Thanks for the contest

  • beth shepherd
    Oct 7, 2008 at 11:45 am

    Thank you! I love surprises. Thank you
    tatertot374@sbcglobal.net

  • Tarah
    Oct 7, 2008 at 12:10 pm

    I ♥ my magazines but I do recycle them after I’m done. All the elementary schools around us have a paper bins in the parking lot - they look like dumpsters.

  • ab
    Oct 7, 2008 at 12:25 pm

    your blog caught me eye simply by it’s title. I’m honestly getting depressed over our clutter and need to get out!

  • Leslie Dovey
    Oct 7, 2008 at 1:17 pm

    Nice post. I find that most of the wasteful paper we get is from junk mail. We recycle paper, plastic, glass, and tin.

  • Kathy Scott
    Oct 7, 2008 at 1:21 pm

    I am a CPA and I have a paperless office. Thanks to efiling and scanning client’s documents. I have so much more space in my office now.

  • M.A.
    Oct 7, 2008 at 1:48 pm

    I’m always surprised by the amount of clutter that multiplies on my kitchen counter!

  • Kate
    Oct 7, 2008 at 1:50 pm

    bill pay online and online banking, two major ways to get rid of clutter

  • Kamber
    Oct 7, 2008 at 1:54 pm

    I wish I didn’t subscribe to magazines at all. They are constantly flooding me with offers and renewals and just everything paper. Better to just read it online.

  • michelle maddock
    Oct 7, 2008 at 2:00 pm

    I do online billing also.

  • Anne
    Oct 7, 2008 at 2:51 pm

    Paperless billing and I read the paper online!!

    Thanks

  • Linda
    Oct 7, 2008 at 3:35 pm

    I am totally unorganized and not proud of it.

  • Christine W
    Oct 7, 2008 at 4:25 pm

    Read the news online! Thanks for the chance!

  • Elizabeth M.
    Oct 7, 2008 at 5:42 pm

    I pay most of my bills online now to cut down on paper bills and on paper checks.

  • Tina
    Oct 7, 2008 at 5:44 pm

    We are in the market for a new house and in the past would pick up the home buyers guide at the market. I finally figured out that the whole book is online! Plus I don’t have to wait for the next month to see newly listed houses!

  • Vicky Boackle
    Oct 7, 2008 at 6:38 pm

    i love surprises.

  • Mia J.
    Oct 7, 2008 at 6:41 pm

    I have done a couple of the things that you mentioned. I have cut back on doing the grab the brochures at the market and also cut out the weekday paper as I often don’t have time to read it.

  • Rosanne Morrison
    Oct 7, 2008 at 7:14 pm

    We stopped the newspaper last summer

  • Jill Miller
    Oct 7, 2008 at 8:24 pm

    I found a used bookstore that will buy my old magazines — for some reason it’s easier to get rid of them if I know I’m getting probably 1/2 cent for each (my husband teases me unmercifully about that!!)

  • Gianna
    Oct 7, 2008 at 8:58 pm

    Please enter me :)

  • Carol Lawrence
    Oct 7, 2008 at 9:37 pm

    Hope i win the surprise gift.

  • Chandrea Scranton
    Oct 7, 2008 at 9:44 pm

    This is so much fun! Not only have I read some really neat things, but then there is a chance to win something too!

  • Stacy
    Oct 7, 2008 at 9:50 pm

    I love surprises, this is fun!

  • Casey H
    Oct 7, 2008 at 10:25 pm

    I’d love to get in on the blogtoberfest giveaways!! Thanks so much!!

  • Tanna
    Oct 7, 2008 at 10:25 pm

    Paper clutter is my biggest problem!

  • Anna
    Oct 7, 2008 at 10:35 pm

    I try to do paperless billing online now to cut back on wasted paper

  • Theresa Shafer
    Oct 8, 2008 at 12:27 am

    Scan and throw. If you really must have an article. Cut it out and scan it.

  • Jill Myrick
    Oct 8, 2008 at 12:56 am

    Thank you so much for always offering such wonderful contest.
    I would LOVE to win

  • Michelle Jadaa
    Oct 8, 2008 at 6:22 am

    We do most stuff online ,even the magazines have plenty of stuff online for free these days.
    Any junk mail gets sorted out quickly,you have to stay on top of it.

  • Shari D
    Oct 8, 2008 at 8:43 am

    My office could really use a de-clutter.

  • charline s
    Oct 8, 2008 at 11:03 am

    I get way to much junk mail

  • Bebemiqui
    Oct 8, 2008 at 11:18 am

    Online bill pay and we don’t get any magazines! There’s enough info on the web!
    bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com

  • Margaret Alford
    Oct 8, 2008 at 12:28 pm

    I have finally started keeping up with most new paper coming in my home. My problem is boxes and stacks of old clutter. I am working on tacking a little of that stuff each day.

  • Lisa Fosses
    Oct 8, 2008 at 12:30 pm

    decluttering my home is a constant battle

  • Regina
    Oct 8, 2008 at 12:41 pm

    I would love to win.

  • chris swanson
    Oct 8, 2008 at 1:09 pm

    I give all my paper to my kids to write on and draw anything they want and then recycle it. But I wish I could get rid of most of it.

  • Betty Nations
    Oct 8, 2008 at 1:13 pm

    I enjoy magazines but I either pass them on to another person as soon as I finish reading them or they go to recycle as soon as the next issue comes in. Newspaper, “stuff” from the mail, etc is recycled daily as we have our own recycling bins that the county picks up weekly.
    Love your contests!

  • Janet F
    Oct 8, 2008 at 1:43 pm

    Please enter me!

    janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

  • esvin
    Oct 8, 2008 at 1:53 pm

    Surprises are fun, thanks for the contest!

  • Eloise
    Oct 8, 2008 at 2:52 pm

    I am loving Blogtoberfest, thanks so much for the great opportunity!

    furygirl3132[at]comcast[dot]net

  • Jen
    Oct 8, 2008 at 4:03 pm

    I collect all sorts of pamphlets and magazines and books because I write, so it’s all research. But a couple times a year I go through the collection o’ research materials and toss what I think I won’t ever use after all.

  • Vickie Couturier
    Oct 8, 2008 at 4:44 pm

    we have cut back on so much clutter,we recycle the newspaper,we read my moms then take it to my brother an he reads it,so it gets reused three times before tossing into the recycle pile

  • Desiree
    Oct 8, 2008 at 4:45 pm

    Noting all the helpful tips, and thanks for the chance to enter this giveaway ;)

  • Jennifer Reda
    Oct 8, 2008 at 5:08 pm

    thanks for the fun contest

  • ellen cunningham
    Oct 8, 2008 at 5:23 pm

    I’ve finally started paying bills online. I hope to go completely paperless eventually.

  • Holly
    Oct 8, 2008 at 5:43 pm

    We have a special box in the garage for paper to be recycled. Everyone in the family has gotten good at putting all kiinds of paper products in it. It would be great to win a suprise!

  • Heather
    Oct 8, 2008 at 8:16 pm

    Thank you for the tips - paper clutter is one of my problems!

  • A Casson
    Oct 8, 2008 at 8:59 pm

    Recycle them both after reading or use them for liners

  • Hayley G.
    Oct 8, 2008 at 10:36 pm

    Amen to not taking travel brochures- those things are a waste of paper and space!

  • Hesper Fry
    Oct 8, 2008 at 11:57 pm

    We use the library too. Thanks for the great giveaway!

  • Brandy Stokes
    Oct 9, 2008 at 12:12 am

    PICK ME!! PICK ME!! Thanks for the surprise, everyone loves surpises, and thanks for the tips!!

  • Lenora Garrett
    Oct 9, 2008 at 1:23 am

    Clutter is my middle name

  • Molly Capel
    Oct 9, 2008 at 2:07 am

    With 4 of my 5 kids in school, we have tons of paper clutter! I try and go thru the piles onces every couple of weeks, but it doesn’t seem like it does much good.

  • Kasey P
    Oct 9, 2008 at 8:15 am

    I do all of my banking online now. Less paper, less hassle.

  • littlelatina
    Oct 9, 2008 at 10:39 am

    enter me

  • Suzanne
    Oct 9, 2008 at 11:07 am

    I am on all of the “do not send” lists. (Check out privatecitizen.com, not free but cheap, and great work! No, I am not affiliated, just a long time happy customer.) I have even bought the service for friends who want less mail, but “never get around to it”.

    Folks from whom you want to get catalogs can still sell your info, so I call each one when I start getting a catalog and request that they not rent/sell my info.

    After I receive an order that I placed online from a company that sends catalogs I call back and ask to be removed from their mailing list. I wish there were a check box on the internet form to indicate that you don’t want to be on their paper list… oh well. Sometimes I note that on the comment section.

    I call the toll free number for each new, unwanted catalog that arrive so I can get off their lists ASAP before they sell my info and I get MORE junk mail. I do that while I am reading the mail, so in case I get put on hold I’m entertained. I don’t put it off until later, or it never gets done.

    For magazines, I pull out any articles to be read later or pictures that I want for decorating ideas, etc, and file them in a file box that hides in the entry closet. When it gets too full, I have to purge the articles by reading them or throwing them away. I also keep a boot box with decorating ideas, articles, pictures, with folders by room.

    I like to take magazines when I travel for business, as I can throw away pages as I go… and lighten my load as I accumulate other things.

    I put my already read magazines in my car in a file box that I keep on the passenger side floor of the car, and when I go to the doctor’s office I take them out and leave them there, as their reading material is not always interesting or plentiful. My file box also contains sales receipts of things I might or do want to return (they never get in the house to get lost!), coupons, etc.

    Also, we buy renewable energy that’s offered through our provider as an option and that makes me happy when I pay the bill!
    (And I’d love to win the mystery prize!)

  • Tiffany Hulbert
    Oct 9, 2008 at 11:15 am

    Thank you for participating! This is a great opportunity!

  • Laura G
    Oct 9, 2008 at 11:39 am

    go paperless and opt out on mailings by going to http://www.proquo.com - free and easy

  • Gina Stratos
    Oct 9, 2008 at 1:12 pm

    Online banking and bill pay
    gkstratos@yahoo.com

  • Jodi
    Oct 9, 2008 at 2:34 pm

    I try to get most of my bills online, and I pay most of them online also. I read my newspaper on line, and recycle magazines and newspapers.

  • hazel hunt
    Oct 9, 2008 at 2:36 pm

    nice

  • Talitha Lee
    Oct 9, 2008 at 2:46 pm

    The worst paper build up is all the school stuff that I get! Good grief! I give the papers that are only one sided to my kids for their artwork!

  • shawna
    Oct 9, 2008 at 3:53 pm

    Great Advice!!

  • Carolyn Nedrow
    Oct 9, 2008 at 4:08 pm

    Please enter me for the surprise gift. Thanks!
    cjnedrow@gmail.com

  • Cam
    Oct 9, 2008 at 5:09 pm

    At work I print on both sides of the paper, I won’t throw it out til every surface is covered. Most of my bills are on-line to which is convenient and paperless.

  • Alissa
    Oct 9, 2008 at 5:19 pm

    I clean up clutter with organization, organization, organization. Little bins and stackable drawers are fantastic for cleaning up the “junk” that sits around. File folders are also a neccessity!

  • Kari Follett
    Oct 9, 2008 at 5:32 pm

    We do almost all our banking and bills online - save paper!

  • Monique Rizzo
    Oct 9, 2008 at 5:59 pm

    I love surprises and would REALLY like to win! Thank you.

  • susan p
    Oct 9, 2008 at 6:21 pm

    please enter me thank you

  • Jodene Gildea
    Oct 9, 2008 at 6:48 pm

    Oh, I love surprises - please enter me.

  • Carla Spence
    Oct 9, 2008 at 7:43 pm

    online statments save so much paper!

  • Jennifer Hedden
    Oct 9, 2008 at 9:22 pm

    enter me

  • Carla Pullum
    Oct 9, 2008 at 10:25 pm

    I have clutter all over my dining room table! Where are we suppose to eat? I feel yah!

  • theodore esteghamat
    Oct 10, 2008 at 12:08 am

    We try to get bills online and pay them online.

  • jen gersch
    Oct 10, 2008 at 12:33 am

    i read online

  • Andrea Evans
    Oct 10, 2008 at 1:32 am

    I also do all of my banking online because I just hate clutter.

  • Ann
    Oct 10, 2008 at 2:04 am

    I was in a sea of paper, it was everywhere…in the kitchen, in the bedroom, in the living room, it was literally driving me crazy. We have since started online billpaying, we no longer receive any newspapers as you can find anything online, school papers get reused into art projects or used for packaging. Our landfills are overflowing with paper products. Biggest pet peeve of mine is when that person in front of you at the grocery store asks for paper bags….and they want them doubled! UGH!

  • Karen
    Oct 10, 2008 at 2:24 am

    Great tips for helping to deal with paper clutter. Thanks!

  • Erica C.
    Oct 10, 2008 at 2:47 am

    great tips!

  • Ruthann Rhodes
    Oct 10, 2008 at 6:53 am

    choose electronic magazines rather than the paper copies. Now just my computer desktop is cluttered.(lol)

  • Sharon W
    Oct 10, 2008 at 9:38 am

    I haven’t touched paper bills in years.. Paperless is the best option

  • Nanette Olson
    Oct 10, 2008 at 9:56 am

    I really need help with cleaning up my clutter.

  • Wendy Wallach
    Oct 10, 2008 at 10:11 am

    i file the brochures i get on vacations by place so they are both out of the way and easy to find if i ever go back there again!

  • sarah
    Oct 10, 2008 at 10:27 am

    enter me!

  • Angela Koga
    Oct 10, 2008 at 10:37 am

    I open my mail right next to the recycling bin so no excuse to throw the paper away.

  • Elizabeth Ray
    Oct 10, 2008 at 10:59 am

    I pay my bills online

  • Suanne Giddings
    Oct 10, 2008 at 11:01 am

    I am now trying to throw junk mail out on a daily basis. I used to just toss it aside until I had time to go through it. Well, the time never came and I almost drowned in the clutter! I am a work in progress.
    This Blogtoberfest is Great Fun! I would love a secret surprise!!! Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this giveaway!

  • Becky Grayson
    Oct 10, 2008 at 11:19 am

    Clips! All sorts of clips. I clip like things togather in my desks and this makes it so much easier and neater.

  • Tonya Froemel
    Oct 10, 2008 at 11:27 am

    count me in

  • Jennifer C.
    Oct 10, 2008 at 11:28 am

    I do almost all my bill paying online. There are a couple that I still have to pay the old fashioned way though (garbage and water). I think I only go through a box of checks every other year now too.

  • Jennifer Schroeder
    Oct 10, 2008 at 11:49 am

    I am loving Blogtoberfest! It’s so fun to enter for surprises!

  • Carrie
    Oct 10, 2008 at 11:52 am

    declutter it!! I love my paper shredder!

  • Veronica Jarvis
    Oct 10, 2008 at 11:57 am

    We do e-billing online….saves on envelopes and money!

  • kristi blackstone
    Oct 10, 2008 at 1:16 pm

    Enter me please

  • Diana
    Oct 10, 2008 at 2:16 pm

    I stand right in front of the recycling bin as I open the mail and all junk goes right in, other stuff goes right to the shredder.

  • kathy pease
    Oct 10, 2008 at 3:44 pm

    PLEASE COUNT ME IN ON THIS AWESOME GIVEAWAY :)

  • diana hogle
    Oct 10, 2008 at 3:57 pm

    Let all go paper less. Save the trees

  • Veronica Garrett
    Oct 10, 2008 at 7:37 pm

    It’s unbelievable the amount of paper my children accumulate from school. Not schoolwork but fundraising solicitations. I don’t bring mail in the house unless it is important.

  • Kayce C
    Oct 10, 2008 at 7:48 pm

    I’d love to win.

  • Jennifer Harriman
    Oct 10, 2008 at 8:04 pm

    I am on a quest for organization, Please count me in for this sweepstakes :)

  • Renee Turner
    Oct 10, 2008 at 8:12 pm

    Wow- very useful tips!

  • Samantha Pruitt
    Oct 10, 2008 at 8:44 pm

    Blogtoberfest is so much fun!

  • AnnasMom07
    Oct 10, 2008 at 9:08 pm

    I rarely, if ever, opt for a receipt at the ATM. In my opinion, that type of transaction is less prone to error than, say, a point-of-sale (POS) transaction.

  • Sarah Z
    Oct 10, 2008 at 9:09 pm

    I recycle all of my paper clutter (almost!) junk mail, newspapers, magazines - all that stuff!

  • Donna Wilde
    Oct 10, 2008 at 9:15 pm

    I would love to win a surprise!

  • Betty C
    Oct 10, 2008 at 9:33 pm

    I don’t subscribe to the newspaper, I only buy it on Sunday when there are coupons. I haven’t yet gone to paperless billing because I feel that I get more information when I can see the bill in hand but I do pay everything online.

  • Jennifer C
    Oct 10, 2008 at 10:13 pm

    Paperless billing is a quick way to cut down on paper clutter.

  • Donna Kozar
    Oct 10, 2008 at 10:14 pm

    Don’t subscribe to the newspaper.

  • Tammy
    Oct 10, 2008 at 10:46 pm

    E-books!

  • kay wolter
    Oct 10, 2008 at 11:04 pm

    I am sinking in paperwork over 17 years of it I rip out articles I will read later or places I want to see and stick them in a rubbermaid container to read later and later has not come….pick Me please smile

  • Declutter It’s First Blogtoberfest Winner!
    Oct 11, 2008 at 8:24 pm

    [...] The first Declutter It secret prize Blogtoberfest icon was in the following post, Easy lifestyle changes to fight paper clutter. [...]