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Homemaking Cleaning & Organizing Series: Taming Mail Clutter

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How de-cluttering our mail helped us to pay off close to $1,000 in two months, Save Money, and Give us a Peace of Mind

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We had a system; a great little system that kept all our mails in one small folder. It was my husband’s from college, but it was organized according to the alphabet system. With this system, I knew exactly where to find any piece of mail I needed. Then we moved, got rid of the folder that was not falling into pieces, and things went downhill ever since.

All daily incoming mail was now placed in a small brown basket where they would eventually be looked over. When the basket was filled the mail would be tossed into a huge storage bin. Then the process would start all over again.  Needless to say, our mail became a pile of clutter that no one wanted to attack.

To make matters worse, due to life events and nursing home transfers and so forth, all my mother-in-law and grandmother-in-laws mail were now being delivered to our home and included in the clutter.  Mail was now everywhere in unwanted spots, such as on the dinning table, bookshelf, and in other areas of the home.

As a homemaker, I had expressed my distaste to the family about the clutter of mail  that seemed to be piling higher and higher. I even devised a plan to keep the in-laws mail in a separate bin since they were not reading them. That way all their mail could be in one area. And if there came a time when they could get their mail, the entire bin could be delivered to them. They could sort it out because I have no idea what is what in their mail.

In addition, I had expressed that junk mail should be tossed immediately to avoid the clutter.

Albeit, we did not follow these plans and so I got discouraged and just did nothing else to solve the clutter.

Despite this situation, I had an even bigger issue hanging over my head. I knew there were some bills to be paid that was drowned in the mess. I had contemplated for months upon months how and where to start. You see, cleaning and organizing the mail is not my favorite chore but I knew it had to be done. The debt continue to hang over my head. . . and the clutter kept pilling higher and higher.

A few months ago, I decided to take control, take some time to organize the mail, and tame that clutter. Especially after reading Crystal Paine’s book, Say Goodbye to Survival Mode. She discussed how to take control of our finances and survive other areas in our lives by taking baby steps and I wanted to do just that. The key is to set small goals and stick with them. But there was no way our family could get ahead if all our bills were thrown somewhere in a clutter of mail. So after reading the book, I wanted to make a change. I wanted to pay off debt. I wanted to stop living in survival mode with this mail situation (if so to speak). I became motivated and got to work.

(Just in case you have never heard of or read this book, you can purchase a copy on Amazon by clicking on the image above. You will not be disappointed)!

It took me about two days to clear the clutter, but it was two days well worth it! I dumped everything on the floor and got to work. Whatever were in bins, baskets, on the bookshelf, dinning table, etc. everything went on the floor!

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I sat and cried and cried as I overlooked this large pile of mail and as I sorted and organized each piece of mail. I though of quitting during the process. It was a dreaded task and I did not want to do it! And as I thought of the plan to keep the in-laws mail separate which we did not follow. Why was I the one to sit down and sort all the mail, I asked myself? I could not help but cry. And how could I ever get this down with a baby and a toddler running around and needing my attention? But I kept thinking of the benefits our family would gain from the de-cluttering and so, kept on going. Thankfully, the kids did well!

By the way, when I was done sorting, this entire bag was the in-laws alone.

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Despite my silly emotions over organizing the mail, I was so thrilled when it was over. I organized every piece of mail I could find in different categories. When it came to our bills (and they were mostly doctor’s bills that we had to pay after our insurance covered their part), I organized them in one bin according to dollar amount. So I placed the largest bill at the bottom and worked my way up to the smallest. Dave Ramsey recommends that the smallest debt be paid off first.

  • I found a $20 bill in the clutter

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  • Expired Khols cash $50 worth – gone down the drain! I had searched high and low for this during Christmas time, only to find them in the clutter.

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  • A subway card with at least $10 and some other gift card.

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  • And this was the pile that got thrown away after I shredded the important stuff that needed to be shredded. Two tall large bags of nonsense mails (I mean, catalogues, spammy mails, old sales paper, you name it!

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So was I happy I read Say Goodbye to Survival Mode? A big fat YES! Was I happy I broke down and organized our mail – YES!

Here are the benefits our family were able to enjoy after the de-cluttering process:

  • Less clutter: this is what our mail boiled down too after I got rid of all the junk and un-necessaries. I intend to get a better and more permanent filing type system like the one we had before (at the opening of this post).

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  • About a day or two after within organizing, I started calling around to take care of the bills, both old and new. We paid off close to $1,000 within two months of de-cluttering (My goal was to pay off $1,000 by the end of the year), but the goal was met within 2 months. We continue to pay off the rest and hope to have them fully paid off soon.
  • I realized that we owed less than I originally thought. It rounded up to just under $2,000 instead of the $5,000 I thought we had owed
  • Some of the debt that were hanging over my head had already being paid (had the mail being de-cluttered earlier, I would have known that)
  • All our coupons and store cash $$$ are in one place and easy to find when needed (no more expired and wasted money)
  • We have a peace of mind because we know where all our mail is and we know what bills we need to take care off as soon as they enter our home (No more wondering where things are)

I know this post was long but I felt that there was no way to make it much shorter. Hopefully, I did not bore you too much. Are there still times when our mail tend to end up in unwanted spots? Oh yes, but they are no longer tossed into a big storage bin like before. They will be organized and put where they belong. Hubby got in on the plan and helps out when he can.

Do you struggle with mail clutter? What is your family’s system for keeping the clutter down? Or does de-cluttering your mail help you save money?

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85 thoughts on “Homemaking Cleaning & Organizing Series: Taming Mail Clutter

  1. Wow, what a lot of mail! I try to always adhere to the policy of putting it where it goes as soon as I walk in the door. That way it doesn’t have a chance to pile up. But I can understand your problem with mail for so many different people arriving at your house. And I have to add that you did an awesome job of organizing! Great tips, as are all of your organizational tips! And finding the $20 was an added bonus!!

    I really like Dave Ramsey, too! 🙂

  2. Darling, I can feel your pain! The same thing happens to us. We have tried everything too! We toss junk mail in the trash without ever even opening it. We purchased a cute little mail organizer to sit on the kitchen counter with sections, turns out it would really hold a LOT of mail! My husband is generally the one to sort through the mess. We too have found money we forgot was coming and gift cards in our stacks of mail. You are not alone. But I understood how you felt when you cried, it is overwhelming. We have opted for email only invoices for utilities, insurance, cell phone ect. I’m happy for you that you got it done! Pinning to my Inspirational Board because this is inspirational!

  3. Paper clutter is the worst-good job tacking on an overwhelming task! You should ask at your local Kohl’s if they will take the expired Kohl’s cash. My local stores will take them, but I was told they do not like people to collect them and use several at one time. The last time I tried to use it they told me I had to use all the money at once (instead of just $10 of the $20).

      1. Just for the record, each Kohl’s seems to have a different policy, so on the rare occasions where mine is expired, I have learned to ask. I’ve seen lots of posts in blogs and it seems that some stores will accept it, and some not. So far, I have never been denied using it. Recently, I asked at a store I rarely go to, but the checkout person couldn’t have been nicer. She said she could put he code into the computer/register to see if it was still valid……and it WAS. So in the future, always ask!

          1. I was told they would take it 30 days from the date of issue guess it depends on the store.

  4. I have relatives who have had to deal with other relatives’ stuff, and I know it can be overwhelming. But way to go on the organization – I just went through our mail recently and it is a chore at times. I found one letter from our HSA account, which we rarely use, informing us that we needed to let them know we were still there or face a $5 monthly charge. I wish I had opened it sooner! (I just thought it was another monthly statement).

    I find the same principle to work with organization in general. I’ve often found an object I needed when I go through things, and it’s almost like going shopping, but without the cost.

  5. Just so you know for the future, many Kohl’s stores let you use expired Kohl’s bucks. At least the stores do in Indiana. I would at least ask. And good job at getting rid of that clutter!

      1. Policies vary per store, my location said 90 days, others have said 30 days. If it was Christmas time it would be outside of both. Info for next time though 😉 Great job on getting through the clutter!!

  6. Great article! Make sure you check with your local Kohls in regards to the expired Kohls cash. They take expired Kohl’s cash. I just don’t know how long each store will accept them passed their expiration. It’s worth giving it a try.

  7. Great article and something I totally relate to as I also have a ginormous pile of mail actually let me clarify that boxes and boxes of mail. I have a copy of Dave Ramsey’s book “Total Money Makeover” and I am going to follow your lead and attack my mail clutter. I also wanted to mention that in my neck of the woods (Sonora, Ca) Kohl’s accepts expired Kohl’s cash. You might want to see if your local store does as well.

    1. Go for it…I guarantee you, you will not be disappointed that you did it! I will check with the local Kohl’s to see if they take expired coupons! Love California-was just there in SD for spring break!

  8. Good job!! I tear off the back page of catalogs and when I have a few free minutes- waiting at a sporting practice, cooking dinner, etc.- I call and ask to have our names removed from their mailing list. I keep a list of who I’ve called so I know that in about 2 months’ time, those catalogs will stop coming.

  9. Good job on this accomplishment!

    One thing you can do to reduce the volume of paper coming into your home is to go paperless with your bills and get them all online. Most places give you this option. This way you can always “find” your bills by looking them up online.

    I keep a list by date of when bills are due — 1st mortgage, 10th insurance, 25th electric power bill, etc. — so that I don’t forget to pay something. I review my list every other Friday on my lunch hour (the day after my paydays) and schedule an online payment for the due date for anything due in the next two weeks. You could also set reminders on your calendar — whatever works.

    As for your relatives’ mail, you can probably distinguish the junk mail from the important mail rather easily. Maybe when you have some free time and feel the urge, you could soft through that bin and get rid of the stuff that is obviously junk. I’m sure your relatives will appreciate getting only the mail that matters.

    1. I like the idea of going paperless-I believe we have it for some but not for all. Also, as for my in-laws mail, I do not want to attack them because hubby does not like me throwing their stuff away without him first going through them. Oh well!!!!!!!

  10. One way to cut down on mail clutter is to take some time (spread it out if you have to) and cancel all the paper catalogs you receive. Any place I really shop I tend to look online so I don’t really need paper catalogs. You can just call the customer service number (sometimes you can do it on their websites) and have them remove your name/address.

  11. Congratulations on your success! My solution is to immediately put the junk mail in the recycle pile which then goes to the bin. And the bills are put by the computer. Not much else after that.

  12. I sort the mail immediately and any bills that arrive get paid right then and there. I used to think, oh I’m too busy to deal with this now, and then the bills would pile up and I would dread facing them. It only takes a minute or two to pay them right away, and it gives me peace of mind that I’m not behind on any payments.

  13. You can still use Kohl’s cash even if it’s expired!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So….I HOPE you didn’t throw it away! I have used expired ones several times with no hassle whatsoever from the store clerks! 🙂

  14. I can definitely relate to the seemingly endless piles of mail. When my mother-in-law moved to a nursing home suddenly last year, we were saddled with the task of selling her house. She never ever threw mail away (EVER). We had 20+ big garbage bags full of mail that dated back 40 years that had to be sorted (there were paystubs and bank statements mixed in with junk mail and family photos). It made me crazy! But, had we not sorted it, priceless photos would have been lost and the handkerchief that belonged to my husband’s great great grandmother would have been lost forever.

    1. 20+ big bags???!!!!!!! That is a lot of mail to go through-especially when it is not yours. But like you said, there were sentiments to be found from sorting it. Glad you found those precious pieces!

  15. I recently found out about the expired Kohl’s cash – I had shredded the first one before I found out it might be good. Right now I have an expired one that I need to take in. I just saw this post recommended on Money Saving Mom – it is very timely. I have two bags of mail to go through since we were gone for a week (a small pile of it is political ads). I think I need to go pull it out and work on it tonight.

  16. Another comment regarding Kohls cash… I purchased some items and the cashier informed me at checkout that they could no longer honor expired cash, so to make sure that I used mine within the dates allowed. Of course, life got busy and when I decided to use the bucks, they had just expired. I was so frustrated because I had been informed of the change in their policy but still forgot.

    I decided that I had nothing to lose so I contacted customer service through Kohls.com and politely explained what had happened and asked if they could still honor them. They quickly replied and informed me that if I placed an online order, I could send them the order #, along with the Cash Codes and they would credit my account. Such a nice surprise! I will be doing that this weekend for sure.

    And, mail is a huge issue for me. I am a piler and my piles tend to get out of control. I, too, need to find a better system. Thank you for the inspiration.

  17. Wow good job at tackling your mail!! I also neglect our mail at times and have some I need to go through 🙁 can you expand further on what your previous system was that worked for you as well as the categories that you were sorting into on the two sorting days? Thanks!”

    1. With the previous system, it was a paper folder that was divided into sections-A, B, C, D, etc. all the way up to z. So I put all bank stuff in B. And all Healthy/Doctor in H for example. With the new sorting system, I used small plastic (shoe bins). I put all medical bills in one bin, utility bills in another bin, paid bills in another bin, etc. Hope I did not confuse you to much!

  18. We automate most of our bill payments so that we don’t have to remember to log in to accounts to pay them. You can also look into asking your providers for e-statements online instead of getting them through the mail. You would of course have to save the statements on your computer. Like you, most of our ad hoc bills are from health providers who we owe after insurance has paid.

  19. Good job sorting! Isn’t it such a feeling of relief?!

    I saw your pics of the kohls cash…if the numbers are readable in the originals, you could maybe see if they can find it with just the numbers.

  20. Your article spoke to me, described me and made me cringe and laugh all at the same time! I’m tossing out my mail, ASAP!

  21. You may want to check with your Kohls store. The Kohls I shop at will take expired Kohls cash coupons up to a year. However, you cannot use expired coupons online.

  22. Zan, I totally agree that Crystal’s book is fabulous. It’s a must read for everyone!

    High five to you for organizing your mail, and for paying off half of your bills! You should be so proud of yourself!

    I’m amazed at the amount of junk mail that we get. It’s such a waste. If I receive a catalog that I don’t want/need, I call and cancel the subscription so it doesn’t junk up our mailbox/house!

  23. My Kohl’s lets me use expired Kohl’s cash all the time. Even a few months expired. That’s why I love Kohls!

  24. Great article! I always open my mail as soon as it comes in the house, and I literally open it next to the recycle bin. It seems like 90% of the mail goes in there—why do they bother sending it? Then we hand out personal mail (rare anymore) and bills are put on the desk. The only mailed bills we get anymore are for water/garbage and also for medical things. The rest are all electronic.

  25. Great article. Just so you know Kohl’s does take expired Kohl’s cash. I used one a couple months ago that was 2-3 years old. I was using it as a book mark in a book I was reading

  26. Like a few other people mentioned, I recycle the junk mail right away. I can’t remember where I read that…maybe on FlyLady…but I have the mantra in my head that “junk mail doesn’t deserve to even enter my home!”

    Our mail goes into a slat in the garage door, so I just walk over to the recycle bin to sort out the junk right away.

    So proud of you for starting AND finishing this task. Your pictures look like our home office floor, so I really related to the scary pile of mail and not wanting to sort it!

  27. I was going to tell you the same thing about the Kohl’s cash== I never knew until my mom told me. Great post, Zan, and I’m going to feature you on the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party tomorrow!

  28. Hello! I couldn’t help but read and comment on your post. I commend you for sticking to organizing your mail! What a daunting task. I wanted to let you know that I have been VERY diligent the past few years about junk mail, and my husband and I don’t receive more than a handful of junk mail items in a month. When I receive a catalog or some other junk mail item, I first call the company to see if they can remove my name from future mailings. If there is no phone number, I developed a Word template of what I call my “no letter” that I mail out to companies to not only stop sending me mail, but not to share my name or other information. I also followed all of the advice from this article (this article is similar to the one I use as a reference): http://money.msn.com/shopping-deals/7-sure-ways-to-stop-junk-mail-liz-weston

    Like I said, I have been very diligent about eliminating junk mail and I feel like my husband and I are in a very good place now. Like other posters, I also try to deal with the mail as soon as I bring it in – it doesn’t take long and then I don’t have to lose it in my clutter. Good luck to you in the continued mail adventure!!

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