Posted in Simple and Frugal Living

Are you tired of all the unsolicited credit applications and junk mail you receive in the mail. Have you ever thought about how much paper is wasted in sending those out to the masses? Me too.

Some time ago, I had heard that if you take all of the contents of the envelopes and stuff them in the prepaid return envelope the companies will discontinue sending their information. So, we tried this. However, it seemed that for each one we sent back, there were 5 other companies sending us more. Now, this wasn't overly time consuming, but I wondered if there wasn't a better use for this material.

After a little research, I discovered that you CAN use the junk mail to help save the earth AND save you money! Firstly, if you take all of the paper and shred it, you have a constant great source for packing material, kindling, art projects, and mulch. So there is a savings incurred from not having to buy these products. But there is a another over looked option...the return envelope.

At first, I wondered if I could use the envelopes as is and place a new address over the pre-printed address of the company, thus saving the envelope expense AND the postage. However, I found that this is illegal. But there is a legal way to re-use the envelopes. Save all your return envelopes from junk mailers, and shred and use the rest of the information. Once you get a stack of them, take 10 minutes to dismantle the envelopes and turn them inside out. A bit of glue or tape will hold them together. Voila a new envelope for you that cost you nothing! 

In addition to this process, there is another way you can eliminate your cost of envelopes. Each time you recieve mail, save the actual envelope. These envelopes can be re-used by placing an address label over the original address (which you be yours). Remove the postage and start anew. If the postage was pre-printed on the envelope, just black it out with a sharpie marker before adding your postage. Those envelopes with the see through address windows really pose a problem for the earth. You see, the plastic used to make those widows is not recuclable. So, the longer you keep the envelopes in circulation, the longer you keep that plastic from the land fills.

Since the time I adopted this system, I have not had to purchase envelopes! Remember the trickle down process. You really have to think about it in order to see how doing so little can really have a BIG impact, both for the earth AND your bank account. If you never bought envelopes again, you would not only save the cost of the envelopes, but by not conusming them, there would be no refuse in their packaging and their ultimate discarding. If you stopped purchasing envelopes and you got 100 families to do the same, that means that 100 families are no longer consuming this product, thus the local stationary store is selling less. You are throwing away less and your mail recipients are throwing away only what is already bound for the rubbish pile. You see they are going to throw the envelope away anyway, so why not send an envelope that would normally be discarded by you along to someone else and then be discarded. You have just saved one more piece of paper from being forced into circulation adn then the rubbish bin! In actuality, you have saved half of your mail paper trash. All this while keeping your dollars where they belong...in your bank account!

These are my thoughts.

Leslie Valeska

~Contributing Writer~

Want to read more? Come, partake in the Journey to Simplicity  where you will find lots of information regarding frugality, simplicity, homeschooling, organization, faith, homemaking, art, and so much MORE! Leslie is a wife and homeschooling mother of four in SW Fl. With children ranging in ages from 4-16, she has had a lot of time to learn and experience much of homemaking. Leslie is also a seamstress for Vintage Vixen, one of the oldest online vintage clothing shops. When time permits she enjoys reading, writing, scrapbooking, painting, and watching old movies. She and her family also spend much time RVing. You simply must come on over to the Journey to Simplicity and see what she is talking about today!