Bunk Mail

I am getting tired of opening my mailbox every day and finding it full of unsolicited material. I don't want to call it "junk" because there is often a lot of good stuff in there: catalogs full of cool toys and kids clothes, unique gadgets and knives, housewares, you name it - it's in my mailbox every day, inside the hundreds of catalogs we receive every year.

Now, I am a loyal American consumer - don't get me wrong - I love to buy stuff! I just wonder if this really meets the old sustainability test.

I have a friend who works in direct marketing. He says that this mail is directly targeted to our household and that we would not receive it unless there were a very good chance that we would buy something from these companies.

One day's haul - All 6.2 pounds of it.

Then there is the idea that I need to see something at least seven times before I begin to recognize it. These companies are obviously already gearing up for Christmas '07.

I wish there were some way to still get catalogs - without having to get so many. I am starting to follow the advice of these and these folks, but I will want to see a few of these, come actual Christmas buying season. Does it have to be an all-or-nothing thing?

Hmm...I'd bet we'll still have a full mailbox again come Christmas time, even if I do take action and stop these catalogs. There really is nothing like a wish book, after all...