Not all actions or reactions are caused by grand emotions such as guilt. I just received my 3rd Gurney's catalog in the past 6 weeks, btw. I wrote them an email and if someone's attentive enough I might not get 3 next year. At least the post office gets to benefit a little during tough times. =p As far as wasting resources, there's way less of us seed starters than people would imagine. Being in a city, I get twice-a-week mailed coupon packs that make my mailbox look like the Sunday paper threw up in it. I had to opt-out of those through a local newspaper who acted as their distributor.

THANK you... was wondering where the extra catalogs were coming from! Ugh! I'm happy to have gotten a couple of them but wow! -Marie

My weakness is paper clutter - I am pretty good with clearing out clothes/dishes/books/etc. but paper is an obstacle for me that I struggle with. What I found to be the BIGGEST HELP EVER to my paper clutter habit was not to let it into my house. When I receive catalogs or advertisements or other mail I can't help but read it or "keep it to read later". Even though I know it's junk and should be tossed. So I went on a CAMPAIGN not to let it into my house in the first place. It was initially time-consuming, but SO worth it. Here are the steps: 1. Go to the DMA's website (the Direct Marketing Association) to register for the Mail Preference Services by filling in the online form. It takes about 30-60 days for it to kick in. On that same webpage is also a credit card solicitation opt-out service which I recommend both to decrease junk mail, and to decrease chances of identity theft (identity thieves could take a credit card solicitation addressed to you, fill it out, and get a credit card in your name). 2. Call all your magazine subscriptions' 800 numbers, and tell them "Please mark my account so that my name or address is not rented or sold to other companies." 3. Call all your credit cards, and and tell them "Please mark my account so that my name or address is not rented or sold to other companies." 4. Call any catalogs that you want to continue getting, but tell them "Please mark my account so that my name or address is not rented or sold to other companies." 5. Call all your utilities (phone/cell phone/electric company, etc.) and and tell them "Please mark my account so that my name or address is not rented or sold to other companies." 6. Call any sweeptstakes 800 numbers when you get a sweepstakes solicitation and get them to remove you from their lists. Just takes one call to each sweepstakes company. 7. Whenever you donate money, purchase something on the internet or via a catalog, write in the "comments' box in capital letters, "Please do not sell my name or address". 8. Call 1-888-567-8688 or 1-888-5OPTOUT. This will remove you from junk mail sent by Trans Union, Equifax, innovis, and Experian. Whew! That was a lot of work! But once I finished, after a few weeks my mailbox ONLY contains mail I want. I would say my mail has decreased in volume by at least 70%. Good for the environment too. And that's 70% less paper on your island, and 70% less work for you every day sorting through your mail. A very nice payback for the time you have to spend initially. Here is a link that might be useful: DMA's Mail Preference Webpage

Warning-grumpy vent/rant ahead! "I don't consider it a priority for me, it's just something I do. It is much easier since the kids are grown and of course the house was not neat when they were in the house." Allison, sorry to pick on you; I noticed the same sentiment from a couple of other folks who have responded in this thread. Frankly, people without kids living at home, IMO, are living in a different universe as far as ease of keeping a home clutter free. I'm a neat and tidy person myself. So is my husband, with one important exception (more on that later). When I lived alone, and after we married but before kids, it was not a huge or impossible task to keep my living area clutter free and serenely tidy. Now, after 19 years and 2 kids and with those 2 both teenagers...forget it. I would like to hear from some folks in this topic who are experiencing life at its 'fullest', ie living with children, pets, a couple of fulltime jobs for the adults in the house, no household help. I want to learn how THOSE folks are living the dream of a house with empty horizontal surfaces :). As for me, I have all the above clutter creators in addition to living in a house built in 1950 with a single (not walk in) closet in each of 3 bedrooms and one (narrow) linen closet in the hall. No other storage. I sort mail and throw it away. I have places for everything. Etc etc etc. My house is also filled with stuff and between the kids and my packrat husband (who loves to bring home stuff OTHER people have thrown away-arrgh) clutter free is not happening. And it won't for a long, long time. Sorry to pick on ya, Allison and the other neatniks. But to make amends, can I ship a couple of teens and maybe a husband to you? That would free up a LOT of clutter around my abode! Ann