How To Get Something Good From Junk Mail

Preston, England
November 11, 2015 9:14am CST
While most of my junk mail is designated as instant land-fill fodder, I do find I can get some use from it. I don’t mean the rare offers that might entice me to actually buy or invest or donate to some business or cause – so far there have been none of those. What I get use from is the free pens they send me to help me fill out my bank details further, and the nice little calendar one sent me as a useful way to remind myself of next year’s dates. One even sent me little labels with my address on for use on envelopes and a few charity Christmas cards. So, while their unsolicited invitations to give them my money feeds my ever hungry wheelie bins, the pen, calendar, cards and labels will find a future. Arthur Chappell
10 people like this
11 responses
Jekca
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
11 Nov 15
I use the envelopes for scratch paper!
2 people like this
Arthur Chappell
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
11 Nov 15
I often use the one sided letters as spare scrap note paper so it isn't wasted but recycled
1 person likes this
Arthur Chappell
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
11 Nov 15
@Jessicalynnt it saves me money without even using their money saving offers so I like it
1 person likes this
Jekca
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
11 Nov 15
@arthurchappell grocery and chore lists, that kind of thing, and yeah,often, might as well, as they sent the stuff to me
1 person likes this
Sherrye Barrow
@sherryeb (580)
• Duncan, Arizona
12 Nov 15
I watched my children go through a junk drawer full of that promotional stuff and I retrieved it from becoming trash, before it hit the bin. They asked me what I was going to do with all of it, and at the time I worked for a school and knew of about a couple hundred kids that could use those pens, pencils, note pads etc...
2 people like this
Arthur Chappell
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
12 Nov 15
absolutely - it might as well serve some purpose
Koalemos
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
11 Nov 15
I have received a few little useful items myself, although the majority are simply dustbin fillers as you say.
1 person likes this
Koalemos
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
11 Nov 15
@arthurchappell Those prize draws must have been a successful promotion because they continued for a long time. I have read some excellent articles myself, but would not bother considering a subscription.
1 person likes this
Arthur Chappell
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
11 Nov 15
@Asylum yeah they went on forever
Arthur Chappell
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
11 Nov 15
always handy when it happens - must cost them when they get nothing back though
sofs
@sofssu (23662)
•
11 Nov 15
I get pure junk mail with no goodies.. not even once in a while. Maybe some sample paint cards etc at times.
2 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (472291)
• Switzerland
11 Nov 15
I also received the small calendars and little labels with my address. It's a long time I do not receive pens and postcards.
2 people like this
Kimberley
@mom210 (9115)
• United States
11 Nov 15
Okay I am jealous, I never get any pens. I need to sign up with your junk mail companies.
1 person likes this
Arthur Chappell
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
11 Nov 15
most of them send me nothing of value or use but some do in the UK just as a deterrent to their post being dumped unread - it doesn't work.
1 person likes this
paigea
@paigea (36315)
• Canada
21 Dec 15
I rarely get a pen, but I did get a nice red one this Christmas
2 people like this
Yalul
@yalul070 (1713)
• Manila, Philippines
11 Nov 15
lol well at least they give you free pen when they ask you to fill out something! the only junk mail that i have is the one i find in my email.
1 person likes this
Arthur Chappell
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
11 Nov 15
I get a lot there too sadly with no useful freebies to salvage
1 person likes this
Alfredo Rossi
@amadeo (111938)
• United States
11 Nov 15
same here.I am loaded with junk mail and what to get rid of them.
1 person likes this
Arthur Chappell
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
11 Nov 15
it can get quite epidemic at times
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (342516)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Nov 15
I have enough labels to last me a lifetime. But I don't get pens too often. I could do with a few more actually. And they sometimes send notelets which I quite like.
1 person likes this
dorianna
@dorianna (509)
• United States
11 Nov 15
Yes, I like those little treats as well. I use them glad to have another item I do not have to purchase and makes use that much more enjoyable.
1 person likes this
paigea
@paigea (36315)
• Canada
21 Dec 15
I use those things too. I get so many address labels that I cut off the address and use the stickers at school! Last month and this month though, I am getting paid $10 to send my junk mail to a survey company!
1 person likes this
Arthur Chappell
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
21 Dec 15
pretty good if the survey pays for it for you
1 person likes this