Is it time to reduce paper in your house?

Many seniors just can’t part with their paper items. Now is the time to get rid of the excess. It could be mail, fliers, handouts, magazines, newspapers, etc. Then there is all the paper we have saved over the years.

People save books, articles, recipes, photos, greeting cards, old receipts, old records and paper memorabilia.

In addition, paper is brought into the house via packaging, food trays/cups and disposable cleaning products.

It may be time to reduce the paper that fills up the house. Look at all the paper you already have in the house. Start with reading material — books, magazines and newspapers.

Books are great to own and reference, but seniors should just keep a few and the rest can be donated to the library for fundraising book sales.

Magazines are fun to read, but after you are done, donate them to the local hospital/community center. Newspapers should be placed in recycle bins.

When you pick up the mail, presort it; place the junk mail in the trash before you enter your house. Notify companies sending you unwanted donation requests, catalogs or advertising to remove your name. Another alternative is to mark the mail “return to sender” and place in the outgoing mail.

Again, when you just come back from a vender fair or class, sort out the keepers from trash as soon as you walk in the door.

If you are still saving all your articles, photos and greeting cards, it may be time to reduce the paper memorabilia and scan the other ones. Old greeting cards can be donated for children’s craft projects. With paper memorabilia, like artwork, certificates and diplomas, buy a frame and display it.

You do not have to save old receipts and records, generally, for more than seven years.

Examine how often you have gone back beyond seven years. If you can’t think of a reason to save old records, shred them.

Finally, cut down on paper household items. These mostly go to landfills.

Place in recycle bin paper packaging, as soon as you bring it in the house.

Check out your pretty linen towels, real plates and glasses. They are probably sitting in a cabinet or drawer collecting dust.

It is just as easy to place a real dish in the dishwasher, than place a paper tray/ cup in the trash.

Reducing paper in the home will provide more space. More space means more tranquility.