For years, we subscribed to our favorite magazines and even the Sunday newspaper. Over time, they became a burden to read, instead of enjoy. Gradually, we reduced the subscriptions but were harassed by endless mailings from publishers offering “lowest price ever” if we renewed.
While I could easily manage the magazines themselves, I found all the extra mail to be wasteful. It required diligence on my part to know when our subscription REALLY expired. At one point, I had paid for 2 years in advance.
Eventually, we went down to just one magazine. It was my favorite until I realized every other page was an advertisement. It was thick with unnecessary ads. This was just the motivation I needed to end the subscription.
For months, the bills continued. Even a letter that stated I was delinquent. But that’s just another sales tactic because advertising works.
I don’t object to an occasional magazine. Reading is good. But my approach eliminates waste and clutter.
Boundaries
If you currently subscribe to magazines you enjoy, great! But be realistic about how many you can read. Establish a container to hold the current publication and recycle the rest. Are you noticing a backlog? Perhaps it’s time to cancel a subscription? We use a shallow basket to collect free periodicals we receive and the ones we buy. (Pro Tip: I leverage boundaries throughout my home to help reduce clutter.)
Topics of Interest
Do you still enjoy the information? Is it still relevant or are there other publications you would prefer to read? Could you find the magazine articles online instead? My favorite magazine posted most of their articles online. And with Catalogue Choice, you can choose these as well.
Room for Spontaneity
Sometimes it’s fun to pick up a new magazine at the airport. Or when a title catches your eye in the grocery store. It’s fine to buy a new magazine once in a while. With thoughtful purchases, you’ll spend less than the subscription and prevent clutter from entering your home. Don’t forget the library where you can enjoy a quiet afternoon reading periodicals for free!
Magazines might not add a lot of clutter to your home. In fact, you might have a great system as I did. But when it comes to living simply, I think it’s important to look at any area to save money and reduce waste.
How’s your magazine collection?
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