The next step to take in order to reduce amount of “junk mail” you receive at home is to contact Direct Marketing Association. Contact them by letter and give them your full name, your complete home address, your telephone number and your signature. Inform them that you want to register for their “opt-out” Preference program.

They can be contacted at:

Direct Marketing Association Mail Preference Service P.O. Box 643 Carmel, NY 10512

This registration will stop mailings from many national companies for a period of five years. However, it will not stop mailings if company is not registered with Direct Marketing Association.

It will take about 90 days to honor your request if you contact them by mail. The DMA circulates their “opt-out” list quarterly to their members, so you may not see a significant change for three to six months.

If you want a faster way to “opt-out” of their list, then consider going online to register for this service. You will need a credit card to pay $5.00 charge to register online. Contact DMA online at www.dmaconsumers.org. There is no charge to register by mail however.

By registering with these two services now you should see a dramatic decrease in amount of telemarketing calls and mail that you receive in near future.

Fruit Fizzy Don’t plan your summer party without this refreshing drink. Pour one can of Sprite (it doesn’t have caffeine) into a blender, along with small ice cubes. Add several large strawberries, a handful of blueberries, or other favorite fruit to mix. Blend mixture until it has texture of a slush. Pour into a glass and garnish with a cherry on top.