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Reuse Junk Envelopes {Creative Ways to Save #1}

December 7 // 18 Comments // 1 Minute Read

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This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy here.

Reuse Junk Envelopes | Creative Ways to Save Money

The mail is absolutely full of reusable envelopes. Billing statements, credit card invites, magazine renewals…not to mention the actual envelope each piece of mail comes in!

Next time you're tempted to throw junk envelopes away, think about different ways you could reuse them before they hit the recycle bin. It's a really cheap and efficient way to organize!

Here's a few suggestions to breathe new life into those junk envelopes:

  • Carry deposit slips and cash to and from the bank.
  • Store grocery money if you use the cash-only system.
  • Organize receipts and file according to the type of purchase.
  • Divide coupons by categories and expiration dates.
  • Use as scrap paper for shopping and to-do lists.

You can help your brand new envelopes last a lot longer by keeping a similar stash of junk envelopes nearby. It's really just another office supply, except it doesn't cost a thing!

How do you use junk envelopes?

 

Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.

Next Post »Not Your Typical Financial Journey {Part 1}


Comments

  1. Carrie says

    December 11 at 4:47 am

    Hey I actually reuse our junk mail/billing envelopes! =) I mostly use them for grocery and to do lists, although I sometimes let my 2 year old daughter color on them too! 😉
    I’m a newbie to your blog… came across it from your recent giveaway with the ladder blogs (through Gretchen Louise) =) Am really enjoying your posts about the gift tips and guide etc.! Can’t wait to use some of your suggestions this coming year! =) Thanks!

    Reply
    • KalynBrooke says

      December 11 at 9:38 am

      Yay! I like using pretty papers for to-do lists – it helps me stay inspired, but I hate throwing out perfect good writing space, so it’s a hard choice.

      So glad to have you here!

      Reply
  2. Sherry says

    December 7 at 12:56 am

    I use the junk envelopes as pockets and or pages for scrapbooks and smash books and handmade journals.

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      December 8 at 10:22 pm

      Great ideas! There’s always a ton of little items I save to put in my scrapbooks. The envelope would be a perfect place to store them!

      Reply
  3. Mary Mehaffey says

    December 29 at 6:22 pm

    We recycled the unused envelopes as interoffice correspondence envelopes. We sent staff checks, vacation, sick leave and other notices to our staff in these envelopes instead of throwing them away.

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      December 29 at 10:35 pm

      That’s a great idea!

      Reply
  4. Roxanna Precht says

    December 31 at 6:34 pm

    I don’t know why I didn’t think of recycling those envelopes before. I throw so many out!

    Reply
  5. Kim says

    December 31 at 7:22 pm

    I use them as file dividers too. Being wider than your paper they stick out enough for me to see segments.

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      January 2 at 5:42 pm

      That’s true, they would be perfect for that. 🙂

      Reply
  6. Rose says

    February 12 at 9:38 am

    Great ideas! But why not have important mail sent via email (like bills) and other stuff that’s unneeded you can opt-out (google it). If you don’t already have a great way to use these instead of seeking out ideas just stop it from coming to your house. If you are looking for ways to save on buying paper (list pads, sticky notes, etc.) yes, these are great ideas!

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      February 14 at 9:20 pm

      That’s very true! I do have quite a few bills sent paperless, but need to figure out the opt-out thing too. 🙂

      Reply
  7. jane says

    April 2 at 10:15 am

    First off I have tried to eliminate paper mail but still I do get more than enough.
    I do a lot of the steps you recommend and have done for years.

    But perhaps this tip might help as well.
    I have red wiggler worms to compost kitchen waste so when I clean out my file cabinet or have a collection of envelopes and paper that are no longer useful (already used for grocery lists etc) I tear them up fine and feed them to the worms! You can also add them to your compost pile since in addition to green compost you need carbon compost and paper fills the bill. You can includes Kleenex, cardboard as well.

    Reply
  8. sammy says

    May 26 at 10:38 pm

    If you go camping they are great for kindling instead of searching for dry leaves or such

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      May 29 at 3:51 pm

      Thanks for sharing that idea!

      Reply
  9. LaTourStudio says

    December 2 at 3:22 pm

    Thanks for the tips, Kalyn!

    I particularly like the nice designs you find inside security envelopes (the ones in which you receive your bills or other confidential documents). I upcycle them them to make cards, notepads covers and pages, there are many different designs that can fit together to make beautiful objects.
    Otherwise, as you said, I reuse envelopes to make shopping and to-do lists.

    Reply
  10. Mary A. says

    January 15 at 11:44 pm

    We need to send permission slips and money to school and always use junk envelopes for this correspondence.

    Reply
  11. Anna says

    February 8 at 12:06 am

    I totally use those as scrap paper (glad I am not the only one)! Love your other ideas for upcycling the envelopes!

    Reply

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Hi, I’m Kalyn—a recovering perfectionist who nerds out about organizing systems, personal productivity, and helping you prioritize what matters over the pressure to do it all. I have a feeling we’re about to become the best of friends! Learn more >>

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The busiest month of the year doesn’t have to be one you dread, especially when you try this simple, yet brilliant hack: 👇⁣
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**Number your to-do list.** ⁣
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1️⃣ Start by spilling everything you need to do this week onto the page (don’t worry about the order yet!)⁣
2️⃣ Identify your top priority.⁣
3️⃣ Number the rest of your tasks in order of importance. That’s it!⁣
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Psst… I use pencil just in case I change my mind and want to switch things around! ✏⁣
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This method does two things:⁣
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💛 It helps you focus on the next right thing...not ALL the things!⁣
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💛 It forces you to prioritize. When everything is important, nothing is important. And you want to make sure the most important things actually get done. ⁣
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FYI: You don’t have to go to every party or keep every tradition just because it’s something you “should” do or “always have done” in past holiday seasons. Lean into what you love most about this month and find freedom in letting the rest go. 👋⁣
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Because somehow, having less stuff to do makes the things you CHOOSE to do all that more special. 💖

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Even though we won't be spending Christmas in the RV, I just had to put up a few decorations to enjoy before we leave! 🎄⁣
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The next three weeks will be our first time traveling without our home-on-wheels and I'm feeling all sorts of anxiety over choosing what items to pack. We've always had everything we need with us, which means I'll probably forget something. 😬 RV living tends to spoil you in that way!⁣
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Q: Are you staying home for the holidays or going out of town?

Instagram post 2188622923628264971_242948575
Earlier this fall I hosted a Facebook challenge where I invited you to define what self-care looks like for your life while making an intentional effort to incorporate it into your week. 📆⁣
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This event was even more popular than I expected, and I am so pleased with the positive results many of you shared!⁣
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What I didn't expect? 👀⁣
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The haters.⁣
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Some readers morally disagreed with my Facebook self-care event and let me know by messaging me and calling self-care "misguided," "unbiblical," and even an "idol." ⁣
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Let me be clear: I do agree that we should be careful about our priorities and not neglect our responsibilities completely for the sake of a little me-time.⁣
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👨‍👩‍👦 Your family still needs you.⁣
👨‍👩‍👦 Your church still needs you.⁣
👨‍👩‍👦 Your community still needs you.⁣
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What they don't need is someone who is a frazzled, stressed-out mess who serves out of obligation rather than joy. Because when we demonize rest, we inadvertently swing the pendulum the other way and create an idol out of working, serving, and hustling. ⚖⁣
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God didn't intend for us to wear ourselves out for His glory. Rather, I think He created us with needs (food, water, shelter, rest, etc.) to remind us that we ultimately *need* Him.⁣
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So when you take time to address those needs and care for yourself, remember that it's not selfish. It's just wise.

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Are you ready for Turkey Day tomorrow? Although I’m not hosting this year, I’m helping my sis-in-law prepare and contributing my Creamy Parmesan Mashed potatoes and a cherry pie (Joseph’s request) ☝ to the menu. ⁣
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When I *did* host Thanksgiving, my family made fun of me for being over-prepared, but they later told me it was the smoothest Thanksgiving they’ve ever had—and they weren’t just talking about the mashed potatoes! 🥔⁣
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I relied on these seven tips to pull things off without a hitch:⁣
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1️⃣ Read over your recipes one more time and confirm you have ALL the ingredients. ⁣
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2️⃣ Create your day-of timeline. Calculate backward from dinner time so you know exactly what needs to be in the oven when.⁣
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3️⃣ Copy/hang recipes on your cabinets  so you can see everything you need to make at a glance rather than being forced to flip through several cookbooks.⁣
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4️⃣ Lay out and label all food dishes (including serving ware) with sticky notes.⁣
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5️⃣ Set the table. (And perhaps bust out some crime scene tape to keep kiddos out of the dining room!) 🤣⁣
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6️⃣ Make whatever food you can ahead of time, whether it’s chopping veggies, assembling dry ingredients, or making the entire recipe and refrigerating until it’s time to warm! ⁣
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7️⃣ Do a quick clean of your kitchen so it’s fresh and ready for the big day!⁣
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Remember: the point of Thanksgiving is NOT to pull it off perfectly. 🚫⁣
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No one cares if you spill blueberries for the fruit salad all over the floor (true story) or you pull a too-jiggly peanut butter pie out of the fridge because it didn’t set right (also a true story). Those are just extra memories you can add to a table already brimming with abundance...and gratitude. 🍽Q: What is your favorite pie to eat at Thanksgiving?

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Family members are just about as different as the ice cream toppings they choose. 🍨⁣
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Even though we love them unconditionally, it's not easy for family to come together during the holidays and have it be completely drama-free. There's increased social pressure, obligation, tradition, personality differences, and always a comment or two that makes you bristle, whether it was intended that way or not! 😤⁣
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So, how can you celebrate holidays without the drama? 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦⁣
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PREPARE. Head into family get-togethers knowing how you’ll respond in a tense situation. 🗣⁣
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Here are three ideas:⁣
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1️⃣ Leave the conversation and start a new one with someone else. 🚶🏻‍♀️⁣
2️⃣ Ignore the frustrating comments, and shift the conversation. 🤐⁣
3️⃣ Engage--but instead of gearing up for battle, respond with a curiosity-driven dialogue. Ask questions in order to understand the other person's perspective, rather than focus on "winning" the argument. 🥊⁣
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Most of all, prioritize being kind over being right. Because if you approach conversations with a different attitude, your button-pusher might too. 😉⁣
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Q: On a lighter note, what is YOUR favorite ice cream topping? I love rainbow sprinkles!

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Introverts, UNITE! Separately. In their own homes. And you better not stop by without calling...er...texting first. ⁣
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Whether you're an introvert yourself or have a best friend who's idea of a wild Friday night is a date with a snuggly blanket and book, then you're going to love these brilliant gift ideas picked out by an introvert (that's me!) FOR introverts! ⁣
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This roundup includes "Small Talk Survivor" pins, "Go Away" doormats and my new favorite sweatshirt, "It's Too Peopley Outside" among other laugh-worthy gifts. ⁣
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Drop a gift emoji in the comments below, and I'll send you a link to the curated list. Or you can access the post via the link in my profile!


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