Mr. Thrifty Tip #1: Start with the national trade group databases
The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) is the official trade group of the junk mailers and telemarketers. In order to improve their image, they have set up a “delete me from your mailing list” database that they share with all of their members. Anyone who wants to be a member of the DMA must honor the “delete me” list. The DMA sends out their list to their organizations several times a year. Once you get on the “delete me” list you should see the number of catalogs, magazine offers, credit card applications, etc. to drop dramatically in 2-3 months.
The easiest way to get on the “delete me” list is to go to their website at: http://www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailinglist . There you can either pay $5 to apply online to get off the list or print out a free preformatted letter and mail it in to them. The advantage of the $5 online registration is that they will add you name immediately to their list rather than wait two months that is what happens when you mail the letter in. Of course, Mr. Thrifty is thrifty so he opted for the letter.
Abacus is another big database that you want to get off of (they are now owned by online marketer Double Click). Abacus basically complies a big list of anyone you buy from a catalog company or magazine publisher and then rents their list to other mail order companies. This is why if you ever buy something through that Abercrombe catalog why you get 30 catalogs from Banana Republic, The Gap, LL Bean, etc. To get off of their database, send an email with your name and address along with instructions to opt-out of their marketing list to: . If you prefer to send them a letter, send it to:
Housing 
