It's hard to stay a step ahead of sneaky spammers, you may not be able to stop them but you can outwit them--almost. And what about those pesky catalogs stuffed into your mailbox like fat sausages; removing them from your mail box can be a challenge. Fingernails are torn, knuckles are scrapped. Suggestions on what you can do to cut down the junk mail deluge.

Managing your e-mail box can be frustrating and annoying

To get rid of the headache of sorting through spam messages guaranteeing everything from instant weight loss to male super enhancement, set up secondary e-mail account. This is the one you will use for joining online groups, receiving e-letters and announcements, free coupons, online magazine accounts, etc. This is an important acount, but not your primary one. Your primary account should be used to received your personal e-mails and mail from your office. The only people who have this e-address will be family, friends and co-workers, or whomever you decide. Spam will probably still squeak through but not as much. This will cut down valuable time spent weeding out spam.

With a secondary e-mail account, you will soon find that your primary account has fewer spam messages. Be careful who you give this e-address to. Most people do not deliberately set out to be a spammer, but they often become one when they find an article of interest they want to pass on to a large group of people. Instead of e-mailing the article by "blind-copy", they send it by "cc" which allows all recipients to see your e-mail address. Before long, your once semi safe address is out full-force in cyberspace.

When spam does arrive in your secondary account, and you can be sure that it will, don't just delete the message, send it to the spam folder. When this is done often, your system will recognize it as spam and it will not be delivered to you. It would be nice to say that this suggestion is fail-safe; it is not. You must still check your spam box every several days, just in case legitimate mail was placed there. You may want to put these "good" e-mail addresses on your accepted e-mail list. Take advantage and use all the resources your provider offers.

If you like the idea of primary and secondary accounts, try it, this may work for you. Use Yahoo, Google’s G-Mail or any other free service that allows large amounts of mail. Then clean out your primary in box. Change your e-address for any mail that can be delivered to the second account. Start using your secondary account for any sign ups for catalogs and such. Many times you asked to sign through a survey form. Read the sign up page carefully; don't hit the send button until you really read what is on the page. Delete any check marks in boxes for offers you do not wish to receive.

A reminder that it is a good idea to check your child's e-mails. Not because you are spying, but to keep them safe from predators. If the email service you are using has strict parental safekeeping practices, use them to guard your children from unsavory web pages.

Stop those weighty store catalogs from third parties

These pesky catalogs are stuffed into your mailbox like fat sausages; removing them from your mail box can be a challenge. Fingernails are torn, knuckles are scrapped. Can you put a stop to this? Yes you can. Look on the back of your credit cards and call the 800 number, if you are lucky enough to get a live person, ask to be removed from their third party list. You will be told that you won't receive fabulous offers, or get updates on new and exciting things, but be firm and just say no. It will take some time but you will regain your mailbox.