# How often do you check your mail? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 8, 2006, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-check-your-mail/383329 "2006-12-08T13:01:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-check-your-mail/383329/1 "2006-12-08T13:01:54Z")
In [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=399132) thread I talked about a surprise bonus I got from a company that laid me off. I asked two former coworkers who had been laid off as well if they also got a bonus. Both of them said that they had not gotten their mail in a few days. I am quite astounded at this. I get my mail almost daily (I would say daily but I usually refrain from using definitives.) How often do you get your mail? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-check-your-mail/383329/2 "2006-12-08T13:07:02Z")
Physical mail? At my permanent address and excluding magazine subscriptions, uh… about… uh… half a dozen letters a year? I’m not even getting mail from my bank anymore, having chosen their “email me” option. ---
**Author:** ![Lobelia\_Overhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@Lobelia\_Overhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobelia_Overhill)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-check-your-mail/383329/3 "2006-12-08T13:35:25Z")
Monday to Friday anytime between 9 am and 1 pm. Nothing on Saturday or Sunday unless it’s the weekend before Christmas ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-check-your-mail/383329/4 "2006-12-08T13:37:25Z")
I have a PO box which I normally check 2-3 times a month. I pay most of my bills online or by direct withdrawal. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-check-your-mail/383329/5 "2006-12-08T13:43:41Z")
I check it every day in nice weather, but unless I’m expecting something Very Important, I can go with every other day in inclement weather. It’s 75% junkmail, especially at this time of year, so I’m not too worried if my catalogs and mattress sale flyers sit for a day. No biggie on the bills either, as I generally do a week’s worth on Saturday or Sunday. ---
**Author:** ![Morelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Morelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morelin)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-check-your-mail/383329/6 "2006-12-08T13:47:06Z")
I check my apartment mail about once a week, give or take, and my mailbox mail every day or every other day, depending on my work schedule and if I’m expecting something. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-check-your-mail/383329/7 "2006-12-08T13:51:53Z")
Most mail comes to my office. The apartment stuff I throw on the table and check out Saturday night. ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-check-your-mail/383329/8 "2006-12-08T13:55:34Z")
I check it about every other day. If I’m expecting something good, maybe every day. A few months ago, I went ten days without checking it, and our letter carrier emptied the mailbox and brought all of our mail back to the PO (he left a bluebird, and I was instructed to go to the PO to pick up my back mail). ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-check-your-mail/383329/9 "2006-12-08T14:02:14Z")
I get it mostly every day, but if I skip a day once a week or so, no big deal. I open bills and the like immediately; the rest goes in a stack to deal with at the weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-check-your-mail/383329/10 "2006-12-08T14:05:35Z")
Our neighborhood has those group mailboxes on a pedestal. There’s a pedestal right across the street from our house, however for some reason our mailbox is in the pedestal down at the end of the block. Since I’m the only one that ever checks the mail anyway, it basically depends on the weather and / or how lazy I’m feeling. Some weeks it can be three or four times a week, some weeks it’s one or two times. ---
**Author:** ![According\_to\_Pliny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@According\_to\_Pliny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/According_to_Pliny)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-check-your-mail/383329/11 "2006-12-08T14:13:11Z")
I get my mail every day, but then there’s a lot of checks in it. If I don’t get it, people will call me asking why the check has taken so long to be deposited, didn’t it arrive yet. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-check-your-mail/383329/12 "2006-12-08T14:36:42Z")
ehh… 5-6 times a month. Maybe more. It’s more convenient for my Wife to do it, so she pops by the Post office at least once a week. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-check-your-mail/383329/13 "2006-12-08T15:23:13Z")
I check my mail once a week, maybe twice. More if I’m expecting something. Usually when I take the trash out on tuesdays I check the mail while I’m out there, and put in any outgoing stuff. I love putting my mailbox flag up - it makes me feel human. ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-check-your-mail/383329/14 "2006-12-08T15:31:24Z")
[QUOTE=Shoeless] Our neighborhood has those group mailboxes on a pedestal. There’s a pedestal right across the street from our house, however for some reason our mailbox is in the pedestal down at the end of the block. Since I’m the only one that ever checks the mail anyway, it basically depends on the weather and / or how lazy I’m feeling. Some weeks it can be three or four times a week, some weeks it’s one or two times. [/QUOTE] We have the same thing in my neighborhood except mine is around the corner. I check it once or twice a week, normally after I’ve dropped the kids at school and when I remember to take to long way home. ---
**Author:** ![Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gut)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-check-your-mail/383329/15 "2006-12-08T15:38:24Z")
I check it every day as I’m coming inside. About the only thing that makes it past the garbage can beside the mail box is the movies from zip. Occasionally there is a statement or bill that I haven’t switched to online versions. ---
**Author:** ![Autumn\_Almanac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d26b3c/32.png) [@Autumn\_Almanac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autumn_Almanac)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-check-your-mail/383329/16 "2006-12-08T15:38:38Z")
I check mine every day; it’s mounted on the house, luckily, so I don’t have to walk anywhere. I’m usually waiting on something specific, and besides, it seems tacky to let mail pile up, like not mowing the lawn or something. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-check-your-mail/383329/17 "2006-12-08T15:57:56Z")
Physical mail: twice a day at the office, as I get out of the car when I get home. Even with online bill paying and the like, we still get a mailbox full of stuff most days. ---
**Author:** ![vix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a88e4f/32.png) [@vix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vix)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-check-your-mail/383329/18 "2006-12-08T16:09:19Z")
We **get** mail six days a week. Maybe once or twice a year, there’s nothing, but most days there’s at least some junk mail or a catalog. I **check** the mail daily, always hoping for something interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-check-your-mail/383329/19 "2006-12-08T16:20:51Z")
I am lazy and get very little actual mail, so I check the mailbox once or twice a week at most. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-check-your-mail/383329/20 "2006-12-08T16:21:28Z")
We check our mailbox every day when we get home from work. There is usually something in it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-check-your-mail/383329.md?page=2)