P is for Paperless Bill Pay

Paperless Bill Pay and Paper Reduction

My recommendation:

1. Open online accounts with all your major service providers (credit card companies, energy company, cell phone, land line phone, bank account monthly statements, etc., etc, etc.). All of these services and bills can be managed online at your convenience. Your mind can be at ease when you are on vacation. No need to worry about “Did that Visa bill arrive yet and when is it due?” Connect to the web, log onto a secure account, and view your account activity daily, weekly, monthly, or as often as you want. Many companies even offer an email reminder option so you don’t forget to pay your bills. Or you can just sign up for automatic withdrawal.

2. Stop junk mail. So much of our junk mail goes directly from the mailbox into the trash or recycling bin. Stopping all junk mail still leaves you the option of signing up for the mail you enjoy i.e. catalogues, magazines, coupons, etc.

3. Recycle paper- it is easy to throw paper into the trash. Once the paper is free from any personal information to eliminate identify theft, recycle it!

4. Avoid printing unless a hard copy is absolutely necessary

5. Reuse paper. Instead of using an entire sheet of paper to write down your grocery list, use a used envelope or a smaller piece of paper.

Here is what a few of your everyday companies have to say on the issue:

Verizon Wireless: “Switching to Paperless Billing has a positive impact on you and your world. For you, it is an easier, faster, and more convenient way to pay. And by signing up today, you will join us and millions of our customers in an effort to save trees and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

American Express: “By signing up for paperless statements and electronic billing, you can contribute to making Earth a much healthier planet simply by saving paper. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the pulp and paper industry is the single largest consumer of water used in industrial activities and the third greatest industrial greenhouse gas emitter. If Americans saved all the paper and wood products we go through in a year, we could heat 50 million homes for 20 years. And just how much paper does the average American family discard annually? Approximately 2,460 pounds. By participating in something as simple as paperless billing, your impact can and will be felt.”

AT&T: “Save time and money; View and pay your bill in seconds, save on postage and supplies, no mail to open, no checks to write, and no stamps to buy. Reduce paper clutter, stacked mail and un-filed records. Help the environment and save some trees with paperless billing.”