"Personal Checks You Can Bank On!" ™
When you choose to go green, it’s not just a one time decision. With each day and each choice, you can decide to live your life in ways that better benefit the environment. For many, the most obvious areas to reduce waste are in energy consumption, recycling, and food choice. But even the way you handle your finances offers you an opportunity to be environmentally friendly.
Small changes can lead to big results, and by pruning down waste and energy consumption with your finances, you can still protect the environment and effectively manage your money as well.
Check all of your account information and see if they offer online statements. It’s important to keep all records and statements from your stock portfolios and bank accounts, but that information can be stored electronically rather than in a physical filing cabinet. To further protect your information, back up copies on an external hard or cloud drive. To keep things organized, use consistent file names such as “Bank Statement 06 2012” for easy searches.
Should you need to print a statement for some reason, make sure that you only print the pages that you need. Often times, the documents include various filler or redundant pages. You can always go back and print more if you need to, but you cannot unprint.
Paychecks bring happy tidings for our wallets, but they can be bad news for the environment. Set up a direct deposit for your work as much as possible. If you are self employed, then do as many transactions as you can through online banking options rather than paper checks. Not only will these transactions conclude on a faster basis, but they will save trees as well.
Most businesses, utility companies, and banks allow you to sign up for online bill pay. In some cases, they may require an additional fee unless you allow them to make automatic or direct withdrawals. Remember, this money comes out automatically, so check to make sure you have the funds for the month before the automatic withdrawal goes through.
Save paper and energy by filing your federal and state taxes online as well. With a variety of programs on the market, it’s easier than ever to find one to help you with this tedious annual task. Remember to check your state for any “green discounts.” Most online tax programs automatically search for these, but you should double check your state’s tax laws or speak with a tax expert to make sure you take advantage of these opportunities.
When you order checks online, you must usually purchase a minimum number. Your address, phone number, and name will be emblazoned on that check face, and you had better hope that it doesn’t change before you use up your checks. But if you print your own checks, you can avoid this problem entirely by printing what you need when you need it.
Despite our society moving toward more online bill pays and transactions, some situations will still require checks. If you change jobs, your other employer will likely require a void check to set up a direct deposit. And in some cases, no matter how much you explain your convictions or how many bank statements you show, your new employer may settle for nothing less than a physical voided check. If you frequent garage sales, thrift stores, and the like, you may be unable to make your purchase with a debit card. Many small establishments accept only cash or check.
By switching to computer check printing, you control the number of checks printed, verify that the information is correct at the time you use it, and protect the environment.
If you would prefer not to go through the hassle of printing your own checks, you may want to consider purchasing eco-friendly checks. These checks can be purchased online at great discounts, while also allowing you to stay green. Check for the recycling symbol ♻ or a statement on the check printers website to verify that they are printed using recycled materials.
One side note to make your steps have their maximum positive effect: turn off all your electronic devices when you are not using them. It does little good to save trees but waste even more electricity. A simple way to reduce energy from electronics is to put all of the plugs onto a surge protector. Shut down the surge protector when you shut off your devices to prevent passive energy flow.