Save Money and Time by Going Green

Going “green” often means reducing carbon emissions, consuming less energy, or cleaning our water and air. But, have you thought about it in regards to saving your time as well? There are steps you can take with your finances to go “green” that might save you time, money and possibly reduce your carbon footprint!

Banking electronically: There are many ways to save yourself a trip to the Bank.

  • Sign up for electronic statements (eStatements). You can save a lot of trees by switching from paper copies, especially when inserts and envelopes are included. You can still download a digital copy of your statement to a secure location to have for your immediate access.
  • Use electronic bill pay versus paper checks. Set them to pay automatically to take the hassle out of paying bills.
  • Direct deposit your paycheck. You will receive your money faster and you will save a trip to the Bank.
  • Use mobile apps to deposit checks remotely. Ask us about our mobile apps or visit here for more information. It’s easy!
  • Transfer funds online. If you need to transfer funds from one account to another, do it online so you don’t have to drive to the Bank.
  • Set up account alerts. Alerts can be used for low balances to avoid overdrafts, and to keep track of your account activity, debit card usage, direct deposit notifications, password changes or unusual activity. If you are looking for a specific alert, sign-up for Bank by Mouse to set your alerts.

Safely recycle: Safely recycle your paperwork whenever possible, but be sure to destroy your financial information properly to maintain your financial privacy. Many communities sponsor secured shredding days. Check your local government’s web site.

Keep your financial records based on retention requirements. For example, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers suggestions on how long to keep tax returns based on your tax filing situation. Be sure to save your digital records in a safe place.

Cancel junk mail: We often think of high tech ways to steal a person’s information, but mail theft is still a concern. Thieves may target mailboxes looking for pre-approved credit cards and insurance offers. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), you can opt out of some junk mail for five years or sometimes permanently. This can save you the inconvenience of dealing with credit card theft, and you may help save a few trees.

These are some little changes can save you time and money, and make the world a little greener, too.   - FTC