Finances, green-style

Reduce the environmental impact related to your finances by stepping into the world of electronic financial management. First, try setting up automatic deposit for your paychecks. Think about the hassle you’ll save yourself by avoiding the bank and ATM. Then ask your bank to send statements online, instead of through the mail. When you’re comfortable with that, try paying your bills electronically through your bank. (Most financial institutions offer this service for free with an account.) According to the organization PayItGreen, there is an incredible environmental impact linked to the production, transportation and disposal of paper products related to finances. For example, checks alone require the consumption of 600 million gallons of fuel each year, adding 3 million tons of carbon emissions to the environment. For information on green practices for consumers and businesses, head to www.payitgreen.org.