Pay Bills Online

Here's a simple way to cut down on energy and paper use, while saving money on stamps.

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Photo: Istock

By Brian Clark Howard

Save natural resources — as well as late fees — by enrolling in easy, online bill-paying options with your bank, credit card companies, cable and utility providers. In fact, these days it seems that almost any outfit that sends you a monthly bill through the mail probably has online payment options.

Check out the Websites of the companies you do business with for details. Paperless billing not only saves trees; it also eliminates the fossil fuel (read: CO₂ emissions) needed to get all those dozens and dozens of billing envelopes from them to you and back again.

Plus, you'll save money on stamps, which can really add up over time. That will cut down on inks and adhesives needed by the U.S. Post Office, and every little bit helps.

Also check with your bank, most of which offer payment services for even those billers that haven't arranged for online payments.

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