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DAY

Money Matters

12:05 p.m.

Paperless Finances

Get Your Bank On

THE TRIP TO THE BANK MACHINE is rarely fun, especially when it spits out a piece of paper confirming your ever-shrinking account balance. But stop to consider the paper evidence of that transaction. Many of us choose to print a receipt almost unconsciously, but that adds up to an estimated 16.5 million trees every year. That’s a whole lot of lumber just to hear you’re broke. Again.But believe it or not, bank receipts are one of the top sources of litter in the world and Canadian forests are paying the price. Along with Russia, Canada has the most forests in the world and the worst track record for clear cutting them: 90 percent of our logging comes from old-growth Boreal trees that take 200 years to regenerate. Every year, a swath of forest larger than Prince Edward Island disappears from Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario. And yet, that recycled icon that pops up on books or tissue dupes us into thinking the paper abundance comes from sustainable or recycled sources. That’s the exception, not the rule.Paper hounds our every move, whether we want it to or not. Tell the cashier you don’t want a receipt – too late, it’s already printed. Remember to say you don’t need cutlery with a take-out order, then find a wad of napkins stuffed in the, gulp, paper bag. Instead, call the shots when you can. Skip the paper receipt at the bank machine or display the balance on screen (not recommended at dodgy street corners late at night, of course). Lose the paper trail with all your financial activities. Electronic tax filing is greener and more accurate anyway. With banks beefing up online security and often reimbursing customers for any losses through fraud, it’s safer than ever to choose Internet banking. With mobile banking catching on to a smartphone near you, the bank machine will soon be out of the picture entirely! Unfortunately, that depressing bank balance might stay the same.

CLEAR-CUT ALTERNATIVESLook for the Forest Stewardship Council (or FSC) mark on all the paper you purchase. This is the most trusted mark of good forest management in the world.Ask your boss to switch to recycled paper at work.Think before you print. If you do hit print, use both sides of the page.Switch to automatic deposit for your paycheque.Purchase tax-filing software and do your taxes electronically.Sign up for paperless credit card, bank statements – and even avoid the mailed bills for magazine subscriptions or gym memberships.Do away with paper cheques by signing up for email money transfer technology.Keep a collection of reusable paper around the house.

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Living Me To We | Day

DAY

Money Matters

12:05 a.m.

SKIPPING THE PAPER

Source: The Green Book.

GO TO PAGE 161 FOR MORE TIPS AND INFORMATION

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