Besides saving you money, there are some budgeting habits that will also help the environment
Going paperless
Many companies now offer online bill payment. You can either do this through each individual company or many banks also offer it. You supply the company with the information for your bank account and they withdraw the amount of money that is due each month. It is important to keep track of when the withdrawals are going to be made so you have enough money in the account to cover them. It will cost you money and possibly disrupt your credit history if you are overdrawn frequently.
Going paperless clearly also saves a considerable amount of paper, envelopes and postage. It also reduces the amount of labor needed by companies to get the invoices ready to mail. In addition, it lowers the number of checks that need to be produced. Many people do most of their spending with online bill pay or debit cards and hardly write any paper checks.
Many employers offer direct deposit to their employees to have their paychecks deposited into their accounts. This also lessens the amount of paper needed for deposit slips. In some cases, financial institutions can spend less of their operating budget on salaries when more clients use automated banking services.
Reusing
Many people shop at thrift stores to save money on clothing, household items and many other items. Besides helping your wallet, it is also good for the environment. Things that are donated to second hand stores and sold at yard sales are reused by others instead of ending up in the landfill. Proceeds from many thrift stores go to help charities and other organizations.
Transportation
Some people walk or bike more to save money on transportation costs, but over time this can also have an effect on the environment. With fewer cars on the road it will lower gas emissions released into the air. Other ways that people help the environment relates to transportation costs. For example, riding the bus, carpooling and telecommuting. More companies are offering employees to work a certain amount of time at home to save on transportation time and costs. If you live and work in areas with adequate bus service, taking the bus can save you wear and tear on your vehicle and gas costs. By riding the bus, you will have time to do things such as reading, returning phone calls and other things you would not be able to do if you were driving.
Downsize
If you live in a home that is larger than you actually need, downsizing could make a difference with both your budget and the environment. With a larger home comes higher utility bills and maintenance fees. If you are heating and cooling a lot of space that you don’t always use, it is costing you more than it needs to and you are using natural resources unnecessarily. If you are looking for a different place, consider a house that is closer to your employer or other areas that you frequent regularly to save money and resources on transportation.
There are some habits you can start that will help both your budget and the environment.