Today I am sitting at my desk paying bills. What I can't believe is the amount of companies that still send return envelopes with their bills. The power company, water company, credit cards, doctor bills, cell phone bill all come with a handy self addressed (too bad they don't pay for the postage) envelope.
But...
For those of us that pay our bills on line we don't need them. Such a waste.
Well a few months ago I decided to save all these envelopes for reuse later - I have accumulated 30 in that time. In that time I have had the occasion to use one or two. But what do I do with the rest.
This is just an example of one of the many one use assets that we have in our culture that get used once - or in this case not at all.
So it is time that we make a request of the companies to STOP sending the envelopes. At least that is where I am going with it and I encourage you to do the same.
Comments (4)
Greg:
I have been trying to go paperless for a while, and I have saved enough envelopes to cover me for a few decades. Going paperless takes some persistence. I have been not only trying to pay bills online, but donate online.
Even with online contributions, its easy to end up on a mailing list. They want to send you a receipt, let you know what they're doing, and prove they are spending your money usefully. One ploy is to send their envelope back asking to be removed from future mailings, but I am trying to get on their website & email my request. If they don't respond to email (either too busy or just have an email address because everyone else does), then I might phone.
For me, the biggest sacrifice would be to give up the morning newspaper & read it online. As of now I don't listen to music, watch movies/TV, or make phone calls online, so obviously I'm not ready.
I think you are ahead of the curve. Bills will almost cease to be mailed.
Good Job.
John
Posted by John Irwin | June 28, 2007 9:49 AM
Posted on June 28, 2007 09:49
Greg:
I have been trying to go paperless for a while, and I have saved enough envelopes to cover me for a few decades. Going paperless takes some persistence. I have been not only trying to pay bills online, but donate online.
Even with online contributions, its easy to end up on a mailing list. They want to send you a receipt, let you know what they're doing, and prove they are spending your money usefully. One ploy is to send their envelope back asking to be removed from future mailings, but I am trying to get on their website & email my request. If they don't respond to email (either too busy or just have an email address because everyone else does), then I might phone.
For me, the biggest sacrifice would be to give up the morning newspaper & read it online. As of now I don't listen to music, watch movies/TV, make phone calls, or do all of my banking online, so obviously I'm not ready.
I think you are ahead of the curve. Bills will almost cease to be mailed in a few years.
Good Job.
John
Posted by John Irwin | June 28, 2007 9:51 AM
Posted on June 28, 2007 09:51
Hi Greg --
Watch out on re-using those enclosed envelopes. A friend of mine did that years ago and her mail was mis-delivered because of the barcoding on the envelopes.
Katherine
Posted by Katherine Bertolucci | June 29, 2007 7:33 AM
Posted on June 29, 2007 07:33
Great Point. I actually wondered about the barcodes. Typically I have avoided using the ones with the barcode.
Posted by Greg Peterson | June 29, 2007 7:41 AM
Posted on June 29, 2007 07:41