Yesterday came my monthly credit card bill, in the mail. I know I should switch to online billing, but the power of habits has been stronger than my green conscience. That’s besides the point anyway. No, instead I want to share my surprise when I opened the dreaded envelope. If you are like most Americans, you will know what I mean. What was the four digit number in the ‘Amount to be paid‘ box? Was it a one, or a two, or a three, . . . I knew I had been good, had not been out to shop like I used to. Still the old fear was there, and with it the prospect of maybe having to transfer funds from my savings account into checking. Don’t you hate that feeling? Makes you wonder who is in charge?
The good news is, I got rewarded for my good behavior. With a bill, half of the usual amount. And the satisfaction of feeling in control, again.
La Marguerite 
Having electronic billing has made me better about credit card purchases because I can constantly look online and see what the bill is. It no longer feels like “free money.”
I put everything on my credit card and budget accordingly so I can also get the cash back rewards.
You say that you haven’t switched to online billing because getting it in the mail is a habit.
Jumping in your car to go everywhere was a habit that you broke.
Getting plastic bags from Whole Foods every day was a habit that you broke.
Shopping almost every day without thinking about the goods you were consuming was a habit that you broke.
You can break this one too!
Thanks you two, for encouraging me!
This one – habit – is one of many others that I need to break still, along with the canceling junk mail with Green Dimes, being more diligent at unplugging computer and turning off power strip, being less quick to turn on the dryer, getting a clothesline, etc.
Even though, it may end up saving time, and money – stamps – as here in the case of online billing, switching behavior is still no match for the comfort of an old habit. I wrote before a short post about the power of inertia.
There is also the limited worry pool syndrome, also covered in an earlier article. I find that when my life is not in order, my ability to make these small changes is greatly diminished. The deeply personal worries take over, and leave no room for more altruistic gestures.
These are no excuses, simply insights into my very human mind and heart . . .
Like I said about the car, the easiest way to ensure you don’t use your credit card is not to have one at all.
If you want to make online purchases you can get a debit MasterCard – so that you only spend the money you actually have.
Pay it off and cut it up.
Kyle, this is like my printer story. Ever since I moved my office downstairs and left the printer upstairs, printing has become a chore, and I only resort to it when I absolutely have to!
Exactly. Driving/biking, credit card/cash, printer/no printer, fresh food/junk, we do whatever seems most convenient, and what we’re accustomed to.
So if we want to be different, we have to make sure the new option is more convenient for us, and become accustomed to the new way.
But definitely cut up that credit card. That’s nothing to do with being greenish. Credit cards are like Keanu Reeves naked with a crack pipe. Tempting, but really not good for you.
This is an important insight.
I personally do not like cash.
In The Netherlands, most electronic payments are done with debit cards. It has the same convenience, but it does mean you need to earn what you spend first. Effectively, everyone holds about a half a month of income on their checking account. (full to zero in a month)
I also don’t think that electronic payments, or high-tech in general, are not green. No cash would mean the bills and coins don’t have to be made, and don’t have to be driven around between offices.
One card (or a special chip in your mobile phone) would make wallets unnecessary. Seems like a cost-saving to me.
Re printing: Paperless is the future.
Meryn,
As usual you are ahead of the curve. Yes, automatic phone payment is the wave of the future. I say within five years.
The ONE advantage of cash is easy of “budgetting”, dividing up your salary beforehand in things like savings, grocery expenses, money for Starbucks (I really feel you, Americans ;)), etc. This makes it easier to control your expenses.
I do expect technology (a mobile app) to take this one over though. It might warn you when you try to go over your weekly/monthly Starbucks-limit.
i did the online banking project this last year, took me a bit but I really dig it, stamp prices going up I can say ha to them and not need any – i pay my bills online!! i also have been purposefully whittling the debt from my divorce from almost a year ago, i hit a kerplunk a few months ago – and had 8 days that I couldn’t get food or gas, the all time low, but it’s kindof cool to eek my way to paying it all off – the anti-consumer thing has been a real interesting project too.
Thanks Karen, for sharing your story. I find it most inspiring! You are a voice for so many Americans.
[…] in critical energy and agriculture research. We are letting our infrastructure fall apart. We are spending as if there is no tomorrow. We continue to drive as if there was no global warming. We are gorging […]