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Should You Switch to Paperless Billing?

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Should You Make the Switch to Paperless Billing?

Trying to pay off credit card debt can be stressful. But switching over to paperless billing can make it easier to manage your payments. When you sign up for this service, all of your account information is available online, making it easy to save and print your documents. Learning more about the benefits and potential consequences of paperless billing can help you decide whether it’s worth having.

How Paperless Billing Works

Paperless billing is usually a free service primarily provided by credit card issuers and banks. They offer their customers the chance to view and pay their bills online. And most companies send out emails that let you know when your statement is available. This can cut down on the cost of printing more paper and mailing it out as well as it being more environmentally conscious. 

In order to make your credit card payments online, you will typically be asked to sync your credit card account with your checking or savings account. To get started, you’ll probably need to sign up for online services from the company you’re paying. If you need help, you can contact your provider or check online for more information.

The paperless billing cycle works the same as a paper billing cycle. If anything, you’ll likely get your bills faster than you would if you waited to receive them in the mail. While many companies still give you the option to go paperless, others are making it mandatory.

The Pros of Paperless Billing

Should You Make the Switch to Paperless Billing?

There are several advantages to having paperless billing. The most important reasons to go paperless for all your credit card statements, bank statements and more include: 

  • Environmentally Friendly: First and foremost, it’s good for the environment. It can also help you save money on stamps and envelopes since you won’t need either of those to pay your monthly bill. What’s more,
  • Less Clutter: There will be less paper and clutter in your home in general since you won’t have stacks of credit card bills lying around.
  • Decreased Risk of Identity Theft: Another benefit of paperless billing is the fact that it can potentially protect users from becoming victims of identity theft. It’s easy to steal credit card information that comes in the mail, so paying your bills online is safer. to an extent. If you’re concerned about your safety online, you can protect yourself by using two-factor authentication.

The Cons of Paperless Billing

Nothing is all positive. Paperless billing is no different as there are some cons to consider that might be important to you and your decision. Here are the most important cons to going paperless:

  • Missed Payments: Some users believe that online billing makes it easier to miss payments since there is no physical bill to remind them that their payment is due. Plus, it’s possible for an email from a credit card issuer to get stuck in your spam folder. Putting your card issuer on your list of approved senders can prevent this problem from happening. But there’s still a chance that you’ll miss the email, especially if your inbox is full of unread messages.
  • Technology Can be Difficult: Having an online account for paying your bills won’t be helpful if you can’t remember the password you need to access it. You could use the same password for every site, but that’s not smart since it opens the door for you to become the victim of fraud.
  • Less Informed: Another possible issue could come from not reading your online statements as carefully as you would read a paper statement. Skimming your statements could keep you from catching mistakes. And in some cases, you might not have access to older credit card statements that you would need to see how your payments and spending have changed over time.

The Bottom Line

Should You Make the Switch to Paperless Billing?

Paperless billing is one way to manage your money online. Now that you know what to expect, you can decide whether it’s right for you. If you aren’t quite ready to make the switch, it might be something to consider easing into. Even if you opt-out of the service, you can always pay online and continue receiving paper copies of your bills in the mail.

Tips for Financial Planning

  • Whenever you’re aiming to grow your overall wealth, it’s important to make sure you have a strong financial plan. This can detail everything from your budget to asset allocation in your investment portfolio. You may need professional help in order to make sure you get all of this right because there are a lot of details to figure out. Finding the right financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
  • If you’re creating a budget that you must live by, consider using SmartAsset’s free budget calculator and see how your budget compares to others in your area.

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