Paperless Big Picture

According to the research done by Barbara Kiviat writing for Time, when we go paperless – opt out of receiving statements and bills via good ol’ snail mail – we give up truly understanding our financial Big Picture.

Why? Well research has shown that people will first scan horizontally starting at the top of the screen, but then are soon scanning down the page to see what else is there. Tracked eye movements show our focus forms the letter “F” while looking at any page on the computer screen. By the time your eye reaches the bottom of the page, you’ve tuned out.

"The reality of what you're spending isn't nearly as strong," says Naomi Baron, a linguistics professor at American University who studies the impact of technology.

The solution? Use personal finance management tools like Quicken, and those offered at mint.com and wesabe.com.