The price of a postage stamp will increase to 42 cents next month. Why pay 42 cents each time you mail checks to pay bills?

I haven’t paid a bill though the mail in more than two years. I pay Tampa Electric Co., Verizon, Visa, my auto insurance and other monthly payments through online banking. Mailing seven or eight bills each month, starting next month, will cost roughly $3 a month, or about $36 a year.

Take into consideration the gas and time saved by skipping a trip to the post office, too.

If you’d like to keep an extra $36 in your pocket, ask your local branch how you can start paying your bills online.

Many banks offer this convenient, user-friendly service. If yours doesn’t, perhaps it’s a good time to switch.