GreenChoice Bank values our friends, neighbors, customers and staff who care about our community and work together to live more sustainably. Donna Serwetnyk, our assistant branch manager in Cicero, shares her thoughts on keeping within a budget and ways she tries be “green”…
What do you do to live more sustainably?
“I recycle at work and at home as much as possible. My family joined Chicago’s blue bin program two years ago, which has helped us recycle more and minimize what goes in the landfill. I also think twice before I grab my car keys. If I can walk an errand, I will. Walking is good exercise, benefits the environment and gives me a chance to bump into friends and check out the neighborhood.”
What’s one of your favorite sustainable businesses and why?
“I like that greener options are becoming easier to find. One of my favorites is Target’s Green Works cleaning products. I enjoy cleaning and by using more environmentally-friendly products, I can keep my household as chemical-free as possible.”
What do you like about working at GreenChoice Bank?
“It has opened my eyes to all the green ideas and choices that are out there – things I might not have otherwise known about. For instance, a few weeks ago, I volunteered to work GreenChoice Bank’s booth at Green Festival and I was able check out other exhibiting groups. It was impressive to see a crowd of people looking for sustainable ideas and realize the impact we can all make.”
What do you like about living in Chicagoland?
“I love that Chicago has so much going on. It’s fun to explore what’s happening in the ethnic neighborhoods, festivals, museums and farmers’ markets.”
What's a creative savings tip you can provide to our customers?
“I think it’s important to consciously live within your means. I’ve worked with my family to create a budget by forecasting and itemizing all of our annual bills. We put money aside in a separate ‘bills account’ each month to pay those off, and it helps ensure we don’t accrue credit card debit. If we make a major purchase, we pay it off right away before making another one. Planning ahead helps us manage our money wisely and save for the future.”
What’s your guilty pleasure?
“Sweets of any kind. I found a new favorite at the Green Festival – the peanut butter cup with fudge from Chicago Diner is delicious!”
If I weren’t a banker…
“I would own my own cleaning service. I find satisfaction in leaving a place cleaner than I found it, and I would clean in a greener way than other services do.”
Donna, what’s a question you’d like to ask our readers?
“What do you, or your family, do to help us live in a cleaner and greener environment?”