My friends at Cadence Bank, the Better Business Bureau of the Mid-South and Cintas are offering FREE shredding of your old documents at four events in April.

Cadence Bank and Cintas will host three shredding days:  April 20 at the Cadence Bank Germantown branch, 7878 Farmington Blvd; April 25 at the Folk's Folly Place Branch, 591 S. Mendenhall; and April 27 at the Midtown branch, 1516 Union Ave. Times for each event are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

"We would like to service as many people as possible at these scheduled shred events, so they are setting a 10-box limit per person," said Seleta Howell of Cintas Document Management. "Small staples in paper are OK, but any big paper clips/clasps need to be removed prior to bringing them to the event."

The BBB will hold its semi-annual Secure Your ID shredding day April 21, 9 a.m. to noon, at the University of Memphis parking lot on Poplar Ave. at Conlee St.

Leasing is often a dicey option for new cars, let alone used ones.

Although leasing is economically attractive because it typically offers less (or no) money down and lower monthly payments than purchasing a vehicle, leasing also includes a lot of fees:  end-of-lease fees, mileage fees, wear-and-tear, damage deductions, etc.

In fact, consumer advocate Clark Howard (www.clarkhoward.com) advised consumers should only consider leasing a new vehicle if a manufacturer is offering to subsidize the lease or if a dealership is offering excellent leasing incentives in order to move a bloated inventory.

But Howard added consumers should never consider leasing a used vehicle.

The hugely successful Eco Expo is back with even more exhibitors showing us how to treat our earth more gently with green products, materials, services, and organizations.

Exhibitors will be offering ideas and information, and some will be selling their products and services.

The Expo is Sunday February 5th, 2012 from 11am until 3pm at Temple Israel--1376 East Massey Road...Memphis, TN.

For kids and adults of all ages, there’s something for everyone!

Learn, eat, explore, or just visit with some really nice people.

Remember the proverb, “Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents; it was loaned to you by your children.”

We are working together with our fellow community leaders and congregations of all faiths to help save the planet.

E-mail TIMemphisEcoExpo@msn.com or call Linda Kaplan 482-6473 for more information.