Expert Tips to Save Money on Printer Ink

If you print very often, you know that printer ink is expensive!  Those little cartridges can be pricey to replace. In fact, when it comes to issues people have with printers, the #1 complaint is the high cost of the ink.  And, if you print very often, this can be even more expensive for you.

Believe it or not, there are some things you can do to reduce your printing costs.  Below you’ll find EIGHT awesome money saving tips.  Keep in mind that some my require some  up front cost, but you might find you save more money in the long run, which is what matters most.

1. Upgrade your printer. If you are using an older printer, you might have one that still is expensive to maintain.  You will need to do some research, but read the manufacturer’s specifications as they will tell you the cost per page (CPP).  This is very important as if you get one that is more expensive per page to print, it will cost you more in the long run.

For instance, you can see that this HP Envy 4500 Wireless printer uses HP 61 Ink.  HP is very open and shares that you can get 190 pages printed with the black cartridge or 165 pages using color (on average).  If the cost of a black cartridge is $21, then the cost per page is $0.11 ($21/190 pages).

Take the time to do the math on the cost per print. If you are paying too much using your current printer, it might be time to take the plunge and upgrade.

2. Skip the 3rd party companies.  There are other companies which will sell cartridges at much lower costs.  The problem with these is that they do not really save you money.

While they claim they are compatible, they do not always work. In addition, the amount of ink in the cartridge is usually less than the name brand product.  That results in more frequent changes and can actually end up costing you more money.

That is not to say they are all this way.  Take the time to research the company and it’s products including reviews by other customers.

3. The warning is just that – a warning. When you see the sign come up that you are running low, then you usually are.  However, do not replace the cartridge until you get the notice that you are completely out of ink.  Keep the replacement cartridge on hand, but don’t replace it until you are unable to print anything further.

4. Recycle your empty cartridges. Stores such as Office Depot/OfficeMax and Staples offer rewards for empty cartridges.  If you return a name brand cartridge, you will get $2 back in Rewards at either store. Use your rewards towards your purchase of new cartridges (in conjunction with in-store sales and promotions).

5. Follow Amazon. You can sign up for product alerts so you are notified when your ink goes on sale (use CamelCamelCamel).  Amazon usually watches the prices of your big box stores such as Walmart and Target and meets or beats their prices.  Plus – no sales tax and free shipping on Amazon saves you money as well.

6. Print in Draft Mode.If you use your printer for coupons, skip the color.  Instead, print them in black and white using your high quality draft mode. The coupons will still scan without any problem.

7. Use both sides. If you print a draft of something, don’t toss the paper into the recycling bin — reuse it!  Just slide the sheet in so that you can print on the back side of the sheet.

8. Don’t print everything.When you place an on-line order, you are always told to print the confirmation sheet upon the finalization of your purchase.  DON’T!!!

Just right click on the page and save it to your computer’s desktop or downloads folder.  You could even create a folder called “purchases” where you save these images.  Then, you have all of the details you need at your finger tips – without using up your precious (and expensive) printer ink.

These are some of the most common (and simplest) ways to really save as much as you can on your printer ink, but there may be more out there.  Please share your tips and ideas with us as well (we’ll add them to our post and give YOU credit).