Save Money on Printer Ink

A few weeks ago, I wrote a tip on what to look for in a new printer.  (If you would like to read it again, you can check it out here.)  In that tip, I wrote, "The cost of the printer itself will be extremely small in comparison to the cost of the ink it will use over its lifetime."  Printer ink is the most expensive part of the printing process, but that doesn't mean there is nothing you can do about it.  Here are six tips to save money on printer ink:

1) Use Grayscale or Draft Printing - Your printer may have a variety of settings available that can help save on ink if you don't need a perfect copy.  When you print, look for a Properties button located somewhere near the name of the printer.  Then, look for a "Grayscale" or "Draft" option.  Grayscale will print only in shades of black and white, saving your more expensive color ink, and Draft will reduce ink consumption by reducing the print quality.

2) Ignore Low Cartridge Warnings - Most printers start giving you a low ink warning long before you actually need to change the cartridge.  When you start seeing these warnings, it would be time to make sure you have an extra cartridge around (or go buy one if you don't), but wait until the quality of your prints start to degrade before you actually replace the ink cartridge.

3) Change the Font and Size - If you are printing something for your own use, consider reducing the size as small as you can.  This will save both ink and paper.  You could also switch to a font that does not use as much ink.  Some estimates say that by using Ecofont, you could print as much as twenty percent more.  I would not recommend this for professional printing, but for everyday prints that may get thrown away soon, it may be worth it.

4) Print Your Photos Elsewhere - Yes, there may be instances where you want to print a photo and have it right away, but for all your other photo needs, send it to a store that prints them.  Many of them can have your prints ready in a day or less, and the cost is much less than you will spend in ink.

5) Read the Fine Print - I hesitate to recommend going with generic ink cartridges due to quality issues, but if you are thinking about using them, be sure to check the page yield.  Some of these cartridges may sell for half the price, but they may also only be rated for half the number of pages.  If you are considering these generic ink cartridges, make sure you are actually getting a deal.

6) Return Your Ink Cartridges - Many office stores offer a credit for returning ink cartridges.  I return mine to Staples, which offers me a $2 reward for each cartridge returned.  If you are looking to maximize your return, check around at a variety of places and see which one offers the best deal.