Seven Ways to Save Money on Printer Consumables

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Printer ink isn’t cheap. Manufacturers often price printers low, making you think you got a great deal—until you have to buy more cartridges. It’s not unusual to spend more money on ink over the lifespan of your printer than you did on the printer itself. However, there are a few things you can do to save on ink.

Buy third-party ink. Third-party ink companies either refill old manufacturer cartridges or make their own ink and cartridges using the manufacturer’s design. Their ink can cost a lot less.

Try an ink refill kit. Today’s ink refill kits are often designed with specific brands and models in mind—so they’re much easier to use than they were in the past.

Print in Draft Mode. Most printers have a setting that lays down less ink. Your text will be lighter than normal, but if every document you print doesn’t have to look perfect, this setting is ideal.

Print as little as possible. Store and share your documents electronically instead.

Change your computer’s clock. Some cartridges come with an expiration date that will shut down the cartridge even if there’s plenty of ink left. To get around it, try turning your computer’s clock back a year.

Avoid using colour ink. Colour ink costs more, and many printers will automatically print in colour even if you’re printing a page of black-and-white text.

Buy consumables in bulk. You can get significant savings from buying paper and ink in bulk from the manufacturer.

Printer manufacturers make most of their profits from consumables. But you can keep costs down by incorporating a few simple habits every time you print. With these tips, you can save money on ink and other consumables in the long run.