Printing at home can be incredibly useful. Whether you are printing school worksheets, recipes, travel documents, birthday invitations or the odd return label, having a printer ready to go can save time and hassle. But there is one thing that can make home printing feel surprisingly expensive: ink.
If you have ever bought a printer thinking it was a bargain, only to discover that replacement cartridges cost almost as much as the printer itself, you are definitely not alone! The good news is that there are some simple ways to keep those costs under control.
Start by checking the real cost
When buying a printer, it is tempting to look at the headline price and think, “That’s a bargain!” But the printer itself is only part of the cost.
Before you buy, have a look at the price of replacement cartridges and, importantly, how many pages they are expected to print. A cheaper printer can sometimes become more expensive over its lifetime if the ink is costly.
This is particularly important if you print regularly. If your household gets through lots of worksheets, documents and homework, those little cartridge purchases can quickly add up.
Do you really need to print everything?
This is probably the easiest money-saving tip of all: before pressing print, ask yourself whether you actually need a paper copy.
I am all for making life easier, but printing something just because you can is an easy way to waste both paper and ink. Could you save the document digitally instead? Could you read it on your phone? Could you send it by email instead?
Of course, there are plenty of occasions when printing makes sense. Just being a little more mindful can make a noticeable difference over a year.
Shop around for replacement cartridges
When the dreaded “low ink” message appears, don’t automatically click on the first cartridge you see.
Take a few minutes to compare prices from different retailers. Look at the cost per cartridge, but also check the number of pages the cartridge is designed to print. A cartridge that costs a little more but lasts considerably longer could actually be better value.
If you use an HP printer, search specifically for HP printer ink and compare the options available for your exact printer model. Always double-check compatibility before buying – saving money is not much use if you end up with a cartridge that does not fit!
Consider compatible or remanufactured cartridges
There can also be savings to be made by looking beyond the manufacturer’s own cartridges. Compatible and remanufactured cartridges can sometimes cost significantly less than branded alternatives.
However, do your homework. Check reviews, guarantees and the retailer’s returns policy. The cheapest option is not necessarily the best value if the print quality is poor or the cartridge does not work properly.
Make your ink last longer
Finally, think about how you use your printer. If you are printing a document for your own reference, black and white may be perfectly adequate. You can also use draft or economy mode for everyday documents where high-quality printing is not important.
Small changes really can add up. Just as with household bills, food shopping and subscriptions, the trick is to look at the regular little expenses rather than only the big ones.
And that is really the secret to money saving: you do not have to stop doing the things you enjoy. You simply need to find the better-value way of doing them.
