As you embark on this crazy couponing adventure, your computer printing costs will inevitably increase. I mean, how can you stop the IP coupon love?
Here are some ways I’ve found to save money when you print coupons off your computer:
- Set the default setting on your printer to “draft quality” and “black & white” or “grayscale” printing to save ink.
- Use recycled paper to print. Use your own, take home paper from work (make sure it’s okay first. You need a paycheck more than free paper!), or raid some recycling bins!
- Get creative when feeding paper into the printer. If a coupon only prints on the top third of the page, you can fit at least one, if not more, coupons if you feed it in the opposite way or on the opposite side.
- Refill your ink cartridges at Walgreens or other stores when they offer great sales. According to Rebecca, Walgreens sometimes offers a $5 refill deal. When this comes up, jump on it!
- Use the internet to find great deals on ink cartridges. Try our family’s usual site or a new site my husband just found today. We can get our ink for as little as $3 for a black & white and a color cartridge with free shipping! We always buy a bunch at one time (sound like stockpiling?). This way we are never in a position where we have to run out to the office supply store and pay full price to print off coupons.
- If your fancy printer’s ink is super-expensive, buy a used model with cheap ink options off craigslist to print your coupons. My Canon Pixma iP2000 is a good option.
- Save your used cartridges and donate them (many schools make money off these) or exchange them for a free ream of paper during a promotion at your local office supply store.
Do you have any ideas how to save money on printing coupons? Do share!
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Yes, my idea is to get a laser printer! Sure, the toner and drum cost a lot more, but you hardly ever have to change them (sometimes not for a couple YEARS!) and can print thousands and thousands of pages before it's time for new toner! In the end, we've found it to be much more cost-effective.
we’ve done the walgreens refills and they don’t last very long. office max told me that walgreens puts water in the refill. i don’t know if that’s true or not, but it would make sense. office max offers quality refills though.
Great to know these tips. Will check out the ink sites for sure!!
Also I recently found a setting on my printer that gives a printing layout preview, you approve before you print it. This prevents printing out unnecessary info-ie some coupons have a whole page of advertising after the coupon-just put in 1/3 of a page to avoid this.
Before this I would routinely use part of a page, but some print in the middle, so then I lost a few coupons! Oh so sad, now I am protected
I also use backs of junk mail to print on-just make sure there isn’t any personal identifying info on the other side.