Frugal Friday: Money Saving Printing Tips

Updated

Yesterday I needed to read about 15 pages worth of documents on a website for a local TV show that I am doing tonight, but I had a really bad migraine and could not read on screen, so I figured that I would print it out.

I looked at the supply of printer paper that we had left after the kids used most of it to draw on and there were only about 6 sheets left. I was not about to use them to print something that I was going to read and then recycle.

As I looked around for something else I could print on, I spied a pack of loose-leaf filler paper.

During Staples back to school sales, I always buy the 150 sheet packs of loose-leaf paper that they sell for 5-cents. I buy so many that I still have some packs left from the sale last year, not to mention all the packs that I picked up this year.

I tried it. It worked great. The right margin was a little small, but the documents fit on the loose leaf paper just fine.

With such a low cost for the loose leaf paper, I think I am going to use that from now on to print out anything that does not need to be kept.

Another way to save money when you print is to change the setting on your printer to the lowest ink setting, which is called something like “draft” or “quick print.” If you are not sure how to do this, here’s how. When you click “print” and the box pops up, click on the button that says “properties.” Here you will find options to change your ink settings. This varies by printer brand.

Update: Be sure to read the comments for an awesome tip left by mom2fur.

For more tips on frugal living, be sure to check out Frugal Fridays.