Choosing the right printer, the most economical supplies and making smart usage decisions can help save on printing expenses. Here are 10 money-saving tips for reducing your printing costs.

1. Avoid color printing whenever possible.

Color printer ink and toner is usually much more expensive than black. First drafts, for example, rarely need full color.

2. Turn off printers.

Power usage is a large part of overall printing costs. It may be impractical to turn off printers during the business day, but there is no reason for them to be left on overnight.

3. Buy genuine ink and toner cartridges online.

The leading manufacturers spend a great deal of money on ink, toner and cartridge development to efficiently place the correct amount of ink on the page based on what your printing.  Therefore you will always get the best value from a genuine ink and toner cartidge.  In addition the quality of genuine ink and toner cartridges is superior so rarely do things go wrong and if they do, you have a leading brand with a strong manufactruers warranty.  Further you don't need to pay the fill RRP for these genuine ink and toner cartridges when buying online, so always go for the quality at a great online price.

4. Use the right printer for the job.

High-volume printer cost more initially, but they’re cheaper to run than desktop printers and can be the most sensible choice in high-usage situations. A cheap desktop printer is economical only for occasional usage.

5. Locate printers near users.

Users often resend jobs to network printers because they can’t remember if they’ve sent them before and are too lazy or too busy to go check. Having printers near users often prevents duplicate printing mistakes.

6. Consider the costs of cartridges before buying a printer.

Check to see what cartridge each printer being considered uses and compare prices. Cartridges vary in price and in the quantity of ink they hold, so choose a printer that uses economical cartridges.  Remember dont buy ink and toner in yoru store as you can buy cheaper online.

7. Monitor printer usage.

Some users print more items than others. Whether you locate printers on each desk or at print stations, monitor print logs to see who uses printers most and work one-on-one with the heaviest users.

8. Save important information electronically.

Store useful bits of information and other important data in computer files, not on paper.

9. Think before you print.

Never print without first considering whether it is really necessary. In many cases, it isn’t. Encourage others in your family or company to think before they print too.

10. Upgrade to the latest technology.

Because new printers often use ink more efficiently than older ones, get an immediate return on investment by upgrading to modern equipment. It will probably use less energy too.

If you have some additional money saving tips for printing we would love to hear them.  Add your tips below in the comments.