If you want to save money on ink and toner you need to think big.

For example, I have a Brother laser printer in my home office. I can get the TN-430 toner cartridge that yields up to 3,000 copies for $50 (which works out to 1.6 cents per copy) or the TN-460 that yields up to 6,000 copies for $70 (which makes the per copy cost 1.1 cents per copy). You know which one I buy; the bigger size.

Same thing with ink jet cartridges; you get a better deal if you buy more ink.

For my HP ink jet printer I can get the color cartridge that yields about 450 pages for $35 or the cartridge that produces more than twice as many pages for only $55. By thinking big, I save a half-cent for each page I print.

With as much as I print, that savings really adds up over time. You can also save with twin-packs. A single HP black ink cartridge is $30, the twin-pack is $53, which brings the per cartridge price down to $26.50.

Tell Your Printer To Use Less Ink

One simple way to reduce your printing costs is set your printer to the "draft" or "ink saver" mode.

This "economy" setting reduces the amount of ink or toner laid down. This is really good way to run a trial print of a picture or color document before you print the real thing.

Don't Panic When The Warning Light Comes On

Don't change the cartridge as soon as you get a low-level alert. You may be able to get hundreds of extra copies, especially if you don't care how pretty they look.

And don't be in a rush to change the toner cartridge on your laser printer as soon as you see streaks in your printouts. There may be plenty of toner left, just not in the right places.

So, do what PC World magazine calls the "toner slow dance." Take the cartridge out of the printer and slowly rock it end-to-end and then to-and-fro a few times. Then reinsert the cartridge. You may get hundreds more copies before you really run out of toner. That's what I do.

What To Do With Those Empty Cartridges

Recycle them. Many stores have recycle bins.

Or do what I do, take your empty HP or Lexmark ink cartridges back to Office Depot and they'll give you $2.50 off your next purchase of any ink, toner, or fax product in the store. It's a great deal. Limit one per visit. This promotion could end at any time.

For More Information:

Herb's Tip on Brand Name vs. Third-Party Inks