Sentry Page Protection
Printing More from Printer Ink Cartridges
Approximate $ Savings: $30-$50 over a few months
When printing with my HP printer my computer lets me know when the ink cartridges are empty. However, instead of replacing them immediately I keep printing until nothing prints on a page. I find I can keep printing for a very long time. Obviously it depends on how often you print but most days I print a few pages- this is at home. I think it saves me a lot of money.
Contributed by Karin Allen, 29th January 2014
When printing with my HP printer my computer lets me know when the ink cartridges are empty. However, instead of replacing them immediately I keep printing until nothing prints on a page. I find I can keep printing for a very long time. Obviously it depends on how often you print but most days I print a few pages- this is at home. I think it saves me a lot of money.
Contributed by Karin Allen, 29th January 2014
Printer Seconds Save Half Priced
Approximate $ Savings: 50%
Our much used printer finally died at a time when we could least afford to replace it but buying a new one couldn't be postponed until finances improved as my husband and I use it for work and also the kids needed it for homework. I was going to buy the cheapest, most basic one I could just to get through, but I would be compromising a lot of the features we require. Then I stumbled across the Epson Australia website and they sell factory second printers that have been returned for cosmetic reasons, out of date models, and some with issues that have since been fixed. I purchased a printer for half the cost of a new one, and so was able to get one with the features we required but without the huge cost. It also comes with a 6 month warranty.
Contributed by Sonia, Mundulla, 25th March 2010
Website: www.shoponline.epson.com.au
Our much used printer finally died at a time when we could least afford to replace it but buying a new one couldn't be postponed until finances improved as my husband and I use it for work and also the kids needed it for homework. I was going to buy the cheapest, most basic one I could just to get through, but I would be compromising a lot of the features we require. Then I stumbled across the Epson Australia website and they sell factory second printers that have been returned for cosmetic reasons, out of date models, and some with issues that have since been fixed. I purchased a printer for half the cost of a new one, and so was able to get one with the features we required but without the huge cost. It also comes with a 6 month warranty.
Contributed by Sonia, Mundulla, 25th March 2010
Website: www.shoponline.epson.com.au
Shaking Up the Toner Cartridge
We have four printers around the office and use many a cartridge. We have discovered though that if, when the printer is telling you that the toner cartridge is getting low, you take it out and give it a good shake, you will get many more prints out of your cartridge. This can be done a number of times as well. It has extended the life of our cartridges by 2 or 3 weeks at least.
Contributed by Kylie, Newport, 23rd February 2010
Contributed by Kylie, Newport, 23rd February 2010
Hold Off On New Cartridges
Approximate $ Savings: Up to $15 before replacement
Hold off replacing your ink cartridge, especially black, as soon as your printer tells you that you have run out of ink. You can usually get many, many more printouts before the ink starts to fade.
Contributed by Deidre, Green Pigeon, 25th December 2009
Contributed by Deidre, Green Pigeon, 25th December 2009
Shaken Down Printer Cartridges
Approximate $ Savings: approx $100 p.a.
When the ink is running low in your printer cartridges, before heading off to buy replacements, take the cartridge out of machine. Take care to have a tissue over head of it to avoid mess, then give it a good shaking for a few minutes. Replace cartridge into machine and voila, this should give you up to another month of use! This works for me and I have saved countless dollars since using this method.
Contributed by Jan, Perth, 19th June, 2009
When the ink is running low in your printer cartridges, before heading off to buy replacements, take the cartridge out of machine. Take care to have a tissue over head of it to avoid mess, then give it a good shaking for a few minutes. Replace cartridge into machine and voila, this should give you up to another month of use! This works for me and I have saved countless dollars since using this method.
Contributed by Jan, Perth, 19th June, 2009
Refill, It's Cheaper
I priced an ink cartridge for my Dell printer and they had gone up from $35 when I bought the last one, to $44, so I found a cartridge refill shop in Castle Hill and now have a full ink cartridge for just $27.
Contributed by Jan Caldwell, 25th March 2009
Contributed by Jan Caldwell, 25th March 2009
Wholesale Toners
Approximate $ Savings: $50
I recently needed to buy a new ink cartridge for my printer at home. I bought a twin pack for approx. $70. It was cheaper buying a twin pack than one single cartridge. A couple of days later I discovered a website www.wholesaletoners.com.au. I discovered that you can by a single cartridge from them for $9. I told my dad about it and he stocked up on cartridges because it was such a fantastic deal. They even deliver overnight. It is a huge time saver as you don't have to run around the shops, not to mention the money! They also sell fax toners, and if they don't have what you are looking you can call them and they will see if they have anything compatible.
Contributed by Carla, Maidstone, 4th April 2009
I recently needed to buy a new ink cartridge for my printer at home. I bought a twin pack for approx. $70. It was cheaper buying a twin pack than one single cartridge. A couple of days later I discovered a website www.wholesaletoners.com.au. I discovered that you can by a single cartridge from them for $9. I told my dad about it and he stocked up on cartridges because it was such a fantastic deal. They even deliver overnight. It is a huge time saver as you don't have to run around the shops, not to mention the money! They also sell fax toners, and if they don't have what you are looking you can call them and they will see if they have anything compatible.
Contributed by Carla, Maidstone, 4th April 2009
Working Cash Back to Get Virtually Free Item
Approximate $ Savings: For $3 I effectively received a new printer ($29 new printer cost-$26 for cartridge)
Hewlett Packard (hp) have a cash back offer on a lot of their printers at the moment. I needed a new black ink cartridge for my printer (which was also playing up). It was going to cost me approximately $26 to buy the cartridge but I could purchase a NEW printer/scanner/copier including photo quality prints for $29 ($49 with $20 cash back) which includes both colour and black ink cartridges! This hp offer is for purchases until 31/7/08 with claims by 15/8/08. For hp cashback - http://www.officeworks.com.au/ims_docs/static/20080625_hp_cashback.pdf
Contributed by Muriel, South Yarra, 7th July 2008
Contributed by Muriel, South Yarra, 7th July 2008
Print Savers
Approximate $ Savings: Usually half the price of new cartridges
Instead of buying new cartridges for your printer, you can have them refilled for half the cost of a new one!! They can be refilled many times and instead of throwing out old cartridges, you can either have them refilled or 'recycle' them. I use www.printsaver.com.au in Cheltenham. Great for environment and great for saving money!!
Contributed by Dianne, Cheltenham, 12th March 2008
Instead of buying new cartridges for your printer, you can have them refilled for half the cost of a new one!! They can be refilled many times and instead of throwing out old cartridges, you can either have them refilled or 'recycle' them. I use www.printsaver.com.au in Cheltenham. Great for environment and great for saving money!!
Contributed by Dianne, Cheltenham, 12th March 2008
Basic Printer Cartridges for Less
I have a Canon MP110 which uses the most basic ink cartridges, which are available through an ebay seller in lots of 10 for $2 each. That's black and colour! Quite simply, if you go to a newsagent or Officeworks for cartridges, you are paying too much. Almost anything to do with computers, be it ink, memory cards, laptop batteries, ebay is the way to go. And these are new merchandise, not second hand. I bought a 2Gb memory card for a digital camera for $18, and never pay more than $3 each for ink cartridges posted to my home so I don't even have to leave home to collect them. My auntie recently upgraded her printer without telling me. The printer cost her $90, and ink cartridges cost $30 each. As it is a new model with special cartridges, you cannot get generic cartridges yet to suit so you have to pay the genuine price.
Contributed by Frank, Kyneton, 9th April 2008
Contributed by Frank, Kyneton, 9th April 2008
Printer Ink Saver
Approximate $ Savings: $25
I have a Hp printer scanner my black ink has been running very low so what I do is hit the file then print when it comes up I go into properties and drop the list down to best print it gets every bit out of the cartridge even when you keep getting a message saying ink is low I still can get another 200 pages to print perfect every time.
Contributed by Nicole, Kealba, 26th April, 2008
I have a Hp printer scanner my black ink has been running very low so what I do is hit the file then print when it comes up I go into properties and drop the list down to best print it gets every bit out of the cartridge even when you keep getting a message saying ink is low I still can get another 200 pages to print perfect every time.
Contributed by Nicole, Kealba, 26th April, 2008
Wholesale Printer Cartridges
I buy my printer cartridges from Wholesale Toners Australia 1300 735 770 [www.wholesaletoner.com.au] They are quality inks at a fraction of the cost of retail. I used to pay around $30 per coloured cartridges, now I pay around $6. I've saved over $100 this past year. Delivery is prompt and freight is reasonably priced.
Contributed by Jennifer, Golden Square, 21st April 2008
Contributed by Jennifer, Golden Square, 21st April 2008
Reduce the Costs of Your Printer
Approximate $ Savings: Up to $30 a cartridge
When purchasing a new printer, consider the following: - a printer with only one tank for the colours (a tri-colour cartridge) is the least cost effective way of purchasing ink. You throw away ink because one of the colours in the cartridge has run out. Look for a printer which has separate tanks for each colour. - cheaper by the dozen (ok so not quite). Choose a printer whose inks are available individually and also as a pack of all the inks for the machine, then watch the prices. Most times the price of the pack is cheaper than buying the tank individually, however, at times, the individual tanks can be cheaper. For example Officeworks sells the Canon 8 series cartridges for about $27 each and the pack for $90 (a saving of $18 and you get 250 sheets of 10x15cm photopaper thrown in as a bonus). However, they recently sold the individual tanks for $20 each, which worked saved $10 on the pack price (excluding the fact that you miss out on the paper buying this way!). - do you really need a colour printer? You can save a lot of money by buying a laser printer if you can justify not having colour. There are laser printers on the market which cost less than $100, yet will give you 2,500 pages or more in printouts before you need to replace the toner. Compared to approximately 500 pages in inkjet printers, this is a huge saving. For example, a black inkjet cartridge costs on average about $40 and gets around 500 pages. A laser toner costs about $100 and will get you about 5 times the number of pages as the inkjet cartridge. The printer has basically paid for itself before you even need to replace the toner. When you've purchased your printer, in order to make the inks/toners last longer, find the printer settings on your computer (for XP users, click on Start, Settings, Printers and Faxes, right click on the printer you're using, select Properties, then find Printing Preferences) and reduce the quality of the output. Generally speaking, if you are only printing out pages to read on paper rather than on the screen, printing in Draft quality will do.
Contributed by Leanne, Cranbourne, 4th March 2008
When purchasing a new printer, consider the following: - a printer with only one tank for the colours (a tri-colour cartridge) is the least cost effective way of purchasing ink. You throw away ink because one of the colours in the cartridge has run out. Look for a printer which has separate tanks for each colour. - cheaper by the dozen (ok so not quite). Choose a printer whose inks are available individually and also as a pack of all the inks for the machine, then watch the prices. Most times the price of the pack is cheaper than buying the tank individually, however, at times, the individual tanks can be cheaper. For example Officeworks sells the Canon 8 series cartridges for about $27 each and the pack for $90 (a saving of $18 and you get 250 sheets of 10x15cm photopaper thrown in as a bonus). However, they recently sold the individual tanks for $20 each, which worked saved $10 on the pack price (excluding the fact that you miss out on the paper buying this way!). - do you really need a colour printer? You can save a lot of money by buying a laser printer if you can justify not having colour. There are laser printers on the market which cost less than $100, yet will give you 2,500 pages or more in printouts before you need to replace the toner. Compared to approximately 500 pages in inkjet printers, this is a huge saving. For example, a black inkjet cartridge costs on average about $40 and gets around 500 pages. A laser toner costs about $100 and will get you about 5 times the number of pages as the inkjet cartridge. The printer has basically paid for itself before you even need to replace the toner. When you've purchased your printer, in order to make the inks/toners last longer, find the printer settings on your computer (for XP users, click on Start, Settings, Printers and Faxes, right click on the printer you're using, select Properties, then find Printing Preferences) and reduce the quality of the output. Generally speaking, if you are only printing out pages to read on paper rather than on the screen, printing in Draft quality will do.
Contributed by Leanne, Cranbourne, 4th March 2008
Printing the Savings
Approximate $ Savings: $850
About a year ago, we were looking for a laser printer that can do heaps of printing. We wanted one that could also do duplex printing. The one that was in the market that met our needs was a little over $1,000. That was a bit too much for us so we decided to check eBay. We were able to get a second hand printer for only $160, that's a saving of about $850. It's been about a year now but this printer still works wonders for us. We also get replacement toners from eBay.
Contributed by Ces, Cranbourne, 14th January 2008
About a year ago, we were looking for a laser printer that can do heaps of printing. We wanted one that could also do duplex printing. The one that was in the market that met our needs was a little over $1,000. That was a bit too much for us so we decided to check eBay. We were able to get a second hand printer for only $160, that's a saving of about $850. It's been about a year now but this printer still works wonders for us. We also get replacement toners from eBay.
Contributed by Ces, Cranbourne, 14th January 2008
I Left My PC On
Did you know there is an on-line service which allows you to switch your PC off remotely? It saves time and energy. You can check the status of your PC and then opt to switch it off. Visit www.ileftmypcon.com. And I am willing to write an article about saving energy on your PC if you wish. The ileftmypcon.com service is completely free to use and we want to get the message out so people can start turning their PCs off more and more.
Contributed by Nat, Adelaide, 4th July 2007
Contributed by Nat, Adelaide, 4th July 2007
Draft Print
Thought everyone knew about Draft Print and to highlight only the bits they want!! Ive been filling my ink cartridges for years! I get a big bottle of ink from my local office supplies, and a syringe they supplied me with...and off I go.
Contributed by Merran, Yarra Valley
Contributed by Merran, Yarra Valley
Printer Cartridges
For anyone after printer cartridges, check eBay first. I have a Canon and brand new cartridges are $40. I got a brand new one on eBay for $18, pretty good saving for me. And you can get re-manufactured ones for $25 all the time on eBay. Worth a look!
Contributed by Kristin, Brisbane, February, 2004
Contributed by Kristin, Brisbane, February, 2004
Save $$$ on Toner For Your Printer
I recently went to BIG W to purchase toners for my printer. My printer requires 4 separate colours and I left disheartened after discovering that of the 3 I needed each would cost $23.95 totalling $71.85. Once home and after checking my e-mails I decided to check out eBay. I found a deal on 12 toners (3 of each of the 4 colours) for a ‘buy it now' price of $28 including postage. I proceeded with the purchase received them a few days later. To buy 12 toners from my regular shop I would pay $283.35. I am thrilled to have saved $259.40, a huge saving.
Contributed by Meagan, Werribee, 22nd January 2007
Contributed by Meagan, Werribee, 22nd January 2007
Free Paper for Printers
I save heaps on personal use printing paper for my computer by collecting anything in A4 size I can find that has been printed on one side only. I find it in lots of the mail at my office and home, get it from my colleagues and anyone who is prepared to say they don't want it anymore. There are so many places to find it and you can finish up with an endless supply. I never run out and I do lots of printing. So much gets thrown out that can be used on the non printed side. It saves money and saves the environment.
Contributed by Tony, South Hobart, May 13th 2005
Contributed by Tony, South Hobart, May 13th 2005
Savings on 5 or More Cartridge Refills
For your printer cartridge, go to Cartridge world. They are all over the place. They have the genuine or refill yours and there ink is of top grade. They also have savings available when you get 5 or more refills done.
Contributed by Marty, Nundah, March 1st 2005
Contributed by Marty, Nundah, March 1st 2005
Computer Cartridges
I use Calidad cartridges for my printer, as they are cheaper and easier to refill. However, if you look at the instructions on refilling you need to remove the top and push in with a syringe like needle thus damaging the sponge inside. My hint is NOT to remove the top - turn the cartridge around until you see the sponge at the bottom, drip the ink into the sponge with the refill ink until the cartridge feels full. In this way you refill the cartridge without damaging the sponge. Normally a cartridge will last you about 8 refills and then you need to chuck it away. I have had all my cartridges for 18 months - 2 yrs and refilled unlimited amounts of times and they are still going strong.
Contributed by Tamara, June 27th 2006
Contributed by Tamara, June 27th 2006