Printer Ink - Get More For Your Buck

How many times have you run out of ink in the middle of a print job? Does your ink seem to run out before the end of the month, or run out before of your print job finishes? 

TIP: Use your printer's preferences to print documents in a fashion that uses less ink, but is professional-looking. 

When you are a field services professional (mystery shopper, merchandiser, reviewer, inspector, etc.), you most likely work for yourself and are "self-employed." You will have a home office and are responsible for the maintenance, cleaning, and supplies. Just because you work from home in your pajamas doesn't mean your work product should look like it. When you have door-knocks to conduct or forms to complete in the field, who has resources to make every copy at Staples, Office Max, or Office Depot?


When you are ready to print, remember to:


click Preferences in your print dialogue box; (mine looks like this for my Lexmark 5650-Lexmark black ink #36)

When I print from the internet, I get this box: select Print using (printer) system dialogue to get the dialogue box pictured above

in the next dialogue box select the option Quick Print, or other option that is lighter, using less ink; [Note: Selecting print in black and white saves your color ink.](mine looks like this)

Test one page using your regular preferences and one page using the new preferences. Notice the darkness of Automatic, Normal, and Best settings. Your Quick Print job should look as good and your wallet should thank you. 

Being frugal and minding your expenses will only increase your bottom line. It would be a terrible thing to miss out on work because your printer is out of ink or otherwise out of service.

Michelle Brown