Proof, Preview and Check to Save Money on Office Printing

"How do I save money on printing?" That's the question I hear most frequently and in today's difficult economic climate, it's an extremely important one. With the cost of a typical black and white page averaging 2 - 5 cents and a color page averaging 7 - 20 cents for paper and toner or ink, implementing the tips below will have your savings add up quickly. A few simple adjustments to how and when you print can result in bigger savings for your business and even your home printing.

Proof your work to cut down on printing unnecessary pages. A great deal of toner, ink and paper is wasted printing pages you can't use. Always run a spelling and grammar check to correct any mistakes you might have made before you print. These are easy to use tools located on the toolbar at the top of your screen that does the work for you. You retain control over your content while the software makes suggestions for change. It's like having your own personal proofreader but without the added expense.

Using the print preview feature lets you see how a document will look on paper before you print it. Here's how:

1) Select File.

2) Click Print Preview to view your document.

3) Hit ESC to return to the normal view.

Are you using Microsoft 2010? BONUS! Microsoft 2010 applications allow you to preview your document in the print screen without any additional keystrokes!

Have you ever printed an email or driving directions on letterhead or your best cardstock? It's an annoying and costly mistake. Make sure you have the right paper in your printer before you hit print. Most printers have at least one paper tray and a second tray or feed slot. Load the paper you use most often into the largest capacity tray on your printer or MFP. Then use the additional tray for letterhead or any special media you require.

Lastly, when you print multi-page documents and realize you made a mistake, don't reprint the entire document. Just reprint the page where you make your correction and insert it into the document in the proper order.

The typical office worker uses about 10,000 sheets of paper every year at a cost ranging from $200 to $2000 per year for paper and toner or ink. Reducing print by just 10% can yield big savings, not to mention leaving us many more trees to enjoy. Savings... Simple, easy and at right your fingertips.