Thrifty Tips: Save on printer ink by using Draft Mode

Image courtesy of Apolonia at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I am looking through the flyer from my local electronics store and I found an inkjet printer at a rock bottom price much cheaper than the ink cartridges they need. That's nothing new though, printer companies have been doing this for years. Ink cartridges are as consumable as batteries are for remote controls or cleaning pads for those proprietary mops. I just don't want to spend a fortune in ink replacement. Here are a couple of tricks I've learned to help extend the life of printer ink and save costs:

1- Print only the IMPORTANT text you need: When you visit a website and you want to print your research, there is an easy way to save waste (both on ink and paper) by printing only the relevant text you want and not the fluff or annoying advertising. Using your mouse, simply hold down the left-click button and highlight the text that you want to print, then right-click the highlighted text and select "Print" from the context menu. Your printer's Print dialog box will appear and print your document with the settings that you prefer. This method will also save on paper costs as you won't be wasting it on printing the advertising from some websites. 

2- Select the "Draft" printing option: Print your document using the system dialog (shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + P),  select your default printer, click on the Preferences tab, and choose a Draft setting of your printer's options. My HP printer calls it "Fast Draft" and uses the least amount of black ink to print the text when I choose the Black Ink Only option in the Print In Grayscale drop-down.

3- Set the "Draft" printing option as your printer's permanent default setting: Instead of duplicating step 2 every time you want to print in Draft mode, simply set up this option as a permanent print option. Access Devices and Printers from your Window's Start menu and double-click on the printer that you want to use as your default printer. In the printer's Properties dialog box, select Preferences, set the Draft printing setting as you did in step 2, then click Apply. Click Apply in the Properties menu, then OK. The Properties dialog box should close and your default printing will be ready to save you money on your printing.

These are but a few ways to make sure that you save money on printer ink. If there are additional ways, I would love to hear from you in the comments below or drop me an email. I would love to hear from you!

Oh, one more tip- recycle your mis-printed paper sheets. You can always re-use the un-printed side and you save even more in paper costs!

Yours truly, 

That Thrifty Guy!
- thatthriftyguy@gmail.com

EXCLUSIVE: $5 for ALL from Swagbucks!

Hello, Thrifters! Yours Truly, That Thrifty Guy here (thatthriftyguy@gmail.com) with exciting news from the Web's premier rewards and loyalty destination!

If you haven't signed up for Swagbucks yet, now's your chance. Among the many ways to get gift cards by earning Swag Bucks, you can also earn Swag Bucks for every dollar you spend shopping online via Swagbucks Shop & Earn -- which comes in especially handy during this back to school time when you're buying supplies and clothes for the new year. Shopping online via Swagbucks gives you access to all the major online retailers and big box stores, including Target, Walmart, Staples, Amazon, and more (stores vary for members in Canada & UK)!

The good news doesn't stop there because here's an even bigger reason to earn Swag Bucks while shopping online: a bonus 500 SB (a $5 value in addition to your earnings)! Here's how to get your $5 bonus: If you sign up for Swagbucks through my link here anytime between August 6th - September 6th, and make a purchase of $25 or more via Swagbucks Shop & Earn, you will get a 500 SB Bonus! That's enough for a $5 gift card, in addition to all the Swag Bucks you earn from your online shopping purchase.

Please note that your bonus will be credited only after your Shop & Earn Swag Bucks are credited, which can be up to 35 days after the date of purchase. Also please note that this special bonus is only available for new SB members who sign up through my link.

To get started, all you have to do is sign up through me here, and start shopping with Swagbucks Shop & Earn. Not only will your summer or back to school shopping be hassle-free (think: no long lines at checkout, no tired feet from shuffling from store to store, the perks go on & on), but you'll also earn SB for every dollar PLUS a $5 bonus to go towards gift cards. For official rules, see below:

Official Rules for August $5 for All Swagbucks Shop Promotion: Receive 500 Swag Bucks (approximate retail value $5 USD) (“Credit”) when you sign up for a Swagbucks.com account via an applicable referral link and make a purchase of $25 USD or more through the Swagbucks.com Shop & Earn webpage between 12:01 AM PST on August 6, 2014 and 11:59 PM PST on September 6, 2014 (a “Qualifying Purchase”). Offer valid for new Swagbucks.com accounts only. Credit will be issued to your Swagbucks.com account within thirty-five (35) days of your Qualifying Purchase. Limit ONE (1) Credit per person. This offer may not be transferred; cannot be redeemed for cash; and cannot be combined with other offers.  Prodege, LLC reserves the right to add, modify, or discontinue this offer at any time, for any reason or no reason, with or without notice. Valid only in U.S., Canada and the U.K. Void where prohibited. Subject to the Swagbucks.com Terms of Use and Privacy Policy found at http://www.swagbucks.com/g/terms and http://www.swagbucks.com/g/privacy, respectively. 

Get Thrifty with Swagbucks!

Have you ever heard of Swagbucks? They're a completely free, no strings attached site that rewards you for all of the things you're already doing online. Search, Watching Videos, Playing Games, Taking Surveys, Shopping and more - as you do these activities, you'll earn Swag Bucks, which are reward points that you can redeem for all sorts of gift cards in the Rewards Store. You can download their toolbar or download their OS and Android apps for more opportunities to earn. Choose the activities you like or have time for - how much you earn is up to you!

I've used Swagbucks for less than a month now and so far I've earned enough points for at $20.00 reward from Amazon, PayPal Cash, or other great merchants. You can do the same!

To sign up for Swagbucks, click this link and join me!

I will be back again later with more great ways to incorporate SwagBucks into your daily activities and weekly budgets! Enjoy!

Yours truly,
That Thrifty Guy!
- thatthriftyguy@gmail.com

Introducing That Thrifty Guy!

Welcome, everyone! My name is Georges B. and I am here to show you all the best ways to stretch a buck! Now, by no means do I claim to be a specialist in the matter. Like most of us, living paycheck to paycheck is quite a feat and sticking to a budget can be the most difficult thing to do. The purpose of this blog is to simply share what I have done to save a penny and get a better value for the purchases I make and the services I use every day. I hope that you will find this blog useful and fun. After all, a penny saved is a penny earned, so save along with me!

Yours truly,
That Thrifty Guy!
- thatthriftyguy@gmail.com