Whether economic times are bleak and promising, there are always certain things that the average home and office will find the need to save money on. Some office items are fairly steady in their overall cost, while other items can be more controlled. Almost all office situations need to utilize ink, but there are certainly some tried and true ways to save in this area. If you use HP Printer Ink, you can take advantage of a full spectrum of savings opportunities to keep costs in check. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle As the average consumer becomes more socially conscious, phrases like "Reduce, reuse, recycle" become more familiar to the social spectrum. Most people know how to separate paper from aluminum and garbage from useful items. However, in the office, this money- and earth-saving term can be a bit more elusive. The good news is that using name-brand cartridges, such as HP Inkjet Cartridges, opens up the most doors for saving on ink expenses. That is because a properly calibrated name-brand cartridge is designed to work in the most efficient manner with a printer of the same brand. In many cases, there are ink-saving features built into these printers that make the most efficient use of the available ink. Generics can still save money in many cases, but the printer won't be as attuned to the nuances of that cartridge. Once empty, however, there are often significant advantages to refilling the HP cartridge with a kit that is designed to be compatible with your printer. Instead of paying for an entirely new cartridge housing, you can inject the available unit with more ink and keep on using it. Another technique that is a hidden money saver is returning empty cartridges to stores that accept them. While this gives an automatic feel-good boost for environmentally-conscious consumers, there is also a monetary benefit. Many people may be unaware that shops give a cash or credit discount for these empty cartridges. Most stores focus on name-brands and will accept not only empty inkjet cartridges but also, in some cases, the HP Toner Cartridge, used in your laser printer. It makes sense to call any local office and school supply stores to see what their exact policy is. However, if you find a store that offers this perk, use it. These credits can help offset the cost of new cartridges and keep printing costs under control.