When you use a printer with any amount of frequency, you will learn quite quickly that the black ink cartridge is the one you use the most. I remember the first printer I bought. I think I printed so much that I ran out of ink within two weeks. I believe I even used the black ink cartridge to print several dozen copies, instead of taking the document to a local copying company.

It was then, that I found out I was making  a  big mistake. I went to the store to go get another black ink cartridge, thinking; “Hey its just ink, how much can it cost?” Was I in for a big surprise! When I saw that $40 price tag, I was shocked. “For ink, you have got to be kidding?” I even called the sales person over to verify the price. Oh my! And I have to buy a new black ink cartridge every two weeks? I sure wasn’t going to do that. I wouldn’t have anything left in my budget to eat on.

Well, I learned quickly enough, to manage my ink supply, and later I learned about compatible ink cartridges, where to buy the least expensive ink cartridges (online, by the way), and where to find remanufactured ink cartridges, or refilled cartridges. Since, those long ago days, my ink budget has gone way down. Now I still print a lot, but I have found much better ink prices. If I do have to buy a manufacturers black ink cartridge, I make sure to use it sparingly!

So lets get to the point! My suggestion is that you carefully consider the type of printer you buy, and then look into all types of ink purchasing possibilities. Just because you have a certain brand name printer, doesn’t mean you have to buy the same brand name ink. You just have to find compatible ink for your printer.