Today's Tip: Reducing the waste when printing internet coupons

I LOVE internet coupons.  It is amazing the great ones that companies put out on places like these:







BUT it often is a waste of paper for several reasons:

• There is a HUGE ad on the top or bottom of the page
• The coupon isn't exactly what I thought, but I didn't know until it printed
• It prints 1 coupon on the page and the rest is blank
• the coupon is FULL color and color ink costs more

So here are some tips to make it cost less and be less wasteful for you:

1. Set your printing settings to "preview before printing".  Not going to lie- this can be a PAIN.  You will get a pop up window showing the print preview and you will have to manually allow it to print.  BUT you will be able to see what will print and cancel it before wasting paper if it is not exactly what you wanted.  ALSO you can see if there is a large ad after a while you will learn to {listen} to the printer and know when the coupon is done and the ad is starting.  THEN you can cancel the print job- saving all that ink!
2. If the coupon just prints at the top of the page (OR you cancel the job after teh coupon) turn it around and print another on the bottom!
3. If your kids are like mine they LOVE to color and write.  I give them my coupon "Scraps" to use instead of full sheets. 
4. print in black and white

A few more tips:

1. Be sure there is ink, a light barcode may not scan and many stores will not accept internet printables that do not scan.
2. ONLY print them from reputable sites (like the ones above or manufacturer Face book pages and websites)
3. Be leery of PDF files.  The only recent ones that are valid that I know of are the palermos pizza and the Stapes $3 off!

As always, keep an eye on Moola Saving Mom for all the latest HOT printable coupons out there and we'll tell you how to use them to maximize your savings!  Do you have any tips for printing coupons?