Inkjet printer cartridges can cost you big bucks. If you want a copy of a consumer website, if you write and need copies for revision, if you need legal information and forms--print out many pages and you'll need many cartridges. Use your printer to create cards, banners, photos and other creative items and you'll spend a small fortune on brand-name ink cartridges.

Any artistic color printing may impress you with your imaginative talents, but it will also impress you with its printing price tag. Any color areas on your page will use a lot of ink. Generic inkjet printer cartridges and remanufactured inkjet cartridges cut printing costs sharply.

Smart Shopping for Printer Cartridges

Compare prices for generic products with retail prices. Let's say you use one black and one color cartridge a month. Your price from an Internet company might be around $14. Retail would be about $60, so you would save $552 a year by buying generics. On top of these savings, there is the convenience of shopping from home. No fighting traffic or crowds in stores, no waiting for customer service, no going from store to store or making phone calls to find the best price.

Guaranteed Products and Performance

Look for companies that guarantee their products, and make it simple to exchange or return items. Examine their inventory to see if they appear to have a well-stocked variety of generic and remanufactured supplies. Do they express a dedication to customer satisfaction?

What kind of tone does each company have to its website? Does it have the savings, discounts, fast service, and quality that informed consumers look for? Last but not least, an online company should have a secure site so any credit card or other personal information is confidential.

Retain Your Printer's Warranty

You might be concerned that using generic inkjet printer cartridges will void a printer's warranty. Not so, because consumers are protected by the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Improvement Act. Simply put, you have the legal right to use compatible products for your printer even though they are not the same brand as the printer.