Paper and toner are probably not things we spend a lot of time thinking about, until we run out of one in the middle of a project. Then it's off to the store to purchase, usually without a thought on price or convenience. We need it for a project, so we make the purchase.

Yet with a little time and planning, you could easily save hundreds of dollars a year. Consider these facts:

- Over $21 million worth of ink jet cartridges are sold each month throughout the United States.
- Over 95 percent of these ink jet cartridges will end up in the landfill.

Consumers have three options when deciding how to keep their printer filled with ink.

1. Purchase a new ink jet cartridge from a local retail location. As with other industries, when you wait to make a purchase when you need the product, you will usually pay a premium price. Retail stores are there for convenience, and offer you the maximum price for the ease.

2. Refill your existing ink jet cartridges. Many retail stores are offering this option. You simply bring in your existing cartridges, and refill them with the appropriate ink color. This still offers you the convenience of immediate purchase, but it can also be messy.

3. Purchase recycled ink jet cartridges. Recycling your ink jet cartridge allows you to save up to 70 percent off the retail price, and provides you with a way of keeping the cartridge out of the landfills. Recycling does take more time, and isn't an instant process, but the savings makes it worth it.

With recycling, most companies offer you the ability to mail in your cartridges to a company location. The company will refurbish the cartridge, refill it, and send it back to your location. The process can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of days, depending on the mail and your location.

The best way to stay prepared for printing emergencies is to have two cartridges in place within your office system. When one cartridge runs out of ink, you send it in, and have a spare ready for printing.