One of the first questions I'm asked when people discover my penchant for couponing is:

"Are you really saving money once you consider the cost of printing your coupons? You know, the cost of the paper, the ink and the "wear and tear" on your printer?"

They ask the question with an air of superiority and victory in their voice as if the answer to this question validates their reasoning for paying full retail and should give me enough cause to join them!

Usually, I repeat the question to myself under my breath as I blankly stare at my inquisitor, "Have I considered the cost of printing my coupons?".

Lacking enough quick wit to say something clever I typically reply, "Uh, yeah. DUH! Haven't you?"

Thankfully, I was never called upon to present the cost analysis for printing my coupons because I didn't have it but oddly enough, I never asked to have the data presented to me either!

Although I would not have admitted it publicly, I did begin to question the cost of printing my coupons. Was I really saving money or was I just participating in a grand exercise in futility? Was I actually adding to my family's bottom line or subtracting from it? I found the answers to my questions and it turns out I learned a lot more about printers than I probably ever wanted to know during my quest for "coupon printing cost analysis" enlightenment!

I'll spare you most of the details such as "measuring cartridge yield by 5% coverage" and only present my general findings: The cost of printing coupons is not fixed. It is directly related to the type of printer you have, the amount of pages your printer prints per ink cartridge, the cost to refill the ink cartridges and the cost of the paper you use to print those coupons. Depending on the printer you have, it could cost between $0.014 - $0.11 to print each coupon! 

This wide range in price left me with another question; Which printer prints the most coupons for the least amount of money? After scientifically analyzing the data and crunching numbers I have an answer for you!  The printer that will print the most coupons for the least amount of money is, drum roll please ... The HP Officejet Pro 8600 Plus e-All-in-One Printer!  When printing in black only, the HP Officejet Pro 8600 prints a respectable 2200 pages before you need to refill your ink for $34.00. That equates to paying $0.0015 per coupon if you print 3 coupons per page (which is typical)! Overall, the cost of printing coupons barely affects your budget if you have the right printer! The HP Officejet Pro 8600 Plus also prints in color when you need eye popping graphics for those school or business reports!  Color cartridge replacements are $20.00 ea.; you'll need three and the HP Officejet Pro 8600 prints 700 color pages when on low yield settings and 1600 pages when on high yield settings. The HP Officejet Pro 8600 is on sale this week for $199.99 at Staples. Currently, they are offering instant savings of $50.00 thus making the printer $149.99. They also price match other "brick and mortar" stores if you find it cheaper somewhere else! Pick one up today at the Staples in Gilbert at 865 E. Baseline Rd. Ask for Paul (the store manager) and tell him The Classy Couponer sent you!

You don't have to take my word for it though! Read all about The HP Officejet Pro 8600 at Staples.com!