Save on Paper: The Three Best Waysby Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger 26 Jan 2007 09:58 AM
Here are the three best ways that you can reduce your paper waste to save money and the environment. Unless you have a legitimate reason not to do so, always print on both sides of the paper or make two-sided copies. This effectively doubles the amount of paper you have to use! I set up my computer's printing default for two-sided printing in draft mode. Just go to your computers print set up to do this. By presetting my printing instructions, I automatically use less paper and ink than I would using the regular settings. And if I really need to a more professional print out, changing the setting to one-sided printing is very easy to do on the fly. Use your computer to make notes and lists rather than using paper. Many computers come with "post-it note" type programs, list makers, calendars and other electronic ways to organize. You can find some of these programs online for free. I usually use my text editor to make my notes and lists for the day. When I am done with my tasks, I can simply delete the note. I also have a folder on my computer for recipes that I save to text files. This reduces the need to print the recipes and store them. You know all of those notices you get from your child's school? They are usually blank on the other side. Reuse the blank sides for scrap paper for kids drawings or your hand-written lists. If the paper is smooth and unfolded, you can even put it in your printer. I have a shelf just for this sort of paper. There are so many sources of paper that enter your house, from junk mail to advertisements for the latest fast food place. Most of these pieces of paper are printed on only one side. Take advantage of them, and you may never have to buy paper again. Related Articles: Squeezing Money from The Newspaper Save on Heating: Fireplace Tips Save on Water Heating: Insulate! 5 Ways to Save on Toilet Paper Learn more about Mary Ann Romans  Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat. Relevantfrugal tags User Comments Nola Redd (7081) 26 Jan 2007 04:29 PMWe are all about reusing paper for kids to draw on. My dh used to have an office job and brought home a ton of paper. We also used any household excess, and they love the envelopes for paying bills. Great job!  Mary Ann Romans (26886) 26 Jan 2007 07:00 PMThat is great, Nola. I never understand the businesses that toss pounds and pounds of paper away whenever they change their letterhead! Community Tags dinner tips, meals, pantry challenge, stockpile Discuss this article
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Even in this electronic age, we all seem to use too much paper. Conserving paper means finding other ways to do things that don't involve paper, stretching out the use of paper by using it more than once and finding new uses for paper that might otherwise be thrown out. 
