How to Cut the Office Supply Budget
Businesses everywhere try to save money any way they can, especially if it prevents laying off employees. Smaller companies have a hard time financially as it is. There are many things that companies of any size can do to help save money around the office. The office-supply budget is one place where companies can cut back and save a few bucks. Look at last year's budget and plan to spend less this year.
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Instructions
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Use scrap paper. Do not throw away the paper that comes out of your printers only half used or junk mail that comes from your fax machine. Start a box for saving scrap paper. Use this scrap paper for inter-office memos or other paperwork to save on your clean paper. Do not use scrap paper for your clients, however. Give them clean, new paper.
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Think about the pens you typically use in your office. Use ballpoint pens for much more ink usage. Keep in mind that the ink from gel pens might write nicer, but they last only about half as long as a ballpoint pen.
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Reconsider leaving on the counter that bowl of mints or candy for your customers. Know that candy is not a huge part of your office supply budget, but that every little cutback can help, especially since it is probably your employees that eat most of the candy and not the clients.
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Find an office supply store that has rewards where the more you spend, the more you receive in free merchandise.
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Recycle your ink cartridges. Have your ink cartridges refilled instead of buying new ones. This can save you up to $10 per cartridge depending on the type you have. Find an office supply store that gives you money in exchange for used ink cartridges, even if they are no longer viable.
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Purchase generic brand office supplies. Pens, paper and staples are pretty much equal no matter what brand they are, except for the price.
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Look for sales on office supplies. Buy cases of paper or envelopes when they are on sale instead of waiting until you are completely out and have to pay full price. Buying in bulk is also a helpful way to cut expenses.
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Lease some of your office equipment instead of buying it. In some cases, purchasing equipment comes with contracts that allow service only on broken-down equipment, which can be an outrageous cost, or you might have to pay for each copy you make on a copier once you get past a certain limit.
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Tips & Warnings
Encourage your employees to come up with new ways to save money. Make a contest out of it so it will be fun for all.
