These days you can pick up a printer for under $30. But what the manufacturers make their money on is the ink. My previous inkjet printer (HP) required constant alignment and messages popped up to print a test page (using loads of ink). I always cancelled it at that point and neither printed the test page nor had an alignment problem - big ink waster. I now have a Canon MG 2520 which isn't as annoying, but for the past three weeks it has popped up messages showing the black ink cartridge is empty. I don't print a lot, but so far it's printing fine without changing the cartridge. So, don't jump to change your ink cartridge as soon as you get a message or worry your alignment will be skewed forever if you don't print a test page. Also, set your printing to draft mode, you may not notice much difference in the print quality but it will use less ink.
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