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Do you own a printer at home? Why/why not?

110 replies

Knan10 · 17/05/2020 23:23

Undecided on whether I’d need a printer at home considering how everything is digital now.

Please answer only if your reason for a printer isn’t school/uni work

Thanks :)

OP posts:
NellMangel · 17/05/2020 23:26

No I dont because usually I would print at work on the 4 occasions a year I need to.

TheSmallAssassin · 17/05/2020 23:28

Printing out recipes is the thing I do most. Less often, making cards for people, the odd photo. Printing out bank transactions to reconcile against my records on my budgeting app. I use it to scan things in too.

Hopefulmidwife · 17/05/2020 23:28

Well originally mine was for college last year. But when that was over it's actually been helpful for holiday documents, job applications, re-mortgaging documents etc. It's used a surprising amount!

NerforMuffin · 17/05/2020 23:28

Yes because since home school started it's so much easier to print worksheets for the kids to do.

I also print out a lot of colouring pages for them.

And I use it for my little art projects

FreeButtonBee · 17/05/2020 23:30

We didn’t until DH work decided it was necessary (can’t even remember why he used it for 2 weeks and then never again). It has been invaluable for lockdown for (state) primary literally could do any of the set work without it

DonLewis · 17/05/2020 23:32

We own a printer, but rarely own the ink required to make it useful. However, since I've bought ink, we've used it a lot! Lockdown, school work, a couple of work bits and colouring sheets for the bin men and postie.

m0therofdragons · 17/05/2020 23:33

Ordered one Friday and it arrived Saturday - dc need worksheets printed to complete school work as writing out whole sums rather than just filling in the gaps was making life way more stressful than I need right now. Previously we hadn’t ever had a need! It has a scanner too so dd1 can scan hand written work in and email it to her teacher.

frenchfancy81 · 17/05/2020 23:33

Yes and we use it a lot.

Topseyt · 17/05/2020 23:35

I have one. It only gets used occasionally, but is still needed.

DD3 used to use it to print stuff for her schoolwork, but she was in year 13 and has left school now.

Cheeseycheeseycheesecheese · 17/05/2020 23:35

Nope, have no need for it. Last thing I printed was the application for my current job 4 years ago. I emailed it to my dad and he printed it for me.

TwoZeroTwoZero · 17/05/2020 23:38

Yes and it's come into its own these last couple of months Grin. We bought it, without knowing anything about printing, so I could try and print my own photos but, rather predictably, the quality is nowhere near good enough for any of the comps that I might want to enter. We kept it though and just use it as a general purpose household printer, copier and scanner.

FlamingoAndJohn · 17/05/2020 23:39

Nope. The only time I ever need to print is boarding passes when I’m going on holiday.
I use a friend’s printer for that.

SweetMarmalade · 17/05/2020 23:42

We bought one once we realised that ds now in Y8 would need it for homework. Since then and with lockdown, it has really proved it’s worth!

We’ve also set up an account for the HP cartridges so don’t have to worry about running out, it’s been a blessing tbh!

Namechangervaver · 17/05/2020 23:42

The only time I ever need to print is boarding passes when I’m going on holiday.
You don't have to print these any more. You just scan it on your phone.

WeAllHaveWings · 17/05/2020 23:43

Self employed Dh needs one for work, occasionally I print something, usually return labels. Ds occasionally prints school stuff (replacement chemistry data booklet, timetable etc)

PickAChew · 17/05/2020 23:44

Yes, I use it for all sorts and regularly threaten to lob it out of the window because it's a grade A git.

ChandlerIsTheBestFriend · 17/05/2020 23:46

Do you own a printer at home?

Yes

Why/why not?

I needed to print stuff.

PickAChew · 17/05/2020 23:46

One thing I print is knitting patterns. A hat is easy enough from my phone screen if it doesn't have a complicated chat, bu I need to make note if it's a sweater.

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 17/05/2020 23:51

We have two, one black and white that uses toner and one colour ink jet. They're useful for printing letters or forms that can't be submitted electronically, photos as well as dc's school and hobby stuff. I don't edit stuff well on screen so I often prefer to print it out.

ForestDad · 17/05/2020 23:52

Yep. Labour of love to keep it working but I've got a continuous ink supply system for when the current cartridges run out.
Again using a lot for homeschool worksheets (Primary) and the kids are getting into being able to print/copy stuff.

notacooldad · 17/05/2020 23:56

The only time I ever need to print is boarding passes when I’m going on holiday.
You don't have to print these any more. You just scan it on your phone
Whilst most airports do accept dont assume all do!

Pipandmum · 18/05/2020 00:00

Yes. It's a copier and scanner too. My daughter is using it most now to print out school work. I used it a lot last year to print out past gcse papers for my son. Its invaluable for scanning (passports for ID, signed documents, Art work etc.

MrFaceyRomford · 18/05/2020 00:08

Yes because DW needs it to print out quilting patterns and I need it to produce plans for my hobby.

Ginkypig · 18/05/2020 00:24

I had one a long time ago but it hardly ever got used and the ink kept drying out so we haven't bought another one because we don't really have room for one and it's a real waste of money and bad on the environment on ink if you can't get them going again

but it's a total pain in the arse the few times a year I do need a printer!

Certain forms or labels for returns from home or I sold some tickets and the website wouldn't let me get the address to send them until I had printed out something first.

I'm lucky I have a lovely friend a few doors down who very kindly allows me to occasionally use hers if I get really stuck and haven't found another way to sort it.

Pascha · 18/05/2020 00:30

Used to until it broke last year. I've never replaced it because there have always been other options.

School have always printed me a copy if any forms I need to sign for them. Dh can print at work if it's really necessary (returns labels mostly).

We've done surprisingly well without having to print a single worksheet for the kids. They just look at it on the screen and write answers down on paper. Works well enough.

Our printer was a complete faff because the ink always dried out. Not worth it for us.

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