Are You Overspending on These Office Supplies?

As a small business owner or office manager, there may come a time when you need to take a hard look at your spending.

Did you know that approximately two-thirds of Americans don’t budget?

While this number may or may not be as high in regards to small business, nothing changes the fact that you need to pay close attention to every last dollar you spend.

This leads us to an important question: are you overspending on office supplies?

If you don’t know the answer, you may not like what you see as you begin to dig around.

For those who need a push in the right direction, here are a few office supplies that may be draining your bank account:

1. Paper Goods

Do you print entirely too many documents? Do you use entirely too many sticky notes?

If your company is churning through paper products, it’s time to put an end to this once and for all.

Not only can this save your company money, but it will do some good for the environment as well. It’s a true win-win.

Tip: there are many ways to decrease the environmental impact of printing.

2. Bottled Water

In today’s day and age, bottled water is all the rage. It doesn’t matter where you are, there’s a good chance you’ll see someone with a bottle in his or her hand.

Although you can save money by purchasing at warehouse stores, such as Costco, it doesn’t change the fact that the cost can add up over the course of a year.

With Americans using approximately 50 billion plastic water bottles every year, now may be the time for you to cut back. There are other options to consider, such as installing a filter on a faucet in the company kitchen.

3. Snacks for Employees

Who doesn’t like to stop by the kitchen for a treat during the day?

Companies that fully stock their kitchens are loved by employees. If this sounds familiar, you may want to see what this is doing to your budget.

Yes, you can purchase cheap K Cups for your employees to brew in the morning. And yes, you can load up on snacks your employees can eat at their desk. The only problem with this is the cost. Once you review your spending, this may all come to an end.

4. Ink

In many ways, this goes along with paper goods (mentioned above).

The more you print the more ink you will use. There is no way around this. If you and your team make it a habit to print anything and everything, try to cut back (even if only a little bit) in the near future.

When you cut back on how much ink you’re using, you’ll naturally cut back on the use of paper products as well.

Tip: don’t hesitate to recycle old ink and toner cartridges.

5. Pens and Pencils

It sounds crazy, but your company may burn through pens and pencils left and right.

Employees throw these out. They take these home. They break them for one reason or another.

It may not be a big expense, but it’s one that you shouldn’t have to regularly incur. Ask your employees nicely to cut back on how many pens and pencils they use. You may be surprised at how quickly this solves your problem.

Conclusion

So, there you have it. If your company is overspending on one or more of these office supplies, you need to make an immediate change. Doing so will save you money, and there’s nothing better than that.