Get a compact photo printer for $40
(Credit: HP)Stop schlepping to the drugstore every time you want to print your digital snapshots. (Half the time those kiosks are broken, anyway.) Instead, turn your home into a photo lab with a dedicated photo printer, the kind that churns out glossy prints straight from your camera (or its memory card). The HP Photosmart A616 sold for around $180 when it debuted last year; now you can snag one for a mere $40.
I've used a similar printer for years, and it's incredibly handy. In addition to everyday photos, we print party pix on the spot to send home with friends and relatives--always a big hit. The A616 can produce borderless 4x6 and 5x7 prints, and it features a color LCD so you can preview the contents of your memory card (it accommodates all types) and queue the photos you want. Plus, it's compact enough to tuck away inside a cupboard when not in use--or to bring along to a birthday party or other special event.
Note that the printer's not new, but rather "HP recertified." As with any refurbished, reconditioned, or re-anything product, you should always check both the seller's and manufacturer's warranty and return policies.
Rick Broida, a technology writer for nearly 20 years, is the author of more than a dozen books. In addition to writing CNET's The Cheapskate blog, he oversees BNET's Business Hacks. Rick is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CBS Interactive. Disclosure. Deals found on The Cheapskate are subject to availability, expiration, and other terms determined by sellers. Follow Rick on Twitter at cheapskateblog.
