A recent trip to Costco had me taking a good look at how much I spend on my pets compared to how much I spend on myself. I do tend to be more frugal for my own stuff, mostly because I can’t explain WHY to my pets. They don’t know high gas prices or cost of living — they just know it’s time for a treat.
Owning pets doesn’t have to break the bank. Here are some tips to help you cut down on your pet spending (without denying your four-legged family members).
- Shop around for medical procedures. If your pet needs surgery, you might find a better price farther from a metropolitan area. Talk to your shelter, rescue, trainer, or breed organization — they may be able to suggest a more affordable vet. Don’t rule out veterinary colleges, either.
- Preventative care can save you lots of money in the long run. Annual exams, vaccinations, and parasite preventative can prevent you from shelling out big bucks for treating a preventable health issue.
- Rotate your toys. Don’t have all the toys out all the time — pick a few for your pets and hide the rest. Every few weeks, you can put out a “new” set of toys for your pet to play with.
- Try making your own biscuits. Crunchy treats are relatively easy to make! If you come up with a good recipe, please share it with me.
- Do your own grooming — or take your pet to a do-it-yourself place. You can save lots of money doing the basics like bathing, brushing, and toenail trims. Mat removal or summer shaves may require an expert’s hand.
- Take good care of those choppers. Dental problems are very common in pets! Offering crunchy treats and doing some at-home dental care can help prevent expensive dental issues.
- Buy things like kitty litter and kibble in bulk. I got forty pounds of kibble at Costco for about $20 — which is what I normally pay for twenty pounds of dry food at Target or Wal-Mart. Twice as much for the same price sounds like a great deal to me!