Litter Lady l September 24, 2010 l Love ‘em or hate them, pets can be expensive! From food and vet appointments to toys and grooming, the expected expenses of owning a pet really add up. But what about those unexpected expenses? Like…
- The corner of the couch Fido chewed
- The cell phone that fell into the litter box at the exact moment Fluffy was doing her business
- The vet bill that comes when your 1-year old pup falls down the stairs and needs a hip replacement
- That oh-so-cute collar you HAVE to have
- The cost to board that pet when you travel home for the holidays?
Read on for some handy tips and tricks to keep costs in check and make sure you and your pets live on in blissful harmony.
Don’t get a pet! Just kidding…that would be too easy!
Ok the new housemate. Before bringing home a pet, make sure your landlord—and anyone else you live with—is cool with it. Some properties require a nonrefundable pet deposit, which adds to your investment.
Test drive. Foster a dog or cat, or watch a friend’s pet for a weekend.
Adopt. Before plopping down a few hundred on a purebred, check out the following places for anything from gerbils and hamsters to kittens and specific dog breeds.
- Local animal shelters
- Dumb Friends League
- Petfinder
- The Humane Society
A lot of these programs include minimal adoption fees, which can take care of a lot of the first-year expenses such as shots and spaying or neutering.
Make a budget. Don’t forget that pets require a lot of ongoing maintenance, not just the first round of shots and food. Yearly vet bills and food are just the basics. Just as you would plan for ongoing car or house expenses, plan for unexpected pet bills, too. Use this worksheet to start.
Consider pet insurance. Just like with your own health, costly medical issues can arise with your dog or cat. Visit: http://www.petinsurance.com to see if insuring your pet is right for you.
Use coupons! Coupons are a great way to save money on food and toys at big-box retailers. Better yet, check out thrift stores such as ARC or Goodwill for unused toys, kennels, doggie beds and more! Garage and yard sales are another gold mine for unused pet items. Let one Spendster’s trash become your pet’s newest treasure.
Form a pet-sitting club. Team up with neighbors and friends who have pets, and arrange to “trade” pet-sitting with them. This way, when travel comes up, you have a trusted support group who knows your pet and will take care of him or her for free.
