It doesn’t matter what kind of pet you have these furry, or not so furry, creatures have a way of warming our hearts and completing our households. For many, pets are like children who deserve to have the best food, supplies and every now and again a special toy. Shopping for your pets can be a huge drain on the budget if you’re not careful though. There are many items on the market that are designed to draw in you and make you think that your pet needs the item in order to lead a healthy and happy lifestyle. Many of these items, though, are just marketing ploys designed to get you to spend. With these ten tips you will be well on your way to making your pet feel spoiled without having to spend as much money as you might think.
1. Toys
Toys are one of the biggest expenditures many people have when it comes to their pets. Many people may believe that their pet will grow bored if they don’t have toys to entertain them, so they tend to hit the pet store every time they go pet shopping and splurge on needless toys. Yes, it is great to have toys for your pet, but a lot of the items in pet stores are over priced and your pet would be happy with items that are simple and inexpensive to get. Cats, for instance, are notorious for playing balls. So, crumple up some tin foil and your cat will be on his or her way to an exciting afternoon. Boxes are also a plus for cats, they love to hide in them. You can even add a blanket in one for a nice bed that they will love to snuggle up in. If you are ambitious and love woodwork then try to make a cat tree. The items cost little to nothing and you can design something they will love on a unique level. Dogs are just as easy. Use an old tennis ball or frisbee you have lying around the house. You can also grab and old stuffed animal from a thrift store for certain dogs. If you tend to spend a lot on bones, try looking in the grocery store for a simple rawhide bone in the meat section.
2. Rethink Pet Food
When you step into a vet’s office or pet supply store you will notice the huge selection of foods that are offered to today’s pets. You might start to think that the higher priced foods are the one’s you need to buy because they contain the best ingredients and most nutrition for your pet. This, however, is not true. Many of the cheaper brands do carry nutritious foods that can help your pet lead a healthier lifestyle. The best thing you can do while pet food shopping is to read the ingredients of each bag of food. You will be surprised at how similar some of the products are, especially when you compare the price tags. Prescription diets can also be rough on the budget. There have been many recent articles about these diets that advise against not using. Many veterinarians are not schooled ineptly about pet nutrition, so when they get offers from nutrition companies they tend to take it in as fact. Many pets also battle with obesity and go through too much food. The best to counteract this is to feed your pet with a scoop, as they only need one scoop a day and to feed them less in summer.
3. Pet Insurance
If you tend to frequent the vet’s office or you just want your pet to have coverage when they do go in then investing in pet insurance might be a great idea for your household. Pet insurance can help cover those unsightly bills for pets who tend to be ill often, or get into things they shouldn’t be in! Usually, pet insurance is a low monthly fee and will help you have piece of mind that you can take your pet to the vet even when you are having financial problems. It depends on the insurance you choose, but most companies provide coverage for pet medications as well as their annual shots.
4. Utilize the Veterinarian
Taking your pet to the vet can actually cut down on any unexpected visits you might have to make. When you have pets it is important that you get their shots each year as well as take them in for a check-up. Usually, these visits cost very little and are more preventive than anything else. Your vet will be able to identify any future problems that might happen to your pet as well as way that you can stop the problem from happening. This alone is capable of saving you thousands of dollars in Veterinarian bills. Of course, it will also give you peace of mind knowing that your loved one is in great shape.
5. Grooming
You would actually be surprised at how much grooming can keep your pet healthy and your bills down. Grooming your pet is known to help prevent infections in many different types of dogs. Excess hair can be a great breeding ground for bacteria and with all of the hair you would never even know there was a problem until it is serious. Try finding a local groomer that is independently run and if you really don’t want to spend money on having your pet groom then pick up a pair of pet clippers and do it yourself. You will love the bonding time with your pet and might even want to pick the art up as a lucrative hobby that your neighbors will love. Grooming is particularly important in the summer, so make sure you take care of the excess hair before you pet gets overly warm. Keeping your pet groomed is also one of the best ways to detect and sometimes even prevent fleas and ticks from harming your pet.
6. Animal Centers
If you don’t think you have enough to get your pet’s annual shots then you might want to look around for an SPCA office, or other animal clinic. Most animal clinics offer many services at a discount to the client, so you can get your pet’s shots as well as spaying and other services at a fraction of the cost. These clinics are often donation based, so by offering these services they are funding the animal control centers that help keep stray pets longer so they can hopefully find a home. They are also ensuring that the community’s animals are also healthy and spayed so that there isn’t a spread of disease or an overpopulation of animal life.
7. Bulk Purchases
As with most shopping, buying in bulk can save you huge! This is particularly true if you have more than one pet at home. There are many items that can be bought in bulk when it comes to your pet. For instance, most bulk shopping centers will have a wide variety of pet food on sale. This is especially great because a lot of the time you can grab a 35 pound bag of dog food for just a little over what you would pay for a 10 pound bag of food. This will save you huge in the long run and will ensure that you won’t have to shop for your pet as often. The same can be said for cat little. Anyone who has a cat knows that some cat litters just don’t do the trick, so many owners end up buying a small container that doesn’t last through the week. With bulk stores you can buy the same brand of litter, but double the size and only a small amount more the typical pet shop would charge. This will not only save you on going shopping each week and fighting the temptation to buy your pet treats, but will also save on deodorizes for the home! Also, if you have more than one pet in the home then it might be wise to invest in larger packets of flea medication. This will ensure you don’t have to spend a lot on separate packets throughout the year.
8. Pet Doors
If you have a dog that likes to go in and out then you will know how convenient a doggie door really is. You might not know how much it can save you on your heating and cooling bill though. Households that don’t have a doggie door installed tend to spend a lot of time letting the dog in and out of the home. This is particularly rough when you have a new puppy that still isn’t secure with its surroundings or if you have multiple dogs. The constant opening and closing lets in cold or hot air that your heating and cooling system tries to make up for, thus causing more energy to burn and your electric bill to go up. With a doggie door installed the home lets out a small amount of air and you aren’t constantly burdened to get up for an indecisive pet.
9. Spend Time with Your Pet
One of the easiest ways to save money on your pet is to simply spend time with them. Pets love your attention and if you create ways to entertain them then you won’t have to worry about buying them hoards of toys. Pets like games just as much as people do and a simple game between the two of you can make their day so much better. Spending time with them will also help you know their behaviors, which is important when it comes to their health. Anyone who knows how their pets act will also know when their pet is feeling down or is becoming ill. These indicators can save you big when it comes to vet bills and can also ensure that your pet will be with you for longer.
10. Lose the Accessories
One of the biggest burdens on the budgets comes from buying items your pets don’t actually need! These items can run from brand named items to silly buys that only satisfy the pet owners needs. For starters, there are a lot of specialty litters on the market. You can buy mahogany litter or special crystallized products, but the truth is your cat won’t actually care either way. The only time you should take your cat from litter to anything else is when the cat undergoes a declawing surgery, other than that your pet is happy enough to use the cheapest of litters. Clothes are another major problem! Closest are typically used to make owners feel good about their adorable pet, but most pets usually hate having things put on their body. During the winter time it is usually nice to give your pet a little extra warmth with an old t-shirt, but even that depends on the breed of your dog. If you absolutely must dress your pet up try crocheting your own clothing, so you don’t spend a fortune on something that is just going to get torn up.
Although for most pets are just like children it is important to step back and think about the things you buy. It is nice to spoil your pet every once in awhile, but the constant money spending can leave you in a financial rut. With these ten tips you will be able to give your pet a great lifestyle while saving you cash so you can improve you own. The best thing is these tips might even bring you and your pet closer together.
