THIS PAGE WILL BE DEVOTED TO TIPS TO HELP OUT YOUR BUDGET WHEN IT COMES TO COSTS FOR PET OWNERSHIP. I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO LEAVE YOUR OWN TIPS IN THE COMMENT SECTION AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE. I WILL CERTAINLY POST THEM IN ORDER TO SHARE YOUR MONEY-SAVING IDEAS!
TIP OF THE DAY:
CAT LITTER
TO SAVE ON CAT LITTER, I HAVE FOUND IT MORE ECONOMICAL TO MIX THE SCOOPABLE LITTER I USUALLY BUY WITH SOME REGULAR NON-SCOOPABLE LITTER. THE SCOOPABLE LITTER IS MORE EXPENSIVE, BUT MIXING THEM AT A RATIO OF THREE PARTS SCOOPABLE TO ONE PART NON-SCOOPABLE WILL HELP YOU STRETCH OUT THE SCOOPABLE LITTER AND WILL SAVE MONEY. THE LITTER STILL SCOOPS VERY WELL WITH THIS RATIO.
PET WATER FOUNTAINS
INSTEAD OF USING THE PET FOUNTAINS THAT YOU PLUG IN TO FILTER YOUR PET'S WATER WHICH CONSUME ELECTRICITY, POUR REFRIGERATED, FILTERED WATER FROM A PITCHER SUCH AS BRITA INTO A STAINLESS STEEL BOWL. BUY A COUPLE OF REUSABLE ICE PACKS, PREFERABLY FROM A PACKING/SHIPPING COMPANY AS THEY WILL STAY COLD FOR ABOUT EIGHT HOURS. PLACE THE STAINLESS STEEL DISH ON TOP OF SOMETHING SUCH AS A BOX TO RAISE IT OFF THE GROUND AND THEN SLIP THE COLD PACK DIRECTLY UNDER THE BOWL. THIS WILL GIVE YOUR PET A NICE COOL, FILTERED DRINK OF WATER ALL DAY/NIGHT.
COZY PET FLEECE
I HAVE FOUND PET-SIZE FLEECE BLANKETS IN THE BABY DEPARTMENT OF THE DOLLAR STORE. THEY ARE JUST THE RIGHT SIZE FOR MY KITTIES TO SNUGGLE UP IN, AND AT ONE DOLLAR, I CAN AFFORD SEVERAL TO PLACE AROUND THE HOUSE ON MY SOFA AND CHAIRS.
UNUSED PILLOWS MAKE SOFT BEDS
IF YOU'RE LIKE ME, YOU PROBABLY HAVE AT LEAST ONE OR TWO UNUSED PILLOWS LYING AROUND THE HOUSE. WHY NOT PUT THEM TO MUCH-APPRECIATED GOOD USE BY GIVING YOUR PET A SOFT DREAM CLOUD TO REST ON! COVER IT WITH A PILLOW PROTECTOR AND CASE; OR TO KEEP YOUR PET WARM IN THE WINTER, SEW UP A COZY FLEECE COVER FOR IT USING A REMNANT FROM YOUR LOCAL FABRIC STORE.
A PENNY SAVED IS CHANGE FOR YOUR PET
YOUR SPARE CHANGE DROPPED IN A DESIGNATED PIGGY BANK CAN GO TOWARDS ANY NUMBER OF PET NECESSITIES SUCH AS FOOD OR VET VISITS. WHEN YOU EMPTY YOUR POCKETS OF LOOSE COINS OR DUMP CHANGE FROM YOUR PURSE, THINK OF YOUR PET AND CONTRIBUTE THAT MONEY TOWARDS YOUR PET'S CARE. YOU'LL BE SURPRISED HOW FAST IT ADDS UP!
SUPPLEMENT YOUR PET'S DIET FROM YOUR TABLE
THERE ARE MANY VEGETABLES AND MEATS THAT ARE HEALTHY FOR YOUR CAT OR DOG THAT YOU MAY BE DINING ON. WHY NOT SHARE SOME OF YOUR LEFTOVER VEGGIES OR MEAT WITH YOUR PET TO SUPPLEMENT HIS/HER DIET AND SAVE A LITTLE ON PET FOOD. FOR GUIDELINES ON WHAT VEGGIES AND MEATS YOUR DOG OR CAT CAN SAFELY EAT, SEE THE TWO ARTICLES LISTED ON VEGETABLES AND MEATS IN "PET ARTICLES" WHICH IS IN THE RIGHT-HAND COLUMN OF THIS SITE.
FOOD BOWL STANDS
FOR A QUICK, INEXPENSIVE WAY TO RAISE YOUR PET'S FOOD BOWLS OFF THE FLOOR FOR EASIER ACCESS AND MORE COMFORTABLE DINING, JUST PLACE YOUR PET'S BOWL ON TOP OF AN EMPTY COVERED COOL WHIP CONTAINER. TO PREVENT SLIPPAGE OF THE BOWL, YOU COULD CUT A CIRCLE FROM A ROLL OF GRIPPER SHELF LINER TO PLACE ON TOP OF THE COOL WHIP LID.
FILTERED WATER REDUCES VET BILLS
I AM THOROUGHLY CONVINCED THAT GIVING YOUR PETS FILTERED WATER TO DRINK WILL HELP ENSURE GOOD HEALTH FOR THEM AND WILL CUT DOWN ON VET BILLS. IT JUST STANDS TO REASON THAT IF DRINKING FILTERED WATER IS BETTER FOR YOU, IT WILL BE BETTER FOR THEM. WHEN YOU THINK OF ALL OF THE CHEMICALS AND ADDITIVES IN YOUR DRINKING WATER, IT'S REALLY NOT SURPRISING THAT THIS WOULD BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO SUCH DISEASES AS CANCER AND HEART DISEASE NOT ONLY FOR YOU BUT FOR YOUR BELOVED PETS.
AVOID USING TOBACCO, MARIJUANA, ETC. AROUND PETS TO REDUCE VET BILLS
BREATHING TOBACCO, MARIJUANA, ETC., CAN BE VERY INJURIOUS TO THE HEALTH OF YOUR PETS WHICH ONLY STANDS TO REASON. AVOID THIS PRACTICE AROUND YOUR BELOVED PETS IF YOU WANT THEM TO REMAIN HEALTHY AND AVOID EXTENSIVE MEDICAL BILLS. SEE THE ARTICLE "HOW CIGARETTES AND SMOKING IMPACT YOUR PET'S HEALTH" POSTED IN THE PET ARTICLES SECTION IN THE RIGHT-HAND MARGIN OF THIS SITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.
FIND COUPONS FOR FOOD AND TOYS
COUPONS, FREEBIES, AND PROMOTIONS CAN BE VALUABLE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SAVE A FEW DOLLARS ON PET CARE. HERE ARE TWO SITES THAT SHARE COUPONS FOR EVERYTHING FROM DOG FOOD TO HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS TO ELIMINATE PET ODORS.
MYPETSAVINGS.COM
WAG.COM
JOIN REWARDS PROGRAMS AT PET RETAILERS
IF YOU SHOP AT RETAILERS SUCH AS PETSMART OR PETCO, KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR COUPONS AND ASK TO BE INCLUDED IN THEIR REWARDS PROGRAMS.
ANOTHER WAY TO SAVE ON PET FOOD: BUY IN BULK. AT PETSMART, FOR EXAMPLE, A 5-POUND BAG OF NUTRO NATURAL CHOICE DOG FOOD IS $13.99, BUT A 30-POUND BAG COSTS $45.99 – WHICH COMES OUT TO LESS THAN $8 PER 5 POUNDS.
INVEST IN PREVENTIVE CARE
KEEPING UP WITH ROUTINE VET CHECKUPS CAN HELP AVOID LARGER MEDICAL ISSUES AND EXPENSES IN THE FUTURE. ALSO STAY CURRENT ON TREATMENTS THAT PROTECT AGAINST FLEAS, TICKS AND HEARTWORM, WHICH YOU CAN ADMINISTER EASILY YOURSELF. IN ADDITION, MAINTAINING GOOD ORAL HYGIENE WILL HELP REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF HEALTH PROBLEMS LATER ON.
TREAT ILLNESSES PROMPTLY
A VISIT TO THE VET SOON AFTER NOTICING A PHYSICAL OR BEHAVIORAL CHANGE IN YOUR PET COULD SAVE YOU A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY. WAITING MAY ONLY RESULT IN ADDED COSTS FOR TREATMENT. IN THE EVENT OF PET EMERGENCIES ON THE WEEKEND, THERE ARE CLINICS SUCH AS BANFIELD PET HOSPITALS WHICH ARE CONNECTED TO THE PETSMART STORES WHICH DO HAVE EXTENDED WEEKEND HOURS.
OTHERWISE, ASK YOUR VETERINARIAN FOR THE NAME AND NUMBER OF THE NEAREST LOCATION OF AN EMERGENCY VETERINARIAN CLINIC SO YOU ARE PREPARED IN THE EVENT OF YOUR PET'S ILLNESS/ACCIDENT, ETC.
CONSIDER PET INSURANCE
THE RIGHT PET INSURANCE PLAN COULD HELP ALLEVIATE THE STICKER SHOCK OF AN UNPLANNED VISIT TO THE VET. IT WILL REQUIRE SOME RESEARCH INTO PLANS TO DETERMINE COVERAGE MAXIMUMS, COVERAGE FOR PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS, ETC. ONE PLAN THAT HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED TO ME IS VPI PET INSURANCE. ALSO, BANFIELD PET HOSPITAL HAS A PLAN FOR $25 VISITS WITH CERTAIN SPECIFICATIONS WHICH YOU MIGHT CHECK OUT.
LEARN DO-IT-YOURSELF GROOMING
DO SOME RESEARCH INTO LEARNING HOW TO GROOM YOUR PET YOURSELF. THERE ARE MANY RESOURCES ONLINE OR AT YOUR LIBRARY OR LOCAL BOOK STORE. IN ADDITION, THERE ARE EXTENSIVE GROOMING AIDS FOR SALE AT YOUR LOCAL PET STORE OR ONLINE. IF YOU PREFER A GROOMER, YOU CAN HAVE YOUR PET'S FUR CUT AS SHORT AS POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO STRETCH OUT THE TIME BETWEEN APPOINTMENTS. ALSO, REGULAR BRUSHING OF YOUR PET'S COAT CAN ALSO SAVE MONEY TO AVOID ADDITIONAL CHARGES FOR MATTED FUR.
INVEST IN TRAINING
TRAINING CAN REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF ACCIDENTS LATER ON DUE TO BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS, ETC. THERE ARE ONLINE RESOURCES, BOOKS AS WELL AS TRAINING CLASSES AVAILABLE IN YOUR AREA.
FIND A REASONABLY PRICED PET SITTER
THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO FIND A REASONABLY PRICED SITTER WHEN YOU ARE LEAVING TOWN TEMPORARILY. ASK YOUR VETERINARIAN FOR RECOMMENDATIONS. ALSO CONSIDER LOOKING AT PET SITTERS INTERNATIONAL OR THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL PET SITTERS. BE SURE THE SITTER IS BONDED, INSURED, AND CERTIFIED BY A PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION.
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