Owning a dog is always more expensive than you think it will be. Managing your money and fitting your dog’s needs into your budget does take time, especially while you are trying to figure out what the best food for them is and what costs are worth the extra splurge. Once your dog leaves their puppyhood and starts to enter adulthood, however, you will have a much better understanding of your costs. Just because your costs will fluctuate, however, does not mean that you cannot be smarter with your money today. To help you manage your money better and reduce your costs, use these tips.
1. Be Aware of What Owning a Dog Will Cost
Most pet owners significantly underestimate the cost of owning a dog. This coincides with how many new dog parents completely underestimate how much time, energy, and commitment that dogs are. Being fully aware of the costs and all that owning a dog entails will immediately help you better prepare. You may decide to hold off until you are in a better place financially, for example, or you may reshuffle your spending to instead focus those funds on the dog.
2. To Get Insurance, or Not to Get Insurance
Pet insurance is a huge question mark. Some pet owners swear by it because it helped them avoid the massive cost of surgery after an accident they didn’t expect. Others hate it because they never use it, and yet their costs go up every year. You need to sit down and consider what is best for you and best for your dog. While some are happy to pay for pet insurance, others find alternative ways to cover unexpected costs.
For example, instead of paying pet insurance, you can cover everyday checkups out-of-pocket. For more expensive emergencies without pet insurance, you can consider a loan if they are costly and exceed what you can pay out-of-pocket. Personal loans may be a good alternative for large, out-of-pocket expenses for your pet since you can pay it off over time. There is also the added benefit that the loan would cover the vet bill regardless of why your pet is there, whereas insurance may forgo paying because your pet has a preexisting condition or is going for a reason that isn’t covered.
3. Make Do and Mend
Dogs are very simple, very happy creatures that really don’t need a lot. A great, simple way to reduce your costs is to mend and repurpose items for their enjoyment. Instead of throwing out a toy when they rip it apart, stuff it back together and sew the edges closed. If you have an old rope, an old t-shirt, or any other item that you were going to throw out, consider if you can repurpose the item to be a new dog toy. This is a simple, easy way to reduce costs and keep your pet entertained at home.
4. Save with Subscriptions or by Buying in Bulk
When it comes to everyday costs like food, always look into subscription or bulk savings. Buying in bulk when their food is on sale can be a very simple way for lowering costs. Similarly, with so many retailers and how useful home delivery is, you can often enjoy savings simply by setting up a subscription.
photo cred: https://unsplash.com/photos/AsCYNjt6IF0
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