16 Feb

50 Tips for Frugal Pet Owners

A large number of people have had to give up their pets because of the economic downturn. It’s just really hard to find a way to care for and feed your pets when you’re barely feeding your family. Frugal families that can’t bear to get rid of their furry friends can take heart, though. There are a lot of different things that you can do to save money on pets.

Here are 50 tips for frugal pet owners:

Frugal Pet Food

1. Invest in healthy pet food. You’ll save money on pet health problems in the long run. How do you know if it’s healthy? If you can understand the ingredients then you’re good to go.
2. Ignore claims of healthy. You do want to get the good stuff but you don’t want to get sucked in by false claims about organic, nutritious food. Read the label, ignore the advertising.
3. Portion out your pet’s food. They won’t overeat and none will be going to the birds.
4. Buy in bulk. Stores that sell bulk pet food are your best choice.
5. Look for discount codes. There are often promotional codes for good pet food. Use them.
6. Make homemade pet treats instead of buying them.
7. Join or create a local pet co-op. A group can often get the best low prices on pet food by contacting the manufacturer directly.
8. Don’t get the wet food. It’s more expensive and not as good for your pet as dry food.
9. Skip those pet drinking fountains. Put out fresh water for your pet as needed. Your energy bills will go down correspondingly.
10. Give your pet leftovers. Some of the foods you aren’t going to eat, like leftover steamed veggies, are a great addition to your pet’s plate.
11. Watch where you put their food. Is it out in the rain where it can get soggy and wasted? Is it close to where the ants are hunting for food? Proper placement of food will save you money.

Frugal Grooming and Pet Clothes

1. Don’t go to a groomer. Do all of your grooming at home yourself.
2. People who use groomers should establish a relationship with a local groomer to get ongoing discounts. Better yet, barter something you can do for grooming services.
3. Don’t buy fancy dog shampoo. Use a baking soda and water mixture instead.
4. Skip all of those fancy pet body sprays and scented lotions. Your pet doesn’t need them.
5. Accept your pet’s natural hair length. Don’t waste time and money giving a long-haired dog frequent short cuts. Just brush it and trim it.
6. Avoid being trendy. There really is no need to get your pet the latest haircut or the diamond-studded collar. Hopefully you already know this since you live frugally but sometimes we get swept up in what’s hot.
7. If you insist that your pet needs clothes, make them yourself.
8. Alternatively, get secondhand pet clothes from a friend whose pet no longer needs them.

Frugal Petsitting

1. Take your pet with you on vacation. This may be feasible and is the cheapest option.
2. Leave independent pets home alone. Have a neighbor check in on them.
3. Trade petsitting services with a friend who has a pet. You scratch her back and she’ll scratch yours – and there’s no charge.
4. Use an in-house petsitter instead of a kennel or pet hotel. It’s a lot cheaper to trade a stay in your home for pet care than to park your pooch in fancy lodging.

Frugal Vets

1. Weigh the pros and cons of getting pet insurance. If you have an older or ill pet then it might be the frugal way to go.
2. Get pet shots done for free or cheap when the local pet stores offer this service.
3. Ask your vet which vaccines are really necessary. You don’t want to skip the important ones but your pet may not need them all.
4. Shop around for vet services and compare prices. Some are expensive and others aren’t. Finding a low-cost vet before you even need one is a smart move.
5. Ask your vet for expired medications or medication samples. This way you don’t have to pay for your pet’s meds.
6. Shop online for medications that your pet needs on an ongoing basis. Get the best price.
7. Take precautions to avoid needed emergency vet services. Make sure your pet can’t get out of the house / yard and get hurt.

Ways to Use Your Pet for Frugal Living

1. Give up your gym membership. Go outside and run around with your pet instead.
2. Start working as the neighborhood dog walker. You’re taking your dog out anyway so you might as well bring a few more pooches along and get paid while you go.
3. Skip lunch dates. Have your friends meet up with you to play with your pet instead. You’ll still do all of your catching up and won’t be wasting money dining out.
4. Go where your pet can go. Spending time at dog parks and beaches is a low-cost family activity.
5. Use your pet to barter. Get grooming and pet-setting services for free when you barter with someone else.
6. Give up smoking. You already know you should quit for your health and your pocketbook. Your pet should really motivate you to do so since secondhand smoke can be a serious (and costly) health hazard for pets.

Misc. Frugal Pet Tips

1. Don’t pay for flea spray. Use vinegar and water instead.
2. Get crafty with wood. Make your own doghouses and pet beds instead of buying them at the store.
3. Be aware of the fees associated with having a pet. Does your home charge a deposit? Will you have to pay travel fees to take your pet along? Knowing what a pet will cost you helps you make smarter financial pet choices.
4. Skip the pet pee pads. Use newspaper instead.
5. Invest in pet training. You’ll avoid paying fees because your pet won’t attack anyone. You’ll learn to keep your carpet and furniture in good condition as a pet owner which saves you replacement costs.
6. Realize that there are many different types of pets. Some need special care (like snakes) and others need lots of food (like dogs). Maybe there’s a more cost-effective pet for you?
7. Always spay and neuter your pets. It’s not going to be cheap when those babies come along if you don’t!

Hey, seems you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed, so you will be the first to get our free money saving tips. New today, free FeelUnique Discount Codes. Get 10% off of all makeup from FeelUnique. Thanks for visiting!