12 Tips to Caring for Your Pet on a Budget

Living on a budget is something that most people are faced with nowadays. The idea of having tons of extra money to throw away isn’t exactly realistic. If you happen to own a pet, and are on a strict budget, it can be tough to find ways to save money and stick to that budget. So before you decide that pet ownership isn’t for you, you may want to check out these 12 tips to caring for your pet on a budget.

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Tip 1 – Don’t Let Food Be the Place Your Cut Costs

Switching to a much cheaper food can seem like a great plan, but in reality, this can prove to be more costly in the end. Cheaper food tends to lack nutritional value and can even cause discomfort in your animal.

Tip 2 – Buy Food in Bulk

When purchasing food for your pet, look for the largest bag/container possible. Buying in bulk can save you up to 50%. If you’re afraid of the food going bad before you can use it up, keep it in an air-tight storage container.

Tip 3 – Cut Back on Treats

Treats can start to add up to a lot of unnecessary spending. While there is nothing wrong with giving your pet a treat now and then, they certainly don’t need them daily.

Tip 4 – Use Kibble as Treats

If you do insist on giving your pet treats, then consider using their kibble as the treat. It will contain less calories this way, won’t upset their stomach, and you don’t have to buy anything extra.

Tip 5 – You Be the Groomer

Rather than spending a small fortune on having your pet professionally groomed, buy the necessary tools and learn to do it yourself. If you’re feeling unsure, there are plenty of how-to videos online.

Tip 6 – Do Nail Trimmings at Home

This goes along with grooming, and is another opportunity to save money, especially if your pet needs frequent trimmings.

Tip 7 – No Need to Own a Toy Store

Picking up a few fun toys for your pet is a great idea but there is no reason to go overboard and stock an entire toy store in your home. Instead offer a couple of toys and replace them as they become worn/broken.

Tip 8 – Stay on Top of Oral Hygiene

If you want to avoid the extremely expensive professional dental cleaning and mouth issues, then it’s a good idea to get started on oral health and hygiene immediately. This means brushing your pet’s teeth on a regular basis.

Tip 9 – Keep Up-to-Date on Vaccines

By making sure your animal gets regular vaccinations, you will be preventing all kinds of illnesses from happening.

Tip 10 – Administer Tick and Flea Prevention

Again, this prevents issues from arising.

Tip 11 – Keep an Eye on Your Pet

Sure, you can’t watch them 24/7 but making sure they are in a safe environment can help prevent accidents and injuries from occurring.

Tip 12 – Shop Around for a Vet

Vets can vary greatly in cost so it’s also a good idea to shop around and find one that matches your budget.

Each of these tips will help you save money and make pet ownership much more affordable.