5 Ways to Save Money on Pet Food

Credit & Debt , Saving

Hey, there’s no shame in admitting that we love our pets. Like, we really love them. They’re a furry part of our family that we’ll always cherish. We love our pets so much that collectively, Americans spend around $70 billion every year to take care of them. This information is according to the American Pet Products Association. That’s a lot of love!

“Today more than ever, pet owners view their pets as irreplaceable members of their families and lives,” says APPA president and CEO Bob Vetere, “and it’s thanks to this that we continue to see such incredible growth within the pet care community.”

When it comes to food alone, we spend nearly $30 billion each year. It’s certainly the most expensive aspect of taking care of a pet. We need to feed them as often as we feed our own kids. If you’re going through a frustrating time financially, having enough money to feed your pets can be a challenge. Here are five ways to save money while buying pet food.

Way #1: Don’t Buy Brand Names

This is an easy step. We do the same thing when we’re struggling a bit financially. Why spending the extra several dollars for a name brand when the off brand is practically the same product? I mean, we know it’s a little less quality, but the price is often in our sweet spot. It’s the easiest way to still get the food we need while saving a few dollars.

At the end of the day, feeding your pets should be about nutrition. The premium brands aren’t more nutritious than the cheaper stuff on the market. They just have known brand names and can afford to stick their product on the shelf and command higher dollar for it. So, don’t be afraid to skimp and buy a cheaper brand of food.

Way #2: Look for Great Deals

It’s likely that the local pet stores around you have deals to get customers in the door. Maybe they have email lists and regularly send coupons. They might even have a customer membership club to join. If you have pets, it definitely makes sense to take advantage of these programs. They can ultimately save you a bundle of cash in the long run.

Way #3: Buy Food in Bulk

Another way to buy food is to get it in bulk. It works in human stores as well. Many people save a lot of money buy buying what they need and use often in bulk. You can do the same with pet food. Don’t always good for the smaller bags, even though they’re often cheaper than the larger ones. Usually the larger bags will give you the better deal. You can even use your Amazon Prime membership to get bulk pet food sent right to your door!

Way #4: Feed Your Pet Adequately

A lot of pet owners don’t pay attention to serving sizes when they feed their pets. They just fill up the bowl whenever they see it empty or when the pet begs for food. That can mean they’re being overfed, which costs more money. If money is tight and you see your pet might be gaining some weight, put them on a diet. Ration their food out appropriate for their size, age, and breed.

Way #5: Make them Treats

If you enjoy cooking and providing for your family, you can do the same for your pet. They love to eat whatever they can, so why not make them daily treats? It can save you money to buy the ingredients and make them yourselves. There are plenty of Pinterest recipes you can use. Just make sure it’s both tasty and nutritious for your pet!

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The Real Cost of Pet Ownership

Saving

It’s spring! When spring hits, it tends to bring about a renewed interest in pet ownership. New kittens and puppies are being born, and who doesn’t like baby animals? Raising a pet can be a great experience, but not everything about it is snuggles and warm fuzzies.

There’s a lot of responsibility and money that goes into owning a pet, which a lot of people don’t realize when they adopt their new furry friend. That’s why thousands of critters get taken back to shelters each year, often at the cost of their lives. Most of these pets rarely make it out the shelter alive.

Not to mention, bringing home a pet only to take it back home because it was tougher than you thought isn’t fair to the animal. That’s why it’s super important to do your research before deciding on pet ownership and not just reacting on impulse.

Yes, that puppy is cute, but if you’re struggle to keep your own head above the water, then you’re not going to be ready for the financial burden that having a pet can place on you.

Let’s take a quick look at some of the expected costs, some of which you might not realize are there until it’s too late.

Adoption Fees:

Unless you have a friend who is looking to get rid of a litter of kittens, you’re going to have to pay an adoption fee. Shelters and pet stores definitely want to make a profit and don’t give away pets for free. The adoption fee can vary, depending on the animal you want to adopt.

Kittens don’t usually get more expensive than $100, but dogs are a different story altogether. If you go with a breeder, it can set you back thousands. According to The Dog Digest, the most expensive breed of dogs is called “Löwchens” and can cost as much as $10,000!

These prices are only the beginning of your pet owning journey!

Spay/Neuter Costs

If you do decide to with the free options and take a pet from a litter that was birthed under your friend’s porch, then you’ll have to spay and neuter them (or risk more litters of critters being born under your porch). If you go with a shelter, then the odds are likely they’ve already taken care of this for you (and it can often reflect in the price).

Vaccinations are also a part of this process. All of this can cost you between $150-$200. Dogs can cost more at around $300. Sometimes, various cities and towns have opportunities for pet owners to bring their furry friends in for free to take care of this issue in an effort to keep the stray population as low as possible. Bob Barker would be proud!

General Upkeep

Outside of one-time costs, you’ll have to pay for general upkeep. A lot of these will be recurring, like feeding your pet. That can be a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly expense, depending on the animal. That’s $20-$40 right there.

Grooming supplies, flea care and prevention, litter, and toys are all recurring costs and it can vary from month to month. You’ll need water and food bowls, leashes, new collars about every year, and a crate. If you add in regular vet visits, these can all total to hundreds of dollars per year.

Other Hidden Costs

In the back of your mind, you often think pet ownership will be easy. All you have to do is water, feed, and pet your animal. How hard can that be! But the financial toll of having a pet can be a lot more than people realize.

For example, if you live in an apartment, they’ll want a pet deposit, somewhere around $250. If your pet wrecks your place, there will be the cost of repairs. Kittens and puppies especially do not know their place and will chew and claw up whatever they can get their hands on.

Some cities require a yearly tax or license fee if you own a dog.

Do you plan on training your animals? That can set you back hundreds.

What if you want to go on vacation? Do you have someone who owes you a favor and can cat-sit/dog-sit for you? If not, a kennel is expensive. Dog walking services cost daily.

Then, there’s the health of your pet to consider. Do you have a few hundred dollars saved if your pet needs an emergency trip to the vet? What if it turns out they have food allergies and can’t eat the regular, bargain pet foods that exist?

Pet ownership is not something you should take lightly. These costs are just basic necessities for cats and dogs. Things tend to get much more expensive the more exotic your pet gets. Parents often love to get rabbits for their kids around Easter time, but most end up dead within a year because a cute idea turns into major work and expenses they weren’t prepared for.

It’s important to take your time, crunch your numbers, and do good research before buying a pet.

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