I've got two cats. I look for coupons for food and litter and buy in bulk when I can get a good deal.
One cat will only eat cat food and the other gets treats of bits of meat leftover from my meals.
Their toys are the plastic rings that come off of milk jugs (they love them), old shoe laces and a few balls made of old socks stuffed with old pillow stuffing and catnip and sewed shut. They're more than happy with those and it's all free stuff.
I've basically been using the same resume for the last 5 years. I like the format of mine and it's been hard to change. The more I read about these services I think it'd be a good idea to give it at try.
I have 2 cats that need medication twice daily and to get them to take it I make my own version of a pill pocket by blending a can of tuna fish, dry milk and a bit of oil. The cats come running when I call 'time for your medicine!'.
We're almost ready to bid on a house, and we'll be finally be able to feel like we can give a home to a cat and a dog or two. So we're happy to see all these tips, as neither of us has had a pet in a very long time.
We definitely expect to treat any pet with the high quality food, to echo #24's comment.
I have found IM to be incredibly useful. It's great for seeing if a coworker is actually at their desk (love the status indicators that turn yellow when a computer is locked or idle), asking a quick question, having a private conversation (I'm in the middle of cubeville with multiple people per cube, lowish walls and no doors) and getting the attention of my cubemate when he's got his headphones on - without having to yell or throw a squishy ball at him.
Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately, productivity-wise), I only have IM on the company's computer network. There are many times when I'm trying to coordinate something with someone outside of work where IM would be the best way to do it. Since facebook chat doesn't work either, we usually end up shooting lots of quick emails back and forth. It works but isn't near as efficient.
I have a smooth coat chihuahua and her grooming is low maintenance. I trim her nails and bathe her myself. I use coupons for her food and treats. I mosly give her baby carrots as a treat. I walk her around my apt. complex for exercise - good for me too. I give her heartguard and K9 Advantix to keep fleas off. She only goes to the vet once a year. I just budget for the vet visit and her meds. She is small and doesn't require much food. She is very healthy and happy. Her weight is just right. I also shop at Petsmart when they have sales that will go with my coupons.
The best thing my husband and I ever did for our first dog was to set up a savings account for him. I looked into pet insurance, but ultimately decided against it - he was older and the premiums were high.
So we started to put 20 bucks a week in an ING Account automatically. We used this money for his regular check ups and for emergencies. If it didn't completely cover the bill, it came close. We now have three dogs of varying ages, and their care is more than covered by what we've built in the "Dog" account.
Preventative care, a steady diet and lots of attention are all they really need. Expensive toys? Not really needed - they'd rather play with you. I have to remind myself sometimes, since I'm a sucker for packaging, that most of that stuff is made for the pet owner, not the pet.
Yes, I also found this hard to take seriously because of the alcohol mistake. Definitely not good for sleep but definitely not a stimulant. The best help for me is a rich full day and an "oh well" attitude at night.
I believe their is a big nutritional diffference between some of the commercial pet foods and the premium and or organic based foods. These foods over the long run will keep our pets healthier. The big benefit is that optimum nutrition excels at keeping pets out of the vet's office. Add in a few extra vet visits a year and your pet care budget is certainly exceeded. The bottom line is that by spending a bit more up front you can save costly vet bills.
Since my dog, Andy, has allergies (unknown cause), I try to mitigate his symptoms by feeding him organic raw dog food which comes in a frozen bag. The cost is worth every penny. The only treats he gets are raw organic veggies which he loves. I knew poodles were high maintenance dogs, so his grooming bills are high, but I brush him twice a day and stretch his appointments to every seven weeks which helps keep the cost down a bit.
Through trial and error, my holistic vet and I have found supplements that help with his scratching. Instead of using the vet when ordering these supplements, I have ordered them through PetMeds or get them at Petco; this has helped save a lot of money over the last two years.
My husband and I treat our cats as our children. While we haven't made any big changes in our care-taking routines for them, we do make sure that we have what is necessary to provide for them.
We have been able to find coupons for their food and kitty litter brands to shave just a few dollars off each purchase. My husband clips their claws, and we groom them about once a week (we just got a Furminator - amazing grooming tool!). We take them to our vet annually, and our vet's office often has promotions that allow us to take a small percentage off the overall visit. We also budget for our pet expenses and keep a little emergency fund just for them. Our kitties are happy and healthy, which makes us happy.
I buy PetSmart's store brand cat food for my cat. If you look at the ingredient list, the first one is fish! That's so much better than other brands of cheap cat food, which are full of corn and wheat that cats can't digest. I also use the PetSmart shopping card to get deals on toys and treats.
Yeah, I asked my employers to give me the unvested portion of my 401k, and they ignored me/refused. Especially obnoxious because I was laid off 16 days before the final portion was supposed to vest.
I use discounted PetCo gift cards from giftcards.com in combination with coupons and sales for things like food and flea medicine.
I have also found the cheapest vet in the area who just happens to be one of the best too. They don't take appointments, but its worth it for the care and the price!
I feed my cat one of the best kitty foods out there, WellCore and I use the World's Best Cat Litter.. I think to prevent future health problems for the ones you love, you have to give them the best there is to offer.
I wouldn't feed my dog Cheerios - dog digestive tracts cannot process corn, soy or wheat, and Cheerios has whole bran, corn starch, oat bran, oat fiber and wheat starch (read the label). For the same reason that doggie treats are doggie junk food.
What happens with the unvested portion of your 401(k) when you leave a job for any reason depends on your employer's retirement plan document. Your boss must adhere to the terms of the plan by law. Most do not allow the employer to distribute any unvested funds. Request a copy of the plan document if you don't have an updated one, and read the section about vesting carefully. Here's more information on what you can do with your 401(k) after you leave an employer: http://moneygirl.quickanddirtytips.com/job-changes-401k.aspx
I would probably die of a heart attack so it wouldn't really matter.
but if I did live through it I would take the money and invest it in myself. Go to college become a politician, play the game, get to congress and then leave the country and write a book and tell all of their dirty secrets.
I also have guinea pigs. I do buy nice hay and pellets online (shipping is killer) but they have lived long, fairly healthy lives as a result. I will have had them for 7 years this May.
A couple things that help: their cage was cheap, made of those wire grid storage cubes and some corrugated plastic. It's big enough to give them plenty of space.
My friend works with horses, so she brings me hay in season. That's a huge help because the guinea pigs need lots of hay.
I ration pellets, which is good because they are expensive and not terribly healthy for the little guys.
The big one, and this is one I've learned better in the past year: I feed them my veggie scraps. Why peel a carrot over the trash can when I can peel it right over their cage? I treat them as furry little composters, within reason of course. I'm joining a CSA this year and I have a feeling they will get lots of leftover salad greens and vegetable odds and ends. They love apple cores and watermelon rinds!
One of my animals has had significant medical issues. He's cost me over $1000 in the time I've had him, but it's worth it. For vet costs, I say plan for when they will happen, not if. My sister is planning on getting a pet when she moves out and I warned her that it is better to be ready for something to happen.
I feed my dogs one the very highest rated DRY dog foods on the market--Kirkland Signature at Costco. Take a peek and evaluate the dry dog food yourself abd you will also see what a terrific dog food it is. I DO NOT feed them treats of ANY KIND because they are basically JUNK food for animals. I do not feed them ANYTHING other than DRY DOG FOOD--PERIOD. I do not let my animals WHO ARE ALL WELL---around other animals that I know nothing about such as dog parks etc. Dogs will walk & sniff just like kids then lick their paws ---real quick transmit for worms. I also seek out AFFORDABLE places for shots. Shots are extremely cheap--YOU are paying for the VETS car. Community areas (I live in Cleveland,OH) run SHOT clinics all the time for pets--I paid yearly ---all shots PLUS heartworm testing for one dog---37.00. I also give Heartworm Pills for all---Pet Shed (look on the web--the generic heart worm....deadfleaz.com for flea control. DO NOT INTRODUCE your pet to others pets....you will see an illness. PREVENTIVE is the key with animals!
BY THE WAY---I HAVE 14 RESCUE ANIMALS---4 CATS FROM HURRICANE KATRINA--3 PIT BULLS NO ONE WANTED FROM KATRINA--7 others that no one wanted or were mistreated by mean humans. All the dogs are between 80 and 100 pounds EACH.They ALL get along and are presently sleeping in various places INSIDE my house. They are not outside animals except for going to the restroom (I pick up all their waste daily--even in the snow). Litter boxes cleaned daily....kitty litter is high grade MIXED with lower grade--
I LOVE all my animals dearly. My surgeon got rid of my cancer but my pets helped my soul through the rest. I have three kids & a loving husband but throughout the cancer treatment & surgeries they (people) had to go about their own lives (as expected) BUT ALL MY ANIMALS were there day & night right by my side---with kisses, love & kindness---unconditionally. I will always be eternally grateful for all 14 of them for that dedicated love & devotion.
I have to take into account that my dog has a sensitive stomach, so this CAN bring food prices up. Because of this, I buy as big of a bag as I can to save per oz. and buy early in case I need to move her from one food to another. I buy pet meds online and re-up my Rx with a trusted vet who does not insist on a check up to prescribe heartworm meds.
Lastly, just as with the human members of the family, we try to keep reserve funds around for medical emergencies so that an unexpected vet visit will not put us in a credit pinch.
I am a former dog groomer and I would like to pass along a few tips that can help you save money by reducing or eliminating trips to the groomer and vet.
Don't fall for the teeth brushing thing, and don't pay your groomer extra for this service. Some people do use it, but most people will find it a waste of time and money. If your dog does have plaque, no amount of teeth brushing is going to remove it. See your vet. Getting plaque removed before it turns into an infection is a lot cheaper.
If you have a dog that has hair that needs to be cut, brush your dog every day. This eliminates knots and matting and can increase the time needed between haircuts. A great winter trick; hair knots are often caused by static electricity, a very common symptom of dry air. Every day wipe down your dog with a dryer sheet. They are non-toxic (but double check the brand you use to be sure) and your dog will also smell great. You can also use an anti-static spray on a brush and then brush it into your dogs coat. You'll notice less knots and tangles right away.
If you have a dog that sheds and never needs a haircut, get a Furminator which are now available almost everywhere. Nothing else works as well - don't even waste your money trying anything else. You will cut down on shedding tremendously.
Clean your dog's ears at least weekly with a cotton ball and either Hydrogen Peroxide or better yet something commercially available. Never use water! Clean ears prevent ear infections which could save you a trip to the vet.
Don't buy doggy shampoo - the stuff is a rip off. Baby shampoo is great for dogs and won't irritate their skin or eyes.
If you do everything above your only concern will be nail clipping. Look for a cheap 'walk-in' service for nail cutting and avoid the full grooming until its needed.
Thanks for the guinea pig ideas, Heather- ours have been way expensive! We also have a dog who would think all of your dogs that eat veggies are crazy! She does love any leftover meat pieces, though. Mostly I save on her favorites by matching coupons with sales. Now, though, the vet is saying she needs glucosamine for joint problems. Anybody with ideas on how to save on this supplement?
After doing some research and finding out that rawhide bones are not good for dogs (apparently they can choke on them), I decided to try to find a way to satisfy my dog's craving for chewing. I found out that nylabones are the best store option because they are very durable and can last for a long time while being safe for dogs. Problem is that they are about $8 per bone. Most people online said that all natural bones are the best way to go. If you have a friend that is a hunter, the dogs will LOVE the bones from the deer, and they are safe. I live right next to Auburn University where we have a meat laboratory that sells eggs, meat, etc. They also sell natural bones from cattle and pigs for $1. My dog goes to town for about an hour each bone. If you go to your local butcher, they most likely have bones that they don't need and will either give to you or sell for cheap. Your dog will thank you.
I've got two cats. I look for coupons for food and litter and buy in bulk when I can get a good deal.
One cat will only eat cat food and the other gets treats of bits of meat leftover from my meals.
Their toys are the plastic rings that come off of milk jugs (they love them), old shoe laces and a few balls made of old socks stuffed with old pillow stuffing and catnip and sewed shut. They're more than happy with those and it's all free stuff.
I've basically been using the same resume for the last 5 years. I like the format of mine and it's been hard to change. The more I read about these services I think it'd be a good idea to give it at try.
The only way I've found to save money is by making the dogs scooby snacks myself (I make the peanut butter puppy poppers using no salt pb from Trader Joes).
http://www.bullwrinkle.com/Assets/Recipes/Recipes.htm
I have 2 cats that need medication twice daily and to get them to take it I make my own version of a pill pocket by blending a can of tuna fish, dry milk and a bit of oil. The cats come running when I call 'time for your medicine!'.
We're almost ready to bid on a house, and we'll be finally be able to feel like we can give a home to a cat and a dog or two. So we're happy to see all these tips, as neither of us has had a pet in a very long time.
We definitely expect to treat any pet with the high quality food, to echo #24's comment.
I have found IM to be incredibly useful. It's great for seeing if a coworker is actually at their desk (love the status indicators that turn yellow when a computer is locked or idle), asking a quick question, having a private conversation (I'm in the middle of cubeville with multiple people per cube, lowish walls and no doors) and getting the attention of my cubemate when he's got his headphones on - without having to yell or throw a squishy ball at him.
Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately, productivity-wise), I only have IM on the company's computer network. There are many times when I'm trying to coordinate something with someone outside of work where IM would be the best way to do it. Since facebook chat doesn't work either, we usually end up shooting lots of quick emails back and forth. It works but isn't near as efficient.
I have a smooth coat chihuahua and her grooming is low maintenance. I trim her nails and bathe her myself. I use coupons for her food and treats. I mosly give her baby carrots as a treat. I walk her around my apt. complex for exercise - good for me too. I give her heartguard and K9 Advantix to keep fleas off. She only goes to the vet once a year. I just budget for the vet visit and her meds. She is small and doesn't require much food. She is very healthy and happy. Her weight is just right. I also shop at Petsmart when they have sales that will go with my coupons.
The best thing my husband and I ever did for our first dog was to set up a savings account for him. I looked into pet insurance, but ultimately decided against it - he was older and the premiums were high.
So we started to put 20 bucks a week in an ING Account automatically. We used this money for his regular check ups and for emergencies. If it didn't completely cover the bill, it came close. We now have three dogs of varying ages, and their care is more than covered by what we've built in the "Dog" account.
Preventative care, a steady diet and lots of attention are all they really need. Expensive toys? Not really needed - they'd rather play with you. I have to remind myself sometimes, since I'm a sucker for packaging, that most of that stuff is made for the pet owner, not the pet.
Yes, I also found this hard to take seriously because of the alcohol mistake. Definitely not good for sleep but definitely not a stimulant. The best help for me is a rich full day and an "oh well" attitude at night.
I believe their is a big nutritional diffference between some of the commercial pet foods and the premium and or organic based foods. These foods over the long run will keep our pets healthier. The big benefit is that optimum nutrition excels at keeping pets out of the vet's office. Add in a few extra vet visits a year and your pet care budget is certainly exceeded. The bottom line is that by spending a bit more up front you can save costly vet bills.
Since my dog, Andy, has allergies (unknown cause), I try to mitigate his symptoms by feeding him organic raw dog food which comes in a frozen bag. The cost is worth every penny. The only treats he gets are raw organic veggies which he loves. I knew poodles were high maintenance dogs, so his grooming bills are high, but I brush him twice a day and stretch his appointments to every seven weeks which helps keep the cost down a bit.
Through trial and error, my holistic vet and I have found supplements that help with his scratching. Instead of using the vet when ordering these supplements, I have ordered them through PetMeds or get them at Petco; this has helped save a lot of money over the last two years.
My husband and I treat our cats as our children. While we haven't made any big changes in our care-taking routines for them, we do make sure that we have what is necessary to provide for them.
We have been able to find coupons for their food and kitty litter brands to shave just a few dollars off each purchase. My husband clips their claws, and we groom them about once a week (we just got a Furminator - amazing grooming tool!). We take them to our vet annually, and our vet's office often has promotions that allow us to take a small percentage off the overall visit. We also budget for our pet expenses and keep a little emergency fund just for them. Our kitties are happy and healthy, which makes us happy.
I buy PetSmart's store brand cat food for my cat. If you look at the ingredient list, the first one is fish! That's so much better than other brands of cheap cat food, which are full of corn and wheat that cats can't digest. I also use the PetSmart shopping card to get deals on toys and treats.
Yeah, I asked my employers to give me the unvested portion of my 401k, and they ignored me/refused. Especially obnoxious because I was laid off 16 days before the final portion was supposed to vest.
I use discounted PetCo gift cards from giftcards.com in combination with coupons and sales for things like food and flea medicine.
I have also found the cheapest vet in the area who just happens to be one of the best too. They don't take appointments, but its worth it for the care and the price!
I feed my cat one of the best kitty foods out there, WellCore and I use the World's Best Cat Litter.. I think to prevent future health problems for the ones you love, you have to give them the best there is to offer.
I wouldn't feed my dog Cheerios - dog digestive tracts cannot process corn, soy or wheat, and Cheerios has whole bran, corn starch, oat bran, oat fiber and wheat starch (read the label). For the same reason that doggie treats are doggie junk food.
What happens with the unvested portion of your 401(k) when you leave a job for any reason depends on your employer's retirement plan document. Your boss must adhere to the terms of the plan by law. Most do not allow the employer to distribute any unvested funds. Request a copy of the plan document if you don't have an updated one, and read the section about vesting carefully. Here's more information on what you can do with your 401(k) after you leave an employer: http://moneygirl.quickanddirtytips.com/job-changes-401k.aspx
I would probably die of a heart attack so it wouldn't really matter.
but if I did live through it I would take the money and invest it in myself. Go to college become a politician, play the game, get to congress and then leave the country and write a book and tell all of their dirty secrets.
I also have guinea pigs. I do buy nice hay and pellets online (shipping is killer) but they have lived long, fairly healthy lives as a result. I will have had them for 7 years this May.
A couple things that help: their cage was cheap, made of those wire grid storage cubes and some corrugated plastic. It's big enough to give them plenty of space.
My friend works with horses, so she brings me hay in season. That's a huge help because the guinea pigs need lots of hay.
I ration pellets, which is good because they are expensive and not terribly healthy for the little guys.
The big one, and this is one I've learned better in the past year: I feed them my veggie scraps. Why peel a carrot over the trash can when I can peel it right over their cage? I treat them as furry little composters, within reason of course. I'm joining a CSA this year and I have a feeling they will get lots of leftover salad greens and vegetable odds and ends. They love apple cores and watermelon rinds!
One of my animals has had significant medical issues. He's cost me over $1000 in the time I've had him, but it's worth it. For vet costs, I say plan for when they will happen, not if. My sister is planning on getting a pet when she moves out and I warned her that it is better to be ready for something to happen.
I did it once quite a few years ago and would never do it again. I did better by reading through online tutorials and using the library.
It was a good lesson in how to waste money though... :)
I feed my dogs one the very highest rated DRY dog foods on the market--Kirkland Signature at Costco. Take a peek and evaluate the dry dog food yourself abd you will also see what a terrific dog food it is. I DO NOT feed them treats of ANY KIND because they are basically JUNK food for animals. I do not feed them ANYTHING other than DRY DOG FOOD--PERIOD. I do not let my animals WHO ARE ALL WELL---around other animals that I know nothing about such as dog parks etc. Dogs will walk & sniff just like kids then lick their paws ---real quick transmit for worms. I also seek out AFFORDABLE places for shots. Shots are extremely cheap--YOU are paying for the VETS car. Community areas (I live in Cleveland,OH) run SHOT clinics all the time for pets--I paid yearly ---all shots PLUS heartworm testing for one dog---37.00. I also give Heartworm Pills for all---Pet Shed (look on the web--the generic heart worm....deadfleaz.com for flea control. DO NOT INTRODUCE your pet to others pets....you will see an illness. PREVENTIVE is the key with animals!
BY THE WAY---I HAVE 14 RESCUE ANIMALS---4 CATS FROM HURRICANE KATRINA--3 PIT BULLS NO ONE WANTED FROM KATRINA--7 others that no one wanted or were mistreated by mean humans. All the dogs are between 80 and 100 pounds EACH.They ALL get along and are presently sleeping in various places INSIDE my house. They are not outside animals except for going to the restroom (I pick up all their waste daily--even in the snow). Litter boxes cleaned daily....kitty litter is high grade MIXED with lower grade--
I LOVE all my animals dearly. My surgeon got rid of my cancer but my pets helped my soul through the rest. I have three kids & a loving husband but throughout the cancer treatment & surgeries they (people) had to go about their own lives (as expected) BUT ALL MY ANIMALS were there day & night right by my side---with kisses, love & kindness---unconditionally. I will always be eternally grateful for all 14 of them for that dedicated love & devotion.
I have to take into account that my dog has a sensitive stomach, so this CAN bring food prices up. Because of this, I buy as big of a bag as I can to save per oz. and buy early in case I need to move her from one food to another. I buy pet meds online and re-up my Rx with a trusted vet who does not insist on a check up to prescribe heartworm meds.
Lastly, just as with the human members of the family, we try to keep reserve funds around for medical emergencies so that an unexpected vet visit will not put us in a credit pinch.
I am a former dog groomer and I would like to pass along a few tips that can help you save money by reducing or eliminating trips to the groomer and vet.
Don't fall for the teeth brushing thing, and don't pay your groomer extra for this service. Some people do use it, but most people will find it a waste of time and money. If your dog does have plaque, no amount of teeth brushing is going to remove it. See your vet. Getting plaque removed before it turns into an infection is a lot cheaper.
If you have a dog that has hair that needs to be cut, brush your dog every day. This eliminates knots and matting and can increase the time needed between haircuts. A great winter trick; hair knots are often caused by static electricity, a very common symptom of dry air. Every day wipe down your dog with a dryer sheet. They are non-toxic (but double check the brand you use to be sure) and your dog will also smell great. You can also use an anti-static spray on a brush and then brush it into your dogs coat. You'll notice less knots and tangles right away.
If you have a dog that sheds and never needs a haircut, get a Furminator which are now available almost everywhere. Nothing else works as well - don't even waste your money trying anything else. You will cut down on shedding tremendously.
Clean your dog's ears at least weekly with a cotton ball and either Hydrogen Peroxide or better yet something commercially available. Never use water! Clean ears prevent ear infections which could save you a trip to the vet.
Don't buy doggy shampoo - the stuff is a rip off. Baby shampoo is great for dogs and won't irritate their skin or eyes.
If you do everything above your only concern will be nail clipping. Look for a cheap 'walk-in' service for nail cutting and avoid the full grooming until its needed.
Thanks for the guinea pig ideas, Heather- ours have been way expensive! We also have a dog who would think all of your dogs that eat veggies are crazy! She does love any leftover meat pieces, though. Mostly I save on her favorites by matching coupons with sales. Now, though, the vet is saying she needs glucosamine for joint problems. Anybody with ideas on how to save on this supplement?
After doing some research and finding out that rawhide bones are not good for dogs (apparently they can choke on them), I decided to try to find a way to satisfy my dog's craving for chewing. I found out that nylabones are the best store option because they are very durable and can last for a long time while being safe for dogs. Problem is that they are about $8 per bone. Most people online said that all natural bones are the best way to go. If you have a friend that is a hunter, the dogs will LOVE the bones from the deer, and they are safe. I live right next to Auburn University where we have a meat laboratory that sells eggs, meat, etc. They also sell natural bones from cattle and pigs for $1. My dog goes to town for about an hour each bone. If you go to your local butcher, they most likely have bones that they don't need and will either give to you or sell for cheap. Your dog will thank you.