No one has mentioned the easiest way Don't Have Pets!!!

* We don't buy our pets toys, christmas gift, clothing we only get what our pets need
* We don't take our pets to the groomers and we take the dog with us rather then pay for a sitter.
* Food is bought in bulk from Costco as well as litter
* We had a Bird and I put her on Craigs list. Got $40 enough to pay for 2 months of dog food at least. Know when it is too many pets two cats and a dog is too many but getting rid of them is emotionally hard.

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Kimberly Proud Mommy to Bethany Rose April 2006

Well, I hate to rain on everybody's parade by being the downer, but the big one is don't let them get old. My 16 year old dog is on kidney diet food which is pricey, but, obviously, we are doing something right to keep him healthy for that long.

Not trying to be morbid or advocating killing animals, but, let me tell you from experience, the older they get, the more expensive they get, too. But, I would do anything for my doggie as long as his quality of life is good. Once his "happy face" is gone, I know it is time.

My dog is going to be 10 in March so i have upped to a different brand of food for seniors. I always look for coupons and usually get at least a $1.00 or $2.00 off! We just had a Petco open up recently I will have to check out their frequent buyer card.

I think the biggest savings is keep them up to date on their shots and well visits before just like hmans preventive medicine is the best!

my biggest tip would be keep your pet healthy it will cost less in vet bills. also check around for different vets we found driving 40 minutes away from us has saved us huge money we used to go to the big town near us and to get my dogs shots and flea and heartworm pills was over 300 bucks a year we went to a smaller town vet and for the same stuff its only 75 bucks now and i think we get better care they even call to check on how my dog has been after an illness...so do your homework and ask where people take their pets for care.

I have changed her from Iam's to Purina. I also keep her in rawhide bones and her own stuffed animals. That does save money because if she doesn't have her raw hides and stuff animals she will go find one of the kid's toys.

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Attaining financial freedom is like eating an elephant . . . it takes one bite at a time.

I didnt know they did this!!

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Kelly mom to 3 great girls A Peanut, a monkey and a little burrito.

If you can, take your dogs to a rural veterinarian. They charge a fraction of the price that urban vets do - example - a girl I know (who lives in Kansas City) needed to get her cats fixed and it would have been $135 EACH if she would have gone to the vet there. Instead she came to our town for a fun weekend away and got her cats fixed for $40 each.



Edited to add - Sorry, I must have missed the post that said the same thing that I did. It really is cheaper, though!!!

A tip a good friend of mine gave me is to buy cheap baby shampoo instead of dog shampoo. I also tear the jerky strips in half so that they last longer. I agree w/buying dry dog food, but I do keep a few cans of the soft to mix in w/it sometimes.

Also, to me it's worth it to spend money
on my pets. We are frugal, but not to the
point where we can't enjoy our loved ones,
2 legged and 4 legged!

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