The following is a guest post by Elizabeth from 20-Something Saver.
A few weeks ago someone gave me a newspaper article about a $1,300 dog collar. Yes, you’re reading that correctly — a dog collar.
There is no doubt that people enjoy spoiling their dogs, and I’m no exception. I can tell you, though, that Cocoa and Oreo are not wearing $1,300 dog collars. They aren’t even wearing $20 collars. They are normal dogs who eat breakfast, walk a few miles a day, and love the dog park and cuddle time.
It seems almost impossible to watch your spending with Fido, but it’s certainly doable.
When dogs eat well, they aren’t sick as often.
Dogs don’t need table scraps, their health is best with regular dry kibble. Buy your dog food in bulk using coupons — many big brands like Pedigree, Purina One, and Nutrish offer hot coupons on their websites.
I know people who try to save money by feeding their dog table scraps and guess what? They usually end up spending a lot of extra money at the vet!
The best things in life are free.
Find a free dog park in your area. Go once a week and make it a special time for Fido. Do your research and save yourself some money.
The biggest expense is grooming.
We spend about $90 at the groomers each time Cocoa and Oreo go. Because it’s so expensive, they only go every eight weeks — which is wonderful. In between visits they are brushed weekly and given a bath if needed.
Splurge on the necessary stuff.
There are some expenses that are worth the splurge. For us, it’s their flea and tick medication. We splurge on that because we’re in the south and it’s hot — therefore, more fleas and ticks. It varies by family, but remember that you don’t have to splurge on everything.
My biggest tip…
Before making a purchase, ask yourself “Would I be embarrassed to tell someone how much I spent on this?” This worked very well when I thought about buying a $49 tuxedo for Oreo.
Remember, your doggies will be happy by just being walked, fed, and loved. They are simple creatures created by God!
Elizabeth is a 20-something learning to live on less. She blogs about her journey of saving money with her dogs at 20-Something Saver.
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Our kitchen backsplash: our first attempt at tiling a vertical wall.
Unmatched furniture creates a collected, cozy feel.