15 Ways To Save Money on Pet Expenses

As a pet parent, it’s no secret that taking care of a pet is a financial responsibility. While the experience of owning a dog or cat is truly rewarding, it’s important for any new pet owner to understand that the cost of providing for your best friend quickly adds up. 

In order to avoid pet debt or feeling overwhelmed by your pet-related spending habits, pet owners need to learn how to be financially responsible and budget when needed. 

There are many ways to save on pet expenses that will keep both your wallet and furry best friend happy. With a few simple tips and tricks, you’ll be able to effectively budget while still giving your pet the care, attention and love they deserve. 

Here are 15 ways that you can save money on pet expenses.

15 Ways To Save Money on Pet Expenses

1) Purchase Their Food In Bulk 

When purchasing food or treats for your pet, the best way to save money is to buy in bulk. In the long run, you will end up saving if you prepare ahead of time and purchase a larger quantity. Just like when you buy in bulk for your own meals, make sure you read the labels for storage instructions and expiration dates. 

2) Shop Around For The Best Price On Pet Items

In addition to buying in bulk, the best way to purchase food and treats for your pet is to shop around for the best deal. Utilize price comparison tools and do your own research on the cost of your pet’s essentials at various retailers, both in person and online, to find the lowest price. This may take a little bit of time and effort, but in the end - it’s an easy way to trim your monthly spending. 

3) Train Your Pet At Home 

Training programs for your pet are a great way to help them learn good behaviors. Yet, many programs can be too expensive for pet parents that are on a budget. While you could save up for training, a better alternative is to train your pet at home. There are plenty of free resources online, try Youtube videos and pet blogs, to help you get started. By being your pet’s trainer, you’ll not only save money, but establish a stronger relationship built on communication and respect. 

4) Schedule Regular Check Ups With Your Veterinarian 

The best way to avoid health issues with your pet is to take preventative action when it comes to their wellbeing. In order to do this, you should schedule regular check up visits with your veterinarian. Just like you go to the doctor for your annual visit, your pet needs the same wellness care to ensure that there aren’t any developing medical issues. If something were to arise, a regular check up could catch it before it becomes more serious and results in expensive medical care. 

5) Spend Less On Pet Sitting & Pet Walkers

Depending on your work situation, you may be able to cut costs by spending less on pet sitters and walkers. If you go to an office everyday and need someone to take care of your pet, consider shopping around for the best rate in your neighborhood. You can also tap your network to see if you have a friend or neighbor that you could hire for the job at a lower rate. If you work from home and you’re still hiring a pet walker during the day, save your money and build in breaks throughout your workflow to get some fresh air and take your best friend for a stroll around the block. 

6) Buy a Grooming Kit For Home

While we want to keep our pets fresh and clean, booking regular visits with a professional groomer can be expensive. While there are some treatments that are best done at a grooming salon, there are many ways to take care of your pet’s coat and fur at home. Purchase a grooming kit, hairbrush and pet friendly soap to create a little spa for your pet at home. You’ll bond with your pet and save money along the way. 

7) Find The Best Pet Insurance Policy

One of the largest expenses pet owners face are unexpected, emergency veterinary bills. These occur when their pet has an accident or becomes sick. Unfortunately, these are costs that pet owners can’t predict and can happen at any point in their pet’s lifetime. Some pet owners are proactive and will plan to set aside money for a pet emergency fund. While this is a great start, you’ll want to consider an additional option to give your pet the best protection possible. 

The answer is pet insurance. 

Pet insurance is the best way to make sure that your pet is protected in the event of an accident or illness. And, it'll give you peace of mind knowing that you can afford to take care of your pet no matter what happens. 

With Fursure Pet Insurance we can help you find the best pet insurance policy for your best friend and your budget.

To get your pet protected and covered in just a few minutes, learn more about Fursure Insurance!

8) Keep Your Pet Healthy & Active 

The best way to avoid expensive veterinary bills is to do your best to keep your pet healthy and active. Unfortunately, some breeds are prone to health issues and they may have medical problems that are inevitable. Yet, prioritizing your pet’s well being and overall health can never hurt. Just like you try your best to keep to a healthy diet, exercise regularly and get plenty of sleep, we can help our pets do the same. Pay attention to the type of food you buy for them, keep them active and make sure they rest when needed. 

9) Take Care of Your Pet’s Teeth

In addition to keeping your pet active and feeding them a diet full of proper nutrition, you’ll also need to take care of your pet’s teeth. Dental procedures can be expensive and often result from lack of care. Just like we forget to floss from time to time, it’s easy to forget about taking care of your pet’s teeth. It’s recommended that for dogs, you brush their teeth 3 times per week. And, for cats, try your best to brush their teeth twice per week. Brushing your pet’s teeth can reduce the likelihood of them developing gum disease, bad breath or rotting teeth - all which could potentially result in costly dental care and procedures. 

10) Find Affordable Daycare & Boarding Options

If you have to leave your pet either for the day or overnight, a reputable daycare or boarding service is the best option. Yet, if you’re finding that these costs are quickly adding up, you have a few options. To save money on these expenses, you can look around for a less expensive alternative, ask about their multi-day/night discount packages or find a pet sitter that offers a lower rate. Sometimes it is difficult to cut costs on necessary expenses such as daycare or boarding, but the best way to fit these into your budget is to do your research to find a price that works for you. 

11) Search For the Best Price for Pet Medication 

As you can probably tell, looking around, researching and finding the best price is a common theme in order to save money on pet expenses. The same principle applies to your pet’s medication. Luckily, there are online sources such as 1-800-PETMEDS that allows you to find discounts and deals on medication. You can also check your local pharmacy as they might offer medication at a lower price than what is available online. 

12) Invest In Pet Safety

Another way to ensure that you avoid emergency trips to the veterinarian is to invest in pet safety. We know that accidents can result in expensive medical care, therefore it’s best to take all the necessary precautions to make sure that your pet is safe. This can be done in a few ways such as installing a guard fence in your yard, getting your pet microchipped, implementing training practices to avoid aggression with other animals and keeping your pet up to date with their vaccinations. In all, keeping your pet safe and protecting them in various ways is the best practice in order to avoid accidents and incidents that may result in them needing expensive veterinarian care. 

13) Become a Member of Pet Loyalty Clubs 

To save money on essential purchases, look into pet loyalty clubs that you can join. Whether you shop at a pet retailer such as Chewy or your local grocery store, inquire about rewards programs, loyalty offers or customer discounts they may offer. Usually pet loyalty clubs will offer coupons, discounts and flash deals that will allow you to save money on the regular purchases you make for your pet. 

14) Make Your Own DIY Toys & Treats

The last tip to saving money on pet expenses is to consider at home, DIY projects. There are many ways to “do-it-yourself” when it comes to taking care of your pet whether you make homemade treats or build your own pet toys. Homemade treats can be fairly simple to make and also will help you know the exact ingredients you are feeding your pet. As for toys, check out this list of 17 DIY toys you can make using items from your own home.

15) Keep Up With Vaccinations and Preventative Care

To help you avoid expensive medical bills, you need to keep up with your pet's vaccinations, preventative care and their dental cleanings. By mainting your pet's health, you can reduce additional costs in the long run. For even better money management, you can select a wellness add-on to your insurance plan. With Fursure Wellness Rewards, you'll have preventative care coverage for your furry friend.

Keep Your Wallet Happy and Your Pet Healthy

Owning a pet may be a financial responsibility, but with the right mindset and practices it doesn’t need to be an incredibly expensive endeavor. By finding ways to save money and budget for your pet related expenses, you can keep your pet healthy and your wallet happy.

‍Fursure Pet Insurance was designed to help pet parents like your take the very best care of their furry friends. Learn more about Fursure Pet Insurance and get your pet the coverage they deserve, here.