Our furry friends give us so much joy but they can also create money problems along the way if you don’t budget correctly. Some say that having pets can be just as costly as having a kid — and if you want your best friend to live their best life, budgeting well can help you manage the ongoing cost of pet ownership.
Just like our many other life expenses, adding a pet into the mix can throw us off if we don’t plan for the unexpected. It’s beneficial to have a budget to keep all our ducks in a row. What are some of the best ways to budget for a pet ahead of time, so you’re prepared for what lies ahead?
You want to strike the balance between treating your pet to the lavish life they deserve and keeping on track with your expenses. The last thing you need to worry about is not being able to house your furry friend.
Start by considering a few of these options.
For only a few hundred dollars, you can bring back your own furry companion that’s looking for a forever home. Breeders that breed a type of cat or dog are typically much pricier than your local shelter. According to RSPCA over 100,000 animals were given up to animal shelters in 2021, so you’ll be helping the shelter out as well. Adopted pets come vaccination ready and are likely to be neutered – making it much more affordable.
The right pet for you could just be waiting at an animal haven if you choose to give adoption a go. Plus, plenty of cat and dog shelters offer up free beds, water/food bowls, and other products given up as a charitable donation from owners.
If you’ve had eyes on a certain breed for a long time, and you’re tossing up between buying vs adopting, it’s always good to start with doing your research. Find out the cost of the breed and compare it to other sellers – this way, you’ll know the fairest price in the market and save a few dollars here and there.
Making a long-term plan to spay or neuter your furry friend can help you avoid future vet bills that involve surprise illnesses and health conditions.
As soon as you bring your best friend home it’s important to think about desexing them for several reasons.
When you’re thinking about the wellbeing of your beloved pet, the responsible action to take is to not cause it more stress. If you only intend to have one pet, having a litter not only puts you out budget-wise but it can also hurt your animal if you’re not a professional/registered breeder.
There are also a range of health benefits for your pet when you neuter them. In male dogs, it lowers the chance of getting prostate or testicular cancer and even reduces their aggression level as they age.
Desexing your pet can also help to put animal shelters at ease each year by reducing the overpopulation of puppies and kittens coming through. Many are surrendered to shelters due to owners not neutering their pets.
When it comes to putting your pet on the registry, it could seem that the most feasible option would be to register them for a short period of time. At the time it might look like the best way to save on cash that you could use on other things – but the problem with that is it creates a recurring cost. If budgeting allows, get the payment over and done with by registering your pet for a lifetime and just make the one-off registration fee.
Also, by not registering your pet consistently, you could run the risk of forgetting to renew your registration resulting in a hefty fine. Responsible owners may want to be able to locate their missing friend on the off chance they get lost.
Before you can register your pet, there’s criteria you have to meet. Make sure you read into the list of what’s required to put your pet on the lifetime registry.
Getting a pet on a budget can be a stressful and confusing time. It’s almost like having a kid of your own which means there’s a lot of new information to take in.
You want the best for your new friend but it’s hard to pinpoint where to start, what they can and can’t eat, the general rule of thumb – not to mention everything else. To make it easier for hopeful pet owners, many vets offer a detailed preventative care/health plan for your animal.
It’s a great start as an introductory lesson into how you can prevent health issues. For example, corgis are more prone to spinal health conditions over time, and as for pugs they can develop breathing issues as they get older.
Identifying these areas of concern prone to the breed can lead to your veterinarian giving you a preventative care plan tailored to your pet. This can range between recommended diets to regular check-ups for the condition they may suffer from so that the issue doesn’t become a bigger problem over time.
Pet insurance is an important aspect to owning a pet. Just like insurance for the other things in our life, think of it as a safety net that ensures someone is there to catch you if the rug gets pulled from underneath you.
Life hardly goes to plan and it’s not realistic to expect things to be smooth sailing the whole way. Pet insurance is another type of preventative measure that allows room for you to breathe if something serious comes up and you can’t afford the bill on the spot. It also means you don’t have to take out a personal loan or add to the credit card to take care of the bill.
Whether you want to pay a monthly or annual fee to have insurance in place is entirely up to you. Insurance doesn’t come cheap but it can be worth it in the long run as it’s not meant to exceed the amount an emergency surgery may cost.
Compare the different types of pet insurance and see what works for you. There are also loans for vet bills if you opt for an excess pay-out plan.
Not everything needs to be bought right away, so be savvy and plan ahead. Now is the perfect time to sign up to newsletters from your favourite pet stores or suppliers.
Expenses like additional beds, worming products, pet toothpaste, toys, and scratchers (for cats) can be planned out months in advance. Many Australian pet shops offer products on sale on a regular basis. Make sure you sign up to the newsletters and bookmark items you are interested in and wait for an alert.
Some brands offer a pet supply delivery system which can help with your budgeting plan. Opting into a delivery plan, even if the product isn’t on sale, reduces the inconsistent expenses each time you need a refresh in supplies. Think of it as paying rent per week – having a routine amount deducted each month for pet goods will allow you to plan and put money aside.
You’ll find that regular grooming of your furry friend can be self-taught if you put the effort in.
Today, there are many options online through places like Facebook Marketplace, Amazon, and eBay where you can fish for cheap grooming supplies. It’s a myth that you need state of the art tools to keep your pet looking fresh and clean. It helps with pet costs and is also a great way to bond and spend time with them, giving you the chance to build on your relationship.
Life hack: Did you know using human nail clippers is easier than using made-for-pet clippers? A quick YouTube search and you’ll find veterinarians online telling you about this simple trick.
Have you ever visited a pet store, looked at the overpriced toy section and thought to yourself ‘I could make this’? It’s because you probably can. You can find toy making templates and sewing kits for half the price, so you can make twice the amount of toys for the same price than if you were to buy one.
Get your creative juices flowing and try your hand at making DIY pet toys for your companion. They’re most likely going to rip it up in a jiffy anyway.
Pet-sitters often cost a fraction of the price of boarding your pet. There are people out there looking to make quick cash by signing up for pet-sitting apps so they can combine their love for animals with earning money fast.
Businesses such as Mad Paws, Pawshake, and PetCloud are trustworthy and reliable Australian pet-sitting apps where owners can find like-minded animal lovers to look after their pets. Be sure to look into any additional costs that may come with finding a pet-sitter.
If you’re looking at cutting this cost out completely, build a network with neighbours, family, and friends.
You’d be surprised to know that not only are there affordable options when it comes to pet items, but there may be people who are giving them out for free. Budget pet supplies are life savers when you want to save money but also spoil your furry companion.
Search online and you can find an array of owners looking to get rid of their pet supplies fast due to moving, the value of the item not being worth the effort to sell, or simply as a kind gesture.
Reduce the number of products out there and look at repurposed items. There are plenty of quality second-hand pet supplies online that could make you and your pet very happy.
It’s safe to say that our furry friends aren’t just pets. They’re an extension of ourselves and they’re great for our mental health and stimulation. We don’t just get them because we think they’re cute, but because they add so much value to our lives. It only makes sense as their owners to give them the best of the best.
You can make your beloved companion feel extremely loved while being on a budget – both don't have to be mutually exclusive. Learn to budget and plan ahead so that your pet can live out its years feeling on top of the world.
The information contained in this blog is general advice only and does not take your specific circumstance into consideration. You should assess your own financial position, objectives, and requirements before making any financial decisions.
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