Practical Tips to Save Money While Being a Pet Owner
Our pets are affectionately termed as our “furkids”. We lavish them with hugs and kisses while splurging on organic treats and plush bedding.
But all the things you need for a happy, healthy pet can quickly add up with vet bills, quality food, and pet licenses to consider. For those striving to be responsible pet parents but aren’t willing to bust their credit limit, here are some money-saving tips to save extra cash.
- Adopt a Pet
It’s age-old advice: adopt not shop. Instead of making an impulse purchase at a pet shop, you can rescue your next furkid from a rescue shelter. Purebred breeds like golden retrievers or ragdolls can easily reach up to $5K, especially if they come with a pedigree certificate.
But those looking for a cuddly animal shouldn’t get a pet based solely on their pedigree qualifications. Instead, suss out your future pet based on how suitable its personality is. Adoption fees go up to $350 or so for a vaccinated, sterilized dog.
- Invest in Pet Insurance
It doesn’t matter how old your pet is – it’s always a good idea to invest in pet insurance. You never know when your pet starts chewing on live wire or scraps of aluminum foil, but whatever it is, you’ll want to be as prepared as possible. Consultation and surgery bills don’t come cheap in Singapore and can take up a hefty part of your paycheck.
With pet insurance offerings like IM PetCare Exclusive and Exclusive Plus, you can opt for coverage that’ll financially protect you from surgical and medical expenses, will cover accidental injuries, accidental death, and even theft.
- Opt for quality store-bought pet food
Although we might scrimp on pet food, this is the most crucial bit to saving money.
With quality food, comes better health. In the long run, your choice of pet food has a direct impact on your pet’s health – it’s certainly worth investing in quality food so there’s no need to pay off steep vet bills. But not all of us have the time to painstakingly prep a nutritious and fresh dinner for our pets every day.
- Groom your Pet at Home
Like most humans, our pets need a regular trim now and then – this is particularly true for most long-haired pets. My dog is often a walking disaster, with bits of kibble stuck to her chest and her fur in disarray.
Your first thought would be to send them off to a professional groomer, but it’s entirely possible to groom your long-haired pet at home. All you have to do is equip yourself with an all-purpose brush, nail clippers, and other basics like ear solutions and pet shampoo.
- Brush your pet’s teeth daily
It might be a hassle to coax your pet into daily teeth brushing, but it’s way better for them in the long run. With dedicated daily care for your pet’s teeth, there’s no need to pay for dental scaling that might easily reach hundreds of dollars per session.
Instead, brush your pet’s teeth with pet-friendly toothpaste – they come in tasty flavors like chicken or malt. A toothbrush costs just around $3.50 while toothpaste starts from $10 for a tube. You can also get special treats like chew toys or rawhide to help with healthy gums.
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