Owning a pet has lots of benefits, such as companionship, exercise and teaching children responsibilities. But, pet ownership doesn’t always come cheap. In fact, according to Money Helper, the average cost of owning a pet, such as a cat or dog, can mount up to between £16,000 and £33,000 during the pet’s lifetime.
Fortunately, there are lots of ways you can help to lower the cost of pet ownership, with the following tips highly recommended.
Buy in bulk
Whatever products you need to buy for your pet on a regular basis, such as foods, medicines, treatments or other items, try to buy them in bulk as this will save you money, rather than buying items separately, as and when you need them.
If you tend to buy big-name branded products, it might also be worth looking into sourcing supermarket own-brand items, which might be cheaper and could be just as effective.
Careful choice of breed
Some breeds of pets are more expensive to look after than others, so if you want to keep the costs of pet ownership down, choose one that is low maintenance on the purse strings. For example, pedigree pets tend to cost more to purchase and care for than mongrel varieties. Some breeds of animals are also more prone to illnesses than others, so do your homework before you make any decisions.
Pet sitting
If you frequently go away for work or pleasure, you’ll soon realise how expensive it can be to put your pet into kennels or a cattery. So, consider if there are any cheaper alternatives. Could you ask a reliable friend or neighbour to look after your pet, instead? Perhaps you could even set up, or join, a local group with other pet owners where you agree to look after each other’s pets so that everyone stands to benefit.
Keep on top of the jabs
Pets often require frequent jabs to prevent them from getting serious diseases. While you might save money in the short-term by not getting your pet jabbed, it could be storing up financial trouble in the long run, if your pet does succumb to an illness the vaccination could’ve prevented. Therefore, keep on top of your pet’s jabs to safeguard their future health, and to reduce the risk of unnecessary vet bills.
Take out insurance
Taking out a cat or dog insurance policy could save you from enormous vet bills in the long run, especially as your pet starts to get older and becomes more prone to illnesses.
With the cost of pet surgery estimated at around £1,500 and pet chemotherapy setting you back a staggering £5,000, having pet insurance in place will give you peace of mind that your furry friend won’t bankrupt you. Make sure to organise your pet insurance policy today.
