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Home · Bright Ideas · 11 Smart Ways To Save Money As A Pet Owner

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11 Smart Ways To Save Money As A Pet Owner

You don't want to cut corners when it comes to taking care of your pet, but that doesn't mean you have to spend a fortune! Get 11 money-saving tips here.

Jill Nystul  ·  July 28, 2019
4.5 stars · 4 votes

Pet Expenses

The love and companionship of our pets is priceless, but taking care of them definitely has its costs! Between food, grooming, visits to the vet, and more, the costs of caring for a pet can add up.

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And since we could all stand to save a bit of money where we can, today I wanted to share some easy ways to save money on pet-related expenses. But more importantly, I wanted to share money-saving tips that don’t cut corners when it comes to your pet’s health and wellness.

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Because saving money and taking great care of your pet shouldn’t have to be mutually exclusive! :-)

11 Ways To Save Money On Pet Expenses

Pet Expenses

1. Adopt, Don’t Shop

Buying a pure bred pet from a breeder can cost thousands of dollars. Consider adopting a pet from a shelter or rescue instead, which will not only be cheaper, but will also save an animal’s life!

Even if you have your heart set on one particular breed, you can still find ways to adopt or rescue one. All sorts of breeds end up in shelters, and you can even find rescues that work exclusively with one breed.

Pet Expenses

2. Spay/Neuter At A Humane Society

Getting your pet spayed or neutered can be a big expense. Getting it done at a local humane society instead of at the vet can save you quite a bit of money!

To find a low-cost spay/neuter program near you, use ASPCA’s locator tool.

Pet Expenses

3. Use Price Matching

Use price matching to make sure you’re getting the best price on your pet supplies. Both PetSmart and Petco offer price-match guarantees!

Check prices at both stores, as well as at online pet supply stores like Wag.com and Chewy.com to make sure you’re paying the lowest price possible.

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Pet Expenses

4. Exercise Your Pet

Pets that don’t get enough exercise can turn into troublemakers, or even become downright destructive! Replacing chewed up furniture is a massive expense, and you can avoid it by making sure your pet has a healthy outlet for all their energy!

Make sure to take your dog on regular walks, and be sure to give cats proper exercise too. Some cats love dangly toys, others love chasing laser pointers, and others prefer climbing. Try out a few things to find the best way to keep your dog or cat active!

Pet Expenses

5. Try A Subscription Service

As long as you buy the same products for your pet on a semi-regular basis, signing up for a subscription service is an easy way to save money. Here are a few popular pet supply subscription services and their features:

  • Amazon – Save 5% through Subscribe & Save, and up to 15% off when you order 5 or more products in a given month to a single address.
  • PetSmart – Save 5% on every autoship order, plus free shipping on orders over $49.
  • Petco – Save 30% on your first Repeat Delivery order, plus free shipping on orders over $49.
  • Chewy – Save 30% on your first autoship order, and get 5-10% off select brands in future orders.

Pet Expenses

6. Join A Rewards Program

Many brick-and-mortar and online pet supply stores offer rewards programs for their customers. Make sure to take advantage of these to save yourself some extra money!

  • PetSmart treats – Earn points with every purchase and redeem them for discounts on products and pet services.
  • Petco Pals Rewards – Earn rewards points and redeem them for cash rewards, and receive free shipping on repeat delivery orders.

Pet Expenses

7. Groom At Home

On average, taking your dog to a groomer costs somewhere between $45-70. If you get your dog groomed every 6 weeks, that can add up to $400-600 a year!

Grooming your dog at home some or all of the time can be a big money saver. Invest in a few basic grooming supplies and watch some dog grooming tutorials on Youtube to learn how its done!

Pet Expenses

8. Save On Treats

Fancy dog treats are often expensive too. You can save money by supplementing those treats with treat-sized pieces of dog-safe human foods! Here are some healthy options you can try out:

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  • Sweet potatoes
  • Ice cubes
  • Baby carrots
  • Watermelon
  • Blueberries
  • Green beans
  • Homemade dog treats

Pet Expenses

9. Buy Cheaper Bags

When it comes to picking up dog poop, any ol’ bag will do. Since many dog owners have to buy poop bags frequently, make sure you’re getting a good deal on them!

You can often pick them up at dollar stores, or you can get a good deal by buying them in bulk online.

Pet Expenses

10. Keep Up On Vaccinations

It’s much cheaper to stay current on your pet’s vaccinations than it is to pay to fix expensive health issues down the road! You can even order certain pet medicines and vaccines online and administer them yourself at home to save even more money.

Pet Expenses

11. Brush Your Pet’s Teeth

Did you know that most dogs over the age of three show some signs of gum disease? Gum disease is not only painful for pets, but it can also lead to or worsen other health issues down the line.

Keep your pet’s teeth clean by brushing them with the proper tools and pet-specific toothpaste. You can also ask your vet to include a dental exam and cleaning as part of your pet’s yearly exam.

Tell me about your furry friends in the comments below!

I may include affiliate links to products sold by others, but only when they are relevant and helpful. I always offer my own genuine recommendation. Learn more.  
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Hi, I’m Jillee!

I believe we should all love the place we call home and the life we live there. Since 2011, I've been dedicated to making One Good Thing by Jillee a reliable and trustworthy resource for modern homemakers navigating the everyday challenges of running a household. Join me as I share homemaking and lifestyle solutions that make life easier so you can enjoy it more!

Every day I share creative homemaking and lifestyle solutions that make your life easier and more enjoyable!

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newest oldest most voted
DeAnna Anderson
DeAnna Anderson
Love this post? Rate it: :
     

A page like this for cat owners would be great. I would love to know more about natural foods for our kitties.

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3 months ago
Patsy
Patsy

My beautiful rough collie loves apples! Peal and quarter any eating apple, and slice across the quarter apple to about the thickness of a nickel. A good treat. So is a thin slice of chicken breast, poached without skin, cooled and cut into one inch squares.

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4 months ago
Dawn
Dawn

AS a mom of three dogs ranging in ages 14years to 8 months I always recommend pet insurance. You may think that does not go with “how to save $”; however, if you chose the right policy for the age of your pet – changing it to match their age and needs- it can be a huge savings. All it takes is one incident or major illness to hit hard on the pocket book. Peace of mind is also worth a bit. We have used PetFirst out of IN for 13 years and have been very satisfied. Also- if you… Read more »

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4 months ago
Teri M Marcum
Teri M Marcum

I love Chewy! Prices are great, and their customer service is outstanding.

Vote Up3Vote Down 
4 months ago
S Madison
S Madison

For cat treats I buy a small bag of quality cat food that’s different from what I usually feed them. Is much cheaper than regular treats and they still clamor for them.

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4 months ago
Ms. Linda
Ms. Linda
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In addition to re-using plastic grocery bags, shopping at the dollar store for pet waste bags, the bags used for human baby dirty diapers are the perfect size for picking up pet waste and the cost is nominal for 50 to 100 bags.

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4 months ago
Karen
Karen

Reuse grocery bags for picking up poop!

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4 months ago
Elaine
Elaine

That’s what we do as well. I have the reusable grocery bags, but we still get some items in the plastic grocery bags. We also use the plastic grocery bags ,for the small trash cans in each bedroom,instead of buying bags.

Vote Up1Vote Down 
4 months ago
Tish
Tish

Just one word of caution about ice cubes – give ice chips or crushed ice instead. Ice cubes can fracture a dogs molars and then you are faced with a very expensive vet bill.

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4 months ago
Christy Jo Wilson
Christy Jo Wilson

I do not like dogs nor cats one bit but I save all of my empty bread bags and similar empty plastic bags(that are too small to reuse for trash liners) for friends that do have pets. I feel good about recycling or reusing those bags and they don’t have to buy bags. I bet everyone has multiple friends who would be willing to save bags for them. This not only saves the environment by manufacturing less bags but also saves money. Think of the annual trash savings if only 100 of OGT pet owners started reusing and stopped buying… Read more »

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4 months ago
Teri M Marcum
Teri M Marcum

I can certainly understand not wanting to own(?) a pet, but not liking them one bit is a rather strong statement. But I appreciate your thoughtfulness for your pet-owning friends. We have several rescued cats, and we also save our plastic bags to deal with their messes. I stopped buying litter, and use old newspapers, magazines, and printer paper to line the litter boxes. I collect the used paper in the plastic bag, tie it up and toss. Saves us lots!

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4 months ago
Carie
Carie

These are all great ideas! My daughter is the chef, groomer, walker, chauffeur and chew toy…..(just kidding!) We raised service dogs and got them when they were 6-8 weeks old. She got them used to getting groomed immediately, brushing them usually twice a day. Always hands on….. to get them used to it. Brushing their teeth, clipping their nails, getting bathed was never a problem when you ease them into it. He had no problem with loud noises and thought the vacuum was a noisy toy. Our last pup wasn’t crazy about water (and he’s a Lab!) but he liked… Read more »

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4 months ago
by Jillee
by Jillee

Carie, thanks for sharing this. How wonderful that you raise service dogs! :-)

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4 months ago

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Hi, I’m Jillee!

Every day I share creative homemaking and lifestyle solutions that make your life easier and more enjoyable!

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