Purse strings are tightening all over. Inflation and general worry for the future are rife, leaving many of us biting our nails and strategizing for ways to keep our heads above water.
A few things remain a reliable constant in these changing times, however. Our pets are still hungry, and we still love them. While the cost of keeping pets isn’t prohibitive, it’s not exactly cheap, either.
Fortunately, spending less on our pets is easy, and they’ll never know the difference. Read on for some tips on how to save money on pet supplies!
How to Save Money on Pet Supplies
The first step to help you save money on your pets is to identify where it’s all going. With a pen and paper, jot down what you can remember buying for them, and how much it cost. Within five minutes you’ll have a list of ways to save.
Towards the top of the list, you’ll no doubt have a line or two concerning the food and treats you buy for them. We all want the best for our pets, but sometimes we convince ourselves to spend more money on the premium option when it’s unnecessary to do so. A good example of this is the fancier food options available for dogs and cats.
These are marketed sneakily by pulling on our heartstrings. Surely, the advertisers argue, if you really love your pet, you’ll spring for the vintage aged cheddar and pheasant kibble rather than subject them to the value chicken bag. To save a few dollars, try the cheaper stuff, as you might be surprised how well it’s received.
If your pet has yet to taste the finer things in life, it might be worth keeping it that way. A treat here or there is inevitable, but eating better than some humans might be taking things a step too far. If in doubt, remember they’re happy to run around with your underwear in their mouths, and they won’t miss what they’ve never had.
Budget Pet Supplies
A great deal of pet-related products aren’t marketed to our animals themselves. Of course, that wouldn’t be much use, as they don’t have any money. This realization will help you save a ton of cash because you’ll start resisting the urge to splurge on things your pet ultimately won’t care about.
When our eyes are drawn towards the five-story cat tree, or the dog bowl water fountain, we’re usually not thinking straight. We imagine how we would feel in their place to be given something so wonderful to play with, rather than considering the situation more soberly. Our pets don’t see things as we do and don’t attach the same meaning to objects.
This is why when you triumphantly set down your cat’s new toy, whatever it may be, they’re more likely to be intrigued by the box it came in. Cardboard boxes are cheap, and your cat prefers them. With this in mind, you’ll save yourself a fortune.
DIY Pet Toys
The cardboard box phenomenon is among the most important tricks to understand when it comes to saving money on pet supplies in general. A stick you found outside coupled with some garden twine is enough to keep your cat happy. To keep your dog happy, you don’t even need the twine, they’ll be overjoyed with the stick alone.
If your pet has a deep and enduring love or fascination with a particular toy, ask yourself why that might be, and if you can replicate it cheaply. Dogs appreciate a toy simply because it came from you and you take the time to play with them using it. Pets don’t need built-for-purpose toys to keep them occupied, and due to their obscene markup, neither does your wallet.
Replicating the essence of the toy without the fancier materials involved will do the job just fine. More often than not, your pet will appreciate the time you spend with them more than the amount you spend on them. You’ll get more joy out of this strategy, too, and it’s a lot cheaper than paying for the pleasure.
At-Home Grooming
Paying for a professional groomer costs a fortune, not just because they’re experienced and know what they’re doing, but because of the products they use, too. Bath time for dogs can turn into a spa day if you don’t keep your wits about you. If you plan on keeping your pup well groomed, the temptation to buy pet-specific shampoos, etc, often proves overwhelming.
While staring at the wall of pet cleaning products in the supermarket, you might hear a little voice in your head asking why dogs need special soap. Well, in short, they don’t. It’s just not a good idea to use human-specific shampoos, because they could be too harsh or otherwise not dermatologically appropriate.
This doesn’t mean dogs can only be washed with pet-specific products that cost a small fortune. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to hear you can clean your dog safely with several products you probably already own. For example, a dilute solution of organic dish soap works wonderfully.
White vinegar, baking soda, and baby shampoo are also all acceptable alternatives to a thirty-dollar bottle of dog-specific cleaner. Recipes and advice abound online for exactly this sort of thing, so if you’re curious and want to save money but also want to freshen up your dog, a little research will go a long way.
Frugal Pet Shopping
Taking care to find pet supplies discounts to save money on pets is only good sense. It might feel a little mean to begin with, but the money you save can be spent on a trip to the beach instead, which they’re sure to appreciate.
Affordable pet care requires a little thought and strategy, and that’s the foundation of our philosophy at Canadian Free Stuff. We’re proud to help people save hundreds to thousands of dollars every year, and have been doing so for over 20 years!
If you’d like to know more about how to save money on pet supplies, don’t hesitate to reach out! We’d love to hear from you.
