Having a pet is a great joy in life. Pets provide companionship, emotional support, and can even be a great way to give back, helping the animals themselves in terms of rescue. But, with the growing cost of living crisis, keeping and supporting a pet can be draining on the bank balance. This once fulfilling experience, can now often be a burden, as costs of food, medical bills, and overall care sky rocket depending on the pet, your location, and circumstances.
The Growing Cost of Pet Ownership
Inflation has heavily impacted the cost of many essential pet items. From food, general supplies, to medical care, everything required to give your pet the best quality of life is now becoming much more expensive. It’s gone up so much, that millions of families in the USA are now worried that they cannot afford to keep their own pets, members of their family. Currently, it is believed that more than 20 million pets live in homes affected by poverty or reside in areas where resources are hard to get.
When you realize that the average yearly expenditure on a pet is around $2500, the problem takes clearly shape. And these costs differ depending on the pet species. Dogs and cats have a more moderate rise in costs, but more exotic animals, or those that need extra care can be even more costly. With vet shortages in place, and an increased demand for pets since the pandemic, higher prices are in effect all around.
Breakdown of Pet-Related Expenses
But where does all the money go? Well, there are many areas that are costly when it comes to keeping a pet. Some of these you may not have considered prior to getting one. Food for one is expensive. And, if you’re getting pet treats, then the price goes up even more. Just as it has for human food, the cost of pet food is on the rise due to inflation.
Veterinary care is one of the biggest factors impacting pet affordability. With the growing dearth of vets, places at clinics are sought after. On top of that, it’s not just the need to visit the vet for an emergency, but pets need routine checkups, annual vaccination, worming tablets, and more. On top of all this, there are all the housing and care accessories required. Again, depending on the animal, you will need beds, crates, litter boxes, leashes, harnesses, and so on, all of which can mount up. Finally, grooming and hygiene products are also a requirement when it comes to basic care. And all of these areas have been massively hit by inflation.
Ways to Save Money on Pet Care
However, with some savvy shopping and smart strategies, you can help save yourself some money across all of these areas. And, you don’t have to sacrifice the quality of the food or items you’re buying either, but just save money instead. For instance, when a sale is on, if you can afford the initial upfront cost, buy food in bulk. This is a great option if you’re buying dry and canned food as it will last.
You can also make sure of online promotions and discount codes for pet supplies. Many retailers will advertise these codes themselves making them easy to find. For others, it can be harder, but this is where a trusty specialized website can come in handy. Sites like this do the hard part, finding, checking, and verifying discount codes before listing them on their websites. Using codes like this can significantly reduce the costs of food and pet accessories when shopping online. They can even be combined with other offers from the retailer or brand.
Retailers are also getting better at offering seasonal discounts, which you should make use of. There are also increasingly subscriptions which lead to good savings across many products. And, brands are also offering loyalty programs to encourage shoppers to keep purchasing from them rather than heading elsewhere. Combining all these tactics can make your pet expenses far more affordable, while still maintaining their high quality.
Rewarding and fulfilling, pet ownership can be a financial burden. Explore various money-saving strategies to ensure you provide the best care for your pets, while living within your means.