Saving Money on Pet Care Needs

Many of us enjoy the companionship pets bring to us. They keep us warm at night, greet us at the door, and provide love and attention on demand.

On the down side, owning a pet these days is an expensive proposition. The costs of food, toys, medicine, and vet bills can quickly add up.

Here are some easy tips to help you save money:

1) Compare prices. I can't stress this enough. As an example, I have two diabetic cats. Because of their condition, I feed them a mostly protein diet. Canned pet food varies in price, depending on the store you purchase it from. I purchase Fancy Feast canned food that doesn't contain wheat gluten. At my local drugstore, one 3.5 ounce can costs 75 cents. At my local grocery store, 65 cents; and at the big chain pet food stores, just 50 to 55 cents a can. That's a huge savings. They eat 120 cans a month which equates to a savings of 30 dollars a month. On a larger scale, that's a savings of 360 dollars a year.

2) Do the same for medical supplies like insulin and needles. Our local vet charges twice as much for needles than many online wholesalers. The savings again, is in the hundreds of dollars a year.

3) Full price toys are expensive. So instead of paying full price, check out discount stores like Big Lots, Tuesday Morning or clearance racks at Target, Walmart, grocery and pet stores. Sometimes pet stores offer locally made pet toys at a fraction of the cost.

4) Consider insurance plans for your pets when they are young. By the time I realized the options available, my cats were too old. Make sure to shop around, too. There are many different plans offered through pet stores, shelters, and even the workplace.

You can begin saving money immediately with these handy tips.