Pet owners can disagree on a lot. Are cats better, or are dogs? What's the best breed of dog? You get the idea…
But there's one thing that all pet owners can agree on – Fluffy and Fido can eat up a good chunk of your monthly budget!
Pet food, toys, blankets, and flea medicine can all add up quickly.
But fear not! Here are 5 smart ways to save money on pet supplies to make life with your furry (or feathery, or scaly) friend a bit more affordable.
1. Ask Pet Food Manufacturers for Discounts
I love saving money, but I'm not big on couponing. We can save my explanation for that for another post. Let's just say that I tend to clip coupons only for higher-priced items. I count pet food among those high-dollar items.
I recently assisted a friend who operates a pet rescue with obtaining some supplies with her limited budget. I had the thought of just calling Purina and asking them for a donation. Much to my surprise, they sent me six coupons for free bags of Purina feed (including their premium brands) up to $23.99. In literally a three minute phone call, I found almost $150 in free dog food.
Stunned, I looked up the customer service number to the brand of dog food that my dog eats, Hill's Science Diet. I inquired about any free coupons, and they mailed me out a coupon for one free 10-pound bag of food. This was a $30 value. They also included two $5 coupons off of future purchases, so that's another $10 value received from this phone call.
Do I suggest that you call the manufacturer every month to do this? No, because I don't believe they will do this for you very frequently. Both companies were very diligent in recording all of my information and send follow-up emails to confirm that I received my free coupons. However, you can very quickly obtain coupons and save money right away on something that you use daily.
2. Save Money on Pet Medications
Vet bills are unavoidable and necessary. Just as you take yourself for an annual physical, your pet must receive one as well. Plus, annual check-ups can save you money by preventing diseases that are costly to treat. So, the advice isn't to trim the fat off the vet visits. The key is to save money on pet medications.
When your pet is sick and needs immediate medication, you will need to purchase it from the vet. However, you can save big money on maintenance medications, flea and tick prevention, and even pet insulin by ordering it online.
There are a number of online pet medication stores. 1-800-PETMEDS is the best-known retailer. They are reputable and have great customer service. They even have an app to make it easy to process your pet's prescription from your smartphone, making it easier than ever to order!
HINT: Check their website for promo codes before you place your order. You might save even more when you check out.
3. Sign up for Store Rewards Programs
Recently, I saw a television commercial that asked me to text a code to PetSmart to receive a special promotional code. I did so, and I was pleased to receive a code that entitled me to a 60% savings plus free shipping with my online purchase.
I live in an extremely rural farming community, and the closest PetSmart is a 70 mile drive. That made this a super offer for me, and I stocked up on my dog's Christmas presents. Yes, my dog gets Christmas, too!
Since then, I have been sent promotional savings a couple of times that were stout savings on in-store items. While I didn't take advantage of them, it's good to know that I will have these opportunities.
Also, don't forget to scan your in-store savings cards when you make a purchase to build up in-store perks that you can redeem on future purchases. They really do add up quickly!
Finally, consider using Ibotta to receive rebates on food and pet supplies, along with Card Cash to find discount gift cards to your most popular pet supply stores.
4. Buy Pet Food in Bulk
You can save money by buying pet food in bulk if it makes sense to do so. This works best for pet owners with larger pets or multiple pets. If you have only one cat, this may not be the best value for you as food can spoil.
When you buy in bulk, you save substantially on the price of pet food by weight. If you will use the food quickly, it is the thriftiest way to go. If you have a medium to large breed dog or two or more dogs or cats, this is a great option.
This doesn't mean that you can't buy in bulk if you have a small dog or a cat. Find a creative solution. My dog only weighs 12 pounds. I buy in bulk and split the cost of a jumbo bag of dog food in two with my mother (who also has a small dog). We both save and the food doesn't spoil.
If you don't have anyone to split the food with, you can store the food in airtight bags or containers. However, if you try this and the food spoils or attracts pests, this is not the best value for you. Buying more than you can use doesn't make sense…or cents…for anyone.
5. Grooming at Home
Professional pet grooming costs a lot of money, and it's actually an easy task. Purchase the supplies to bathe and groom your pet at your local pet store (using your rewards cards, please) and learn to bathe your pet. Follow up with ear care, nail trimming, and pest control, and you've saved a bundle!
Here is a great how-to video on bathing your pet at home:
Bear in mind, your dog or cat may resist bathing at first. He may act resentful because you are for snuggles, and the groomer is the evil person who bathes them once in a while. Rest assured, the more your dog becomes accustomed to this, the easier it gets for both the pet and the owner. I have always bathed my dogs (and even my cats!) at home as needed. I promise you, the only injury ever sustained was my own in the form of cat scratches.
CONCLUSION:
In conclusion, pets are like family. We love them and want to spoil them. You can spoil your pet and still save money by using these budget-saving tactics. While you may not find every method mentioned appropriate for your pet, try just one or two. You'll be surprised at the savings that you can accumulate.
How do you save money on pet care or supplies? Tell us on Facebook or Twitter!
Written by Deborah Ann Tayloe.
Thank you for these tips,and thank you for saying specifically how important proper vet care is for the health of your animal.
Thanks for these helpful tips. I’ve been grooming my pets at home, and while their haircuts don’t look as good as when they visit the professional groomers, they don’t seem to mind, and I save a lot of money!
These are some great tips, I will definitely utilize these from here on out for my little fur-babies!
Thanks for the great tips! I am always looking to save money. Very helpful!
Thanks for the tips!
Awesome thanks for the tips
Some good ideas here
This is an absolutely fabulous piece; I have learned so much. You guys are AWESOME!!!!!
Lots of ways to save if you look.
Buying in bulk is an good idea!
I have 6 dogs, 2 horses and 30 cats. I need all the help I can get on saving money on their care. I buy dry cat food from Chewy and have it delivered and it saves me a lot. I only feed them Purina. Purina sends me coupons for all kinds of things and I’m in their rewards program. My dogs also eat Purina. The horses feed comes from a well known feed store. I do the best I can with the small amount of money I get on SSI. Thanks for the added tips.
These are some great ideas!
Really I been checking out pet meds. the coupons do help but black Friday when I stock up great buys and the day after holidays!!
Great tips!
Thanks for the money saving tips on pet care it really makes me think how much i really spend and one other thought Warren Buffet was wrong !Who woulda ever believed it !
I have an Alaskan malamute and one cat and my malamute eats soooo much! And so does my cat!
Great helpful hints. I have asked Newman’s Own for samples and they sent out quite a few but I never thought of Purina and Hills science diet. I will,p definitely be contacting them, being on a fixed income I look for savings everywhere. Thanks for this article. My email had to change recently, it’s katberg815@gmail.com
Thanks for the video and info. It was very informative.
love the tips. we also check our local ads for sales and buy in bulk.
Great tips, thanks!!
Thanks so Much for the Tips !
Thank you for the great tips. I have been bathing my pup since we got him and he is used to it. Its the clipping of his fur he hates.
These are really good ideas. Thank you. People overlook pets.to often.
Enjoyed reading about anything to do with dogs!
These are good ideas.
I shelter elderly rescue cats, and my vet cuts my bill as much as he can. I have 12 at the moment. Most have no teeth they are so old. I do appreciate canned cat food donations.
I have several cats and have used Chewy.com for years to get good deals delivered to the door on my litter and cat food.
Great tips! I even order my pet shampoo online for a fraction of the cost of vet or pet store shampoo.
These are some great ideas to save on my pets costs. I’m going to call the dog food company and ask for coupons. Thanks