When Your Pets and Budget Don't Get Along

With our improving economy and the lowest unemployment rate in years, it's easy to forget that the "Great Recession" happened just over five years ago.  During those dark days when the news was full of stories of homes being foreclosed on, people out of work for months, and the desperation of finding a job, there was another story that slipped past the media with a sad whimper.

The story of what happened to so many beloved pets.

With families struggling to keep the lights on, the children clothed, and food on the table, once treasured family pets began to look more and more like another item on the budget that needed to be cut.

And cut they were.

Animal shelters received thousands of cats and dogs, surrendered by folks that just couldn't afford to keep them anymore.  With the average yearly cost of a dog being around $1571 and a cat being $919--if they're healthy--some families were forced to make tough choices.

That being said, there doesn't have to be a life-changing recession in order to look for ways to save money on your pets.  In fact, your budget and your pets can co-exist peacefully with minimal effort. 

Shopping at some of the big name pet stores out there, such as Petco, may work in your favor, as they are able to offer deep discounts and sales on pet necessities. 

Some pet supply discounters have a strong presence online and you may be able to find a promo code that helps you save even more.

In hard times, pet owners can band together and purchase large amounts of pet food, litter, medication or other supplies at bulk stores like Costco.  Splitting the cost while splitting the supplies may save you money in the long run.  

Another fantastic tip is to create a pet fund that you can contribute to on a monthly basis.  This will give you some room in case something happens in the future and it looks as though you wouldn't be able to afford your pet anymore.  If you have a pet fund in place, you may be able to save several hundred dollars, which would come in handy should you need it for financial trouble or if there was an emergency.

Ideally, people would take a good hard look at their budget to determine if there is even room to squeeze in a furry friend or two.  But, with the desire to have a pet being so strong, some people forget they come with their own unique costs and needs.  If you don't have a pet yet, but are considering getting one, make sure the kind of pet you get matches what your finances allow for. 

In other words, you can't afford a bulldog on a goldfish budget.