Budgeting and Saving Money for Dog Owners
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Owning a dog is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have in life! But it’s also hard work, and one of the more difficult aspects of it is managing your finances when it comes to your dog.
The costs of dog ownership add up quickly. There are many expenses in dog ownership: necessities like food, routine medical care, and unexpected veterinary emergencies, to name a few.
I have had dogs for the past decade, including while I was a broke law student! In the last 10+ years, I’ve learned a lot about how to manage my finances and budget effectively as a dog owner. I have a few tips I would like to share with you!
Use a Budgeting Software
I love YNAB because it uses a zero-sum budgeting method and is easy and intuitive to use.
My first tip for budgeting as a pet owner is to find a budgeting software program that works for you, and stick to it. After all, you can’t budget your money if you don’t even know what you have and where it’s going!
I personally like You Need a Budget because it focuses on budgeting what you already have, not forecasting what you will have in the future. It also allows you to categorize your expenses in a clean and intuitive way.
I like to keep a separate category in my budget for my dog related expenses and then break the category down into subcategories like food, pet insurance, veterinary expenses, training, dog sports, etc.
Plan for Routine Expenses First
Just like humans, there are some non-negotiable essentials that all dogs need. The most essential is of course food and water, followed by any medications that your dog needs.
When making your budget for your dog expenses, start by making a list of all your dog’s essential expenses, followed by other important expenses.
Some important expenses to factor in are regular veterinary care (at least one wellness visit per year and periodic vaccinations), grooming visits or grooming supplies for certain breeds, and preventative care like supplements or flea and tick medication.
There is a lot of gatekeeping in the dog community and I do not want to contribute to that. If you do not have a lot of money saved up, you can still be a wonderful dog owner! There are also resources to help you care for your pet when finances are very tight:
most food banks offer dog food if you cannot afford it
organizations like Purina’s Purple Leash Project provide safe spaces for domestic violence victims who need to bring their pets with them when leaving
some rescue organizations offer short term pet foster for owners experiencing illness, domestic violence, or other limitations that affect their finances
Invest in Preventative Care
Preventative healthcare might be a little more expensive upfront, but it will likely save you money in the long run. And of course, preventative healthcare will help your dog live a long and healthy life.
Some examples of important preventative healthcare are:
Yearly wellness check-up visit
Any vaccinations that have come due
Spaying or neutering
Dental cleanings
Flea and tick prevention
Heartworm prevention
Make sure to talk to your vet about different options for preventative healthcare. For example, my dogs get a yearly shot of heartworm prevention instead of a monthly tablet. Asking your vet about different preventative care options can save you in both money and convenience!
Explore Low-Cost Options for Dog Healthcare
Believe it or not, there are low cost options for a lot of dog healthcare expenses! Tractor Supply routinely offers affordable vet care clinics for everything from vaccinations to microchips.
Some veterinary offices have payment plans or subsidized care available, so make sure to ask your vet about available options.
Have an Emergency Plan
Whether it’s illness, injury, or a sudden behavioral issue, emergencies will happen with our dogs. Part of budgeting as a dog owner is figuring out your emergency plan.
There are two main options: you can either build an emergency fund so that you have the money saved when there is an emergency, or you can invest in a pet insurance plan. If you can, do both! Most pet insurance plans work through reimbursement, so an emergency fund is still very useful.
To build an emergency fund, set aside a specific amount each month that is earmarked for pet emergencies. You Need a Budget makes this easy; just make a pet emergencies line item that you add to every month. If you use another program or prefer to budget on your own, open a high yield savings account specifically for pet emergencies (this is the high yield savings account I use!).
Pet insurance is another option, and it’s an especially good option if savings a large emergency fund isn’t realistic for you for whatever reason. I use Pumpkin for pet insurance because they cover a lot of healthcare, have a 90% reimbursement rate, and have excellent customer service.
Most pet insurances are a reimbursement system, however, so it’s still important to have some savings built up. You will pay your vet upfront and then get reimbursed from the pet insurance company.
Comparison Shop and Look for Secondhand
As with anything else, it pays to shop around! There are frequently deals and discounts on food, toys, grooming supplies, and more.
You can also shop secondhand through Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. Dog crates, food bins, harnesses, collars, and more are frequently available secondhand!
You can bulk buy dog food when deals are available. Joining pet store loyalty programs will also help you get rewards for spending so your money goes further.
Don’t forget to watch for holiday deals! Especially on dog toys, you will find a lot of deals on seasonal toys right after the holiday is over. Your dog doesn’t care that their new toy in January is Christmas-themed, but your wallet might like the post-season price!
Finally, explore making your own dog toys! From braiding old tshirts to make a tug toy to creating your own snuffle mat for scent and food enrichment, there are lots of toys you can make your dog from materials you probably have laying around your house!
DIY What You Can
There are a lot of dog things you can do yourself to save money!
If your dog has low grooming needs, consider learning how to groom your dog at home rather than spending money on professional grooming.
While in person dog training is valuable, especially puppy classes, there are a lot of things you can train yourself! There are also numerous training resources available online and in books. You can also try swapping individual training lessons for group classes.
All dogs need enrichment in their lives! But enrichment doesn’t need to be expensive. While I love puzzle toys as much as the next dog owner, you can also create DIY busy boxes that accomplish the same thing without spending the money.
Budget Ahead for Travel Expenses
Whether you travel with your dog or without them, there will be additional expenses for every trip you take.
Research boarding facilities and pet sitters in your area to find a place you are comfortable leaving your dog. By researching ahead of time, you can have a sense of the cost of leaving your dog at home, and budget ahead for it.
Personally, I prefer to travel with my dogs! I save money on boarding and pet sitting by bringing them along, but I pay additional things like pet fees at hotels and AirBnBs. When you are planning your trip, consider whether you might enjoy bringing your dog, or whether you would save money by bringing them.
Review and Adjust Your Budget
Things change! Your dog’s needs could change, or your own financial situation might go through periodic changes. You might need to spend more on veterinary expenses one month and then more on training the next month. Reviewing your budget regularly will help you adjust. I personally like to review and reassess my budget every 1-3 months.
