Cost of living crisis: money saving ideas for pet parents! 

This won’t be news to anyone in the UK at the moment: yes, we’re in a cost of living crisis. Some pet charities are really worried about owners feeling they have to give up their pets because they can no longer afford them - economic hardship isn’t good news for our furries. But, we’re here to help!

If you’re a pet owner who’s concerned about how you might manage the rising costs, there are things you can do to reduce outgoings. We’re bringing you some suggestions that might just ease the financial strain a bit.

Food & Treats

Examine how you’re buying food for your pets. Shop around, look out for bargains and it’s a good time to start thinking about buying in bulk as it works out much cheaper. Treats are another expense that owners have to address (they can be very pricey!). There are some super DIY recipes for making treats at home, and actually, they’ll probably be a lot healthier too for your furry pal.

Grooming

Grooming can be really important, for dogs especially. By learning how to do this yourself, you can potentially save loads of cash. There’s so much choice online for grooming products and you can even get special tables and tethers if your pet is very resistant to a bit of grooming. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to spend some time with your pet, and learn more about their behaviour - there has never been more pet advice available online, so go for it!

Health 

This is super important and we mustn’t let our pets’ health be the victim of our tanking economy. Be sure to shop around for the best pet insurance deals in the event that something does go wrong. Try to prevent this by taking extra good care of your pet - make sure the basics are in order and learn more about your pet's needs online so that you know how to care for them properly. This could save many a trip to the vet. Lastly, there are treatments such as deworming and flea treatments that you can buy over the counter instead of paying a higher price at the vets - research the cheapest options. 

Pet Sitting

It’s a tricky one - what to do with your pet whilst at work? Most pets are ok but dogs tend to need human company and they for sure need to go out. Try approaching your boss to see if they can accommodate more flexible working, or there may even be scope to make the workplace dog-friendly. More and more people are going to have this issue and will be thinking along the same lines - could you start a community group of dog owners and take turns to walk them during the week?

Second Hand Accessories

We all love buying stuff for our pooches but to tackle financial turmoil, why not look for second hand goods? There are plenty of websites, marketplaces like Pets4Homes and Facebook groups specifically for buying and selling unused accessories and you can get some real bargains! Quite often owners order the wrong size, their pets might outgrow some toys or a harness, or they turn their nose up at perfectly good dried food; there’s great stuff to be had out there.

Toys

Time to get creative! We all know pets love a good play and it’s integral to their mental health and helps us interact on a daily basis. But we also know quite a lot of toys end up in tatters too! Save yourself some dosh on pricey toys and make them yourself. You’ll find the internet chock full of tutorials and you know what, it’s good for our mental health too to do something creative, especially in winter. Everyone wins!

Walk Local

This one’s mostly for the dog mamas and papas (and the one or two cats that enjoy a stroll!). We’ve been very used to jumping into the car with our canines to head to some beauty spot for a leisurely stroll. Sadly, this little luxury might be something to keep for special occasions now if money saving is a priority. The cost of fuel is a big drain on finances and pet owners can save a bit by simply sticking to their local area for morning walkies. There’s also a good chance you’ll get to know your neighbours a bit more - bonus!

Pet charities, and the pet world in general, are certainly concerned about the impact of the cost of living crisis. But, if we all make some small adjustments this will mean that the abandonment rate will hopefully not rise too much. Don’t be afraid to reach out to others for help - we all need to pull together for the sake of our four-legged friends!