Things to Avoid as a First Time Pet Parent to Stay Within Budget

It is usual for first-time pet owners to make many mistakes and learn from them. But these mistakes can sometimes be very hefty on their pockets. Being a pet parent is overwhelming, and for a first-time pet parent, it can be most stressful, as they may wonder if they are doing anything wrong. This may push them to go overboard and get many expensive things for the pet from the market just to satisfy themselves of being good pet parents. Spending much money on your pet does not make you a good pet parent. You can be one even when you stay within a limited budget.

As a first-time pet owner, even I have made several mistakes. The first year I spent so much on my pet I lived from paycheck to paycheck. It seemed like getting a pet added a lot of financial burden to my house. Over the years, with experience, I have realized that I can be a great parent while I stay within the budget every month. From my experience, I am sharing a few tips with you and things you need to avoid as a pet parent.

Do Not Send Your Dog to the Groomers Frequently:

Grooming your dog timely is very important. You have to bathe them at least twice a month, and brushing them regularly is essential to avoid tangles or matting. As a pet parent, you must know that sending your dog to the groomer can be expensive. While sending them to the groomers occasionally is necessary, you need not spend on a groomer every month. You just have to spend some time grooming your dog yourself.

If you have a dog that needs a haircut every month, you may need to take the help of professionals. I used to send my dog to the groomers every month, and though the results were good, it used to be seriously a financial strain on my budget. I invested in a good quality pet shampoo and started giving my dog baths home.

Maintaining the dog’s coat is also essential, and it is not that tough if you brush your dog regularly. I have been using the best brush for a cockapoo, which has given me good results. My dog needs lesser grooming, and I save a ton of money.

Nail cutting can also be done at home, along with ear cleaning. Just learn the techniques properly so that you do not harm the dog.

Avoid Dental Procedures:

Maintaining your dog’s dental hygiene is very important, which many pet owners forget. This results in plaque generation, and you may need to cough money for expensive dental procedures, such as teeth cleaning. Just regularly brushing your dog’s cheat can help in better dental health, and you can avoid costly procedures.

Not Buy Expensive Treats:

Pet owners love spoiling their dogs, splurging on buying expensive goodies and chew treats. It may not seem like a lot of money initially, but it becomes a substantial amount when you add up. Moreover, buying too many treats is also not good for your pet’s health, which you must seriously consider. Making them homemade treats is a much better, healthier option. You need not be good at cooking or baking. To do so, just cut an apple into small slices; your dog will love to eat them. Similarly, get a few bananas that could be used as a treat. Small chunks of chicken and other meat products can also be used as high-value treats for your pet. Feeding them this unprocessed food is a much healthier option than getting processed treats.

Steer Clear from Pet Wardrobe Collection:

While dressing your pet will make them look cute, pet wardrobes and clothes are highly overrated and expensive. Also, most of these collections are only meant to please pet parents rather than being of any use to the pet itself. In fact, your pet may feel uncomfortable wearing these clothes. Getting clothes for the pet is necessary if you are taking it to a cold place and your pet needs a sweatshirt. But just getting a few dresses because it looks cute on your dog is only spending money unnecessarily. If you are keen on dressing up your pet, do some DIY projects to make cheap pet clothes on your own. This is how this multi-million dollar industry work as it monetizes on your emotions.

Avoid Buying Expensive Toys:

Another unnecessary expenditure I see a lot of pet parents doing is buying a lot of toys for the dog. Initially, I used to buy a new toy every time I took my dog to the pet store. My dog could play with the toy for a day or two and then get bored of it. She is more interested in playing with socks rather than expensive toys. I learned it the hard way, but you should stop yourself from making this mistake. Dogs do not really care if the toy is expensive or cheap. They will be attached to one or two toys and mostly want to play with them. Figure out the toy your dog likes the most and let them play with it.

Do Not Raise a Lay Pet:

I cannot emphasize this enough as it is the best way to save money by keeping your dog healthy because the vet bills will be much lower. Your dog should be active most of the day, which is good for its health. Play with the dog as much as you can; take it out for long walks twice a day, and play fetch with them in an open space and try to give the maximum off-leash time. Keeping your dog active is very good for their mental and physical health and will keep them healthy for a long time.

The Bottom Line:

It is good to cut short on unnecessary expenditures, but that does not mean you avoid spending on necessities such as good quality dog food, visiting reputed veterinary, and giving your pet the proper medication it needs. There are several areas where you can cut down on the budget every month to ensure that you do not overdo the budget when it comes to spending on your pet. Budgeting the expenditure carefully can give your pet the best life while saving some bucks.