Buying a pet can be expensive. However, we are sharing ways to save money when buying a pet down below. This is a sponsored guest post by Gumtree.
Five Unique Ways To Save Money When Buying A Pet
Whilst buying a pet is exciting, it certainly can be hard on your wallet! Between the cost of the pet itself, food, equipment, medications, etc, it can be a major blow to your savings account. It doesn’t have to be that way. Here are our top five tips for saving money when buying a pet:
- Adopt an adult pet.
Adult pets are generally much cheaper as they should have already been desexed, given their shots and registered. Additionally, older pets are often passed over for adoption, as they aren’t seen as being as cute as many younger animals. This is just one of many reasons why adoption can be great for an animal and you. If you are looking for a pet which has a long lifespan (i.e. a turtle or a cockatoo), adopting an adult pet can be less of a daunting commitment. Adult pets like dogs can be adopted from your local RSPCA or animal shelter or may be found on local listing sites. Often people moving overseas or into retirement villages are looking to find trustworthy new owners for their beloved pets. Generally, owners looking for homes for their pets, aren’t too concerned about payment; they want to know if you will be able to provide a loving home. As an added bonus, adult pets are often already house trained.
- Cut out the middleman.
When you buy a pet from a pet store they act as a middleman with a breeder. This hikes up the price of any animal from a pet store.
Image source: Gumtree
In addition, pet stores don’t often provide much information regarding your pet’s’ personality, preferences and breeder details, since the turnover of animals can be high.
- Foster instead.
If your finances are looking dire and you really want a pet, consider fostering. Fostering helps socialize animals that aren’t ready to be in a shelter. Many because they are too young to be adopted out. By fostering you get to help prepare pets for their forever homes, and look after pets without the long-term financial commitment. Fostering is a good solution until you can afford a permanent pet of your own.
- Shop local.
It can be tempting to buy from a breeder that a friend recommends, especially if they live halfway across the country it can become quite expensive. Not only is this bad for your finances, but it means that you are far less likely to get to meet your pet before you buy it.
By researching local options, you have the opportunity to meet your pet properly, check out the breeder and in the case of dogs or a cat, ensure your pet is not from a puppy or cat farm. Keeping your search local also allows you to make sure that you are a good match for each other. Additionally, your new pet may be more comfortable coming home with you, if it has met you before.
- Go for a mixed-breed pet.
Purebred pets (whether Angora Rabbits or pedigree Poodles) tend to attract a premium price, with designer crossbreeds not faring much better. If you aren’t too fussy about the breed of your pet, you will likely pay much less. In addition, you may escape some of the notorious health issues that can crop up with purebred cats and dogs.
At the end of the day, hopefully, you will find a pet that you and your family will love! What are some ways you save on buying a pet? Drop them down below!
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