Many of us have pets or would like a pet but they can be expensive to keep. This is something which puts some people off having one or means that people have a stretched budget or even that they have to borrow money to afford their pet. There might be things that you can do though, which will reduce the costs of having a pet and therefore making keeping one more affordable.

Select a cheap pet

Pets vary in how much they cost to keep, although the price will still range between different breeds of the same animal. A very small animal such as a fish will be a lot cheaper to keep than a very large animal such as a horse. You will also find that if you decide on a dog, for example, then a smaller one will be cheaper than a larger one because it will eat less. It can be worth doing some research as to how much the accessories, food and care you need for a pet will cost you. You might be surprised and so it is worth it even if you think that you already know.

Vets insurance

A big cost of some pets is the vet’s bills. Larger animals will need vaccinations and they are also more likely to need other treatment as well. Animals that go outside of the house are more likely to come into contact with hazards such as other animals that they may fight with or being run over by vehicles. They may even be more likely to catch germs off other animals and get unwell. Animals that are kept inside the home are less likely to be exposed to hazards and are unlikely to need vaccinations but they may still need treatment for fleas or things like this. Getting insurance to cover vet bills can be a way to protect yourself from having to pay out a big sum of money. However, the insurance may not cover all treatment and so it is worth looking really carefully into the insurance policy before taking it out. You need to decide whether you think that it will provide you with good value for money.

Compare prices of food

Food might be one of the next biggest expenses that you have. You may find that you are recommended by the vet to buy a specific type of food for your pet and this could be expensive. However, most pets will not need a specific food and so it can be worth comparing prices to work out what could be best. You will find that if you buy treats to give them alongside their normal diet, that this will massively contribute to the cost and your pet will not need them and will just get fat. So, it could be worth cutting these out so that you can save money and look after their health.

Consider other costs

As well as food, different pets have different costs. For example, you may have to buy a cage, bed, feeding bowls, exercise equipment, toys and other things. Even small animals need entertainment and although you will not take them out for a walk, you may need to exercise them in a different way.  Some pets will need a great deal of things, others may not need anything. You may feel that you want to buy your pet everything that you can or you may be happy to just buy them the basics. Your attitude will make a huge difference to the cost. You will find there are a range of prices for the things that you need as well, so you will not always have to spend lots, but it is still best to be well prepared so that you know exactly what to expect from the cost of keeping your pet.

Find someone to pet sit

When you go on holiday you will need to find someone to care for your pet. This can cost a lot of money, particularly if you have a large pet. If you have to put a dog in kennels or a cat in a cattery it can be more expensive than the cost of taking yourself on holiday and so you may feel it is not even worth going away. However, it might be that you have friends and family that will be able to help you out. You need to be sure of this though before you book anything up. You want to make sure that you can get care that you can afford for your pet. If you have a small caged animal then you will not be able to put them in this sort of place so you will rely on friends and family to help you out. You will therefore need to be sure that you can get the help that you need before you get a pet or book a holiday if you already have one.