Getting rid of them was a nightmare.
To keep costs low, my partner, Nick, and I have gotten creative.
Below are some of the ways we have saved money on pet care.
During the flea off-season, it is still important to keep our pooches safe.
Probably not as good as youd like.
It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings.
But what if your car breaks down, or you have a sudden medical bill?
Ask one of these companies to help…
Therecipewe use includes water, lemons, lavender and witch hazel.
And it makes the dogs smellamazing.
But these treats, especially high-quality dog treats, can be expensive.
Tryone of these three recipesfeatured in The Penny Hoarder.
I swear by Costcos dog food.
The fact that wesave roughly $540 a year on dog foodis an added benefit.
Bathing at Home
Grooming can be costly, especially for long-haired dogs.
Unfortunately, Clyde is too big for a regular tub.
The first is the more obvious:Buy a kiddie pool.
Our second solution is untested for now.
Nick and I just bought our first home together.
On our list of renovations in our unfinished, concrete basement is our very owndog-wash station.
Durable Toys
Our dogs destroy most of the toys we find at the store within minutes.
Rover.com includes a list ofdurable toys that are well worth the investment.
Here are some moreDIY dog toy ideasfrom The Penny Hoarder.
Even so, we have never paid for boarding and never plan to.
Instead, we have developedstrong relationships with several other dog parents.
Some are friends, some are family and some are people we have met at the dog park.
We typically do a trial sleepover as well.
The relationships are mutually beneficial.
Cleaning
Accidents happen.
Pet hair alone will transform the color of your carpet into something unsightly.
The Spruce has identifiedtop carpet cleaners for pet owners; Nick and I chosethis BISSELL carpet cleaner.
A $180 investment has already helped ussave more than $1,000that we likely would have forfeited otherwise.
But more importantly, our house feels fresher and cleaner, despite having two dirty dogs roaming freely.
Preventative measures flea meds, high-quality food and regular exercise will pay off long-term in vet bills you avoid.
They also will ensure a better quality of life for your companion.
Greyson and Clyde have proved to be expensive (yet incredibly rewarding) additions to our family.
Timothy Moore is an editor and freelance writer based in Ohio.
Clyde and Greyson mostly love to eat, sleep and sniff gross stuff.
(Can you sense my millennial sarcasm there?)
You know which ones were talking about: rent, utilities, cell phone bill, insurance, groceries…
