Pea of Sweetness

Frugal Dog Tips

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of the Dog Bark Collar Store. All opinions are 100% mine. For more information please view my Disclosure Policy.
 
Saving money is so important. Having a large-breed dog costs can definitely add up. Here are some tips to help you keep those costs down.
Frugal Dog Tips

Do the Grooming Yourself

It’s not an easy task to bathe a mastiff that hates water, but spending $50 for someone else to give her a bath isn’t ideal. Bathe your dog at home or find a facility that offers self-serve dog baths, which cost less than having a full-service groom. This is a great way to save a few dollars. If your dog’s breed requires more than bathing consider purchasing clippers and learning how to groom them yourself. It may take time and practice but is well worth the savings.

Skip the Expensive Treats

We love to spoil our pup, but dog treats can become a big expense. Many of those high-cost treats aren’t healthy for them either! Treats are great for rewards, so you definitely don’t want to skip them altogether. Consider making your own treats. There are many resources out there. Or use fruits and vegetables! (Though please be aware of those that may be dangerous to your pup like grapes and avocados.)

Take Them With You

Boarding costs can be extremely expensive. When you add on the “extras” like play time, treats, etc. costs can rise into hundreds of dollars for a week away! Because we don’t want the bare minimum for our dogs it’s expected to add some “extras” during their stay. Hiring a pet sitter can be just as costly as rates have risen over the past couple of years.
So what are we to do?
If you’re not able to have friends or family members care for your dog while you’re away – take them with you! There are many pet friendly hotels, and some don’t even charge extra to include your pet. We have stayed in multiple hotels with our mastiff at no extra cost!

Training

Having been a dog trainer I often heard that most dog owners don’t take a training class or hire a trainer because of the cost. If you are unable to train them at home as well as provide proper socialization they may receive through a group training class you may find the costs of NOT having training far exceed the costs of training. Destroyed furniture, walls, carpet, yard, garden, etc. can be costly to replace.
If your dog isn’t socialized properly they may react negatively toward other dogs – or even other people, which can result in financial consequences (fines, court fees, etc.) – not to mention consequences beyond the financial consequences. So although training is an investment up front it is a money saver long term.

Keep Them Healthy

This may seem obvious, but it really is an important point. Make sure your dog visits the vet regularly for check-ups and is on preventive treatments for fleas and heart worms. Should they get fleas or heart worms due to not being on preventive treatment the costs to treat them can be steep. Many think of flea treatment as just a bath, spray, and/or collar, but you would actually need to treat your entire home and possibly even your yard. Costs definitely add up quickly. Heart worm treatment is very costly. It can cost over $1000 if you have a large-breed dog.
Beyond vet care and preventive treatment make sure your dog is eating well, getting plenty of water, and gets exercise regularly. These are all important to maintaining good health. Make sure when purchasing dog food you read ingredients carefully. This is an area where cheaper is not better. In fact, it can be far worse.
I actually suggest spending a little more for a high quality food because it will not only help them maintain better health, but they will eat less because it has more nutrients instead of fillers. My rule of thumb is – if corn is in the first five ingredients it is not a quality dog food as corn is a filler. They will eat more (and go to the bathroom more). So you may feel like you’re saving money by buying the less expensive food, but you’d do better to buy a food with better quality so your dog is healthier and happier.
Do you have any frugal dog tips you’d like to share?

What to Expect Financially When Expecting

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The day before Brayden arrived photo JoeyEmCake.jpg
It can be easy to get wrapped up in the joys of having a baby. With furnishing your baby’s nursery and learning all the wonders of pregnancy, it can be hard to think about anything else when you’re expecting a new bundle of joy. Unfortunately, there is a lot to consider financially when you are expecting. The average cost of raising a child is estimated to be $235,000 without considering college expenses, and so it is crucial that as soon-to-be parents, you and your spouse begin to financially prepare for the road ahead. Here are four tips to help start you on the right financial path to parenthood.
 

Start a Savings Plan

With the cost of food, transportation, housing, and childcare, raising a child is extremely expensive. Adding the cost of college to the mix can put you in a huge financial burden. That is why it is important to start saving early, and get into the habit of putting aside money each month for child-related expenses before you give birth to your child. The sooner you start to save for your child, the more time your money has to grow. Saving money for your child’s expenses will help you avoid any financial trouble you may find yourself in later in life. You don’t want to be forced into taking out payday loans, or another type of high-interest loan that can dig your financial grave.
 

Look Into College Saving

When it comes to saving for your child’s future, you may want to use a 529 savings plan.  This sort of plan is state sponsored, and whenever you put money into it, your contributions will become tax deferred. When it comes time to withdraw your money, you will be able to do so federal tax fee as long as you use it for higher education costs. Before you select a college savings plan, you will want to do research on what sort of investment options different savings plans offer.
 

Get Your Estate in Order

Before your baby is born, it is a great idea to set up a meeting with an estate attorney to create a living trust or will. These documents will ensure that your child will be taken care of in the case that something happens to you and your spouse, as well as designate who will get your assets. If you forgo getting your estate in order, you are essentially letting the state make the decision for you. Consulting with an estate lawyer will allow you to also create your after-death documents, which will help mitigate some of the tax consequences after your death, and help your child receive more money.
 

Consider Getting Life Insurance

In the case that something happens to you or your spouse, life insurance will help your family financially stay afloat. It will allow your surviving family to cover all their bills, including college expenses and child rearing costs. Life insurance is much cheaper when you are young and healthy, so it is a good idea to consider buying coverage before your baby arrives to make sure the costs of raising a child will be taken care no matter what the future holds.
*Thank-you to Dave Smith for this great guest post!*

Is the Eco Friendly Lifestyle More Expensive?

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Eco friendly
Making changes in your life to become more environmentally friendly is a worthwhile goal, but it can be a challenge at first to overcome to the costs of some eco-friendly options. Fortunately, there are many ways to lead a sustainable life while also saving money. This means that you save the planet while increasing your savings at the same time! Here are four inexpensive ways to be eco-friendly.
 

Don’t Let Your Energy Leak

The Department of Energy estimates that a fifth of energy consumption comes from heating and cooling your house. While it is understandable that you want to feel comfortable in your home, there are ways to do so while lowering your monthly energy bill as well as your environmental footprint. Much of your energy consumption is wasted because of the gaps and cracks that let the cool or hot air escape your house. To avoid this you can insulate you house to seal the air leaks, which will save you energy and money.
 

Install Solar Panels

Although in the short term solar panels can be costly, they are well worth it when it comes to saving on your electricity bill in the long run. Solar roofing will allow you to take control of your electricity expenses, especially as the electricity rates increase nationwide at an average increment of 6% a year. You will soon see returns on the money you spent on solar panels, because you will be guaranteeing a lower cost on your electricity expenses. You can contact a local roof repair contractor and asked about local saving and financial support you can get when getting solar panels installed.
 

Don’t Waste Energy on an Empty House

Investing in a programmable thermostat will allow you to regulate the temperature of your house based on the times that your family is in the house. It is a waste of energy and money to pay for a cool or warm home when there is no one home. Programmable thermostats will pay for themselves very quickly by cutting your electricity bill potentially in half. You should also consider lowering the temperature you keep your house at, as this will save you money and energy as well.
 

Use Hot Water Sparingly

The Department of Energy states that water heating is one of the largest energy costs in your house. Hot water accounts for about 12% of your utility bill; so to lower your energy expense, try to use less hot water. You can turn down your water heater’s thermostat, buy a more efficient water heater, or insulate the pipes and heater.
*Thank-you to Dave Smith for this great guest post!*
 
 

How to Help Your Children's Future

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blueprint
Having a child comes with a whole life change, because you are no longer just providing for yourself, but another human being as well. This is also true financially, you can’t just think of your future anymore, but your child’s as well. It is crucial to your child’s future success that you start financial planning early on in your child’s life. Here are four ways to financially plan your child’s future to make sure it will be secure, and that their transition to adulthood will be smooth.
 

Create a Savings Plan

In this economy it can be extremely difficult to save money, but as long as you budget wisely you can save a few dollars here and there that will make a huge impact on your child’s future finances. It is a good idea to use ISAs, which offers a tax-free way to save your money. Although interest rates are not high at the moment, ISAs still offer a secure way to save and a decent return. Saving for your child’s future, especially when it comes to education, will massively reduce their debt once they enter the real world.
 

Create a Will

You can never make a will to early, in fact the sooner the better, because you never know what life will throw your way. Creating a will ensures that your child is taken care of financially, and that they don’t have to take a lengthy probate route to have access to your estate, which usually takes years if you did not create a will. It is important to realize that children are not automatically given your estate upon your passing, which is why a will is so crucial if you want to ensure your child’s inheritance is given smoothly.
 

Get Life Insurance

Life insurance is a way to ensure that your child can continue his or her life without fear of their financial future when you have passed away. Having a life insurance policy will fund your child’s living expenses, and guarantee that whoever is taking care of your child will have financial footing. It can even fund financial obligations such as your child’s college expenses.
 

Pay Off Your Mortgage

Mortgages are often the biggest liability that you have, and paying it off as soon as possible is extremely beneficial. If you pass away, by paying off your mortgage early, you will ensure that your child is not left with your bills, and forced to pay off the mortgage using your estate. Once your child has flown the coup, you may want to consider helping them afford their own house by downsizing your home to provide them with liquid capital.
*Thank-you to Dave Smith for this great guest post!*