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?

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!*
 
 

Opening Shop – How to Save Money

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I’m so excited that I finally opened my Etsy shop! I’m still building more inventory before I add ALL the products I’ll be offering! One of the hardest things about having a crafting/sewing business is just getting started! I know this because I have been “getting started” on and off for 3 years! Did you know that’s actually how “Pea of Sweetness” came to be? It was intended to be my business website, and then I started blogging, and it took a totally different path! My delays were mostly due to medical issues within my family, but once that passed I found it very challenging to purchase supplies and materials. Sewing/Crafting businesses definitely use materials, and you don’t have a business without them. So, I wanted to share some money-saving tips to help get your business started without breaking the bank!

Money

  • Make a list. Planning is so important. If you just start your business on a whim and take a guess at what materials and supplies you’ll need chances are high you will end up with a lot of things you DON’T need. Resell value of unused material and supplies isn’t nearly worth a finished product, so with proper planning you won’t overbuy. Check the “market” as well for whatever type of products you will be offering. What is popular right now? What is their selling price? How can you offer something similar with your own unique twist?
  • Look for money-saving opportunities – like coupons! As coupons becomes more popular I think we’re more aware of how they can help us save! The same is true when you’re starting your sewing/crafting business! Look for coupons to great suppliers to get your starting stash of materials and supplies. Here are some great Jo-Ann Fabrics Coupons I found! Driving to the closest Jo-Ann Fabrics here isn’t worth the instant gratification of having the product now. It is over an hour away, and with high gas prices, it saves to shop online! I love that all of the coupons are redeemable on their website AND there is an opportunity to earn free shipping! It is definitely worth it to save money and just shop from home! I was able to stock up on both materials AND supplies! The material and supplies have to come before the profit, so saving money in this area is probably one of the most important parts!
  • Keep your receipts. One of the things that is imperative is to keep your receipt on purchases made for your business. When tax time rolls around and you have profit to report you’ll also want to make sure you have your expenses in order to report as well. Make sure you’re keeping track of things like: internet/phone costs, gas used for anything related to your business, etc. Talk to an experienced accountant for tips on what you can claim as expenses/deductions. It won’t save you money in the short-term, but it will definitely save you money in the long-term!
  • Make the most out of what you have. Don’t waste materials. Obviously, we make mistakes, and that is one thing, but throwing out something that can be used is something totally different. You will find yourself spending less on materials and supplies if you make the most out of what you have. Again, proper planning is key. If your business involves sewing make sure to use patterns in a way that saves the most material and use scraps on other projects where you can fit them in! You’ll be surprised how much material you can save with proper planning!

So, don’t be deterred by start-up costs. It may seem like a lot up front, but if you use careful planning, money-saving opportunities, and don’t overbuy you can get started without break the bank! Good luck! 🙂