3 hidden costs of owning a pet

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These can really creep up on you.

Key Point

• There are certain pet-related expenses that most people know to budget for.
• There are also unexpected expenses that can drain your budget for loops.
• You may need to upgrade your car, change your vacation accommodation, or improve your grooming.

Adopting a pet is a big job, both logistically and financially. Owning a pet can cost thousands of dollars a year when you factor in costs such as food, medicines, equipment, and pet insurance. But while you probably know what these costs are, there are some lesser-known costs that may creep up on you as a pet owner.

1. Need a bigger car

Large dogs and small cars don’t always mix. Consider a family of five with a small car and a 65-pound dog. All human seats in that vehicle can be reserved. But where do dogs go?

Some animal lovers learn the hard way that adopting a pet means they need to jump into a bigger vehicle that can accommodate them. etc. brings a whole world of extra spending (because bigger cars tend to use more gas).

2. You have to pay high prices for pet-friendly vacation rentals and hotels

There are hotels and many private vacation rentals that allow pets, but for a fee. In some cases, you may be required to pay a non-refundable pet fee to cover costs such as needing to clean pet hair and potential light damage such as scratches on floors and walls. Otherwise, you’ll simply be charged a much higher nightly rate for the option to bring your pet on your trip.

To be clear, it often costs less to pay for a pet-friendly rental than it does to board your pet or find a pet sitter while traveling. That way, your pet can come along and be part of the fun.

3. You have to pay for grooming

You may think you can take care of your pet’s grooming needs yourself, especially if you have a short-coated dog. But remember, grooming often goes beyond basic shampoo. For example, animals need their claws clipped, and every time you try to get close to them with your nail clippers, a big, stocky dog ​​will shove you into the ground.

So it’s best to assume you’ll be spending some money on grooming appointments.You can shop for the most competitive prices in town, but you’ll have to Something.

Having a pet is really great. But before you go that route, research your budget to make sure you can actually afford the various expenses at hand. If you are, please hold on. It’s natural to want to bring an animal into your home, especially if you come across one in need. However, we recommend doing so at a time when you can actually manage the various costs involved.