Spending a lot of money on taking care of your dog is something that many pet parents do.
If you don’t have children, what else are you supposed to put cash into?
But what if you’re also on a no-spend challenge? What are you supposed to do then?
Well, obviously, if you have taken on the responsibility of looking after a dog, you will still need to spend some money on them.
But you don’t have to go overboard, as this post explains.
Get $125 Cash to Help with Dog Expenses from ING
If you are a new customer of ING you can get $125 for opening an everyday account with them by doing the following steps:
- Open an everyday account, put the promo code CNW116 in the promo box (you must use the code to get the $125 bonus), and complete all the steps below in the first month.
- Deposit $1,000 into the account such as your income or Centrelink payments. It does not need to be $1,000 at once, it simply needs to be $1,000 within that month.
- Make 5 settled transactions.
- Open a Savings Maximiser.
- Deposit any amount into the Savings Maximiser.
Then you get your $125 the following month when the promotion is running. Promotion periods vary. The current promotion runs until 31 May 2026.
Buy in Bulk
First, you’ll want to buy all of your doggie essentials like poop bags and treats in bulk.
These are often much cheaper when you purchase them all upfront because it allows businesses to get rid of their stock.
Buying in bulk can reduce the price per unit by up to 50%, so you could be looking at far lower costs in the long run if you go down this route.
Yes, you do need to have some money upfront, but that’s where the spending essentially stops.
Train Yourself
Another way to save money is to train your dog instead of sending them to an expensive school.
This approach is free and is something you can do at home, provided you have the knowledge, patience and time.
Training a dog yourself will usually take about eight weeks.
But once you reach the end of the process, they know you and can respond to cues instantly.
However, if this isn’t something you are confident in, pay a professional.
Use DIY Dog Food
You could also get raw dog food from a vendor or make it yourself.
Remember, dogs are omnivorous, so they are happy eating all sorts of things.
Just make sure you avoid banned items like raisins, onion, and chocolate, as these can force a visit to the vet.
When making cheap food, you could combine high-quality raw with inexpensive carbs, like rice and pasta.
This combination is often the best for bringing down food costs substantially and making it far less expensive to take care of your pets.
Do thorough research though to ensure you are feeding your dog correctly.
Invest In Preventative Healthcare
It’s also an idea to invest in preventative healthcare wherever possible.
You want to ensure your dog has all their meds up to date, including vaccinations and flea checks.
Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, it is easier to prevent problems from emerging in the first place than it is to treat them.
Make Toys At Home
Slightly more controversially, you can save money on dogs by making toys at home.
The best approach here is to repurpose existing kids’ toys and turn them into something a dog might want.
For example, pups love rope toys made of old children’s clothes or big moving boxes for play time.
Usually, your dog will tell you if there’s something they like and want to explore further.
Exercise For Free
Finally, you can exercise your dog for free.
Instead of paying for walkers or taking them to daycare, you can go hiking with them in the local woods or even take them with you when you cycle your bicycle.
