Can You Afford a Pet (Answer Here)

Thanks to MoneyUnder30 for the inspiration!

I’ll see cute puppies on TV and at the park and think: “It’d be fun to have another dog…” I already have one, but pets are like babies.

They’re cute and cuddly for the 30 minutes you’re around them, but when you actually have one, you realize: “OMG, this is a 24/7 job, no holidays off, no pay!”

I’m a bit wiser now but I, like many millennials, got out of college and immediately got a pet because I could.

Great reason, right?

I thought, “Oh, feeding him isn’t that expensive. If he’s starving, he can have some of mine. That’s a sacrifice, right?” How naive. Don’t be like me.

Our friends over at MoneyUnder30, checked their notes and the research and figured out the average cost it is to own a dog or a cat (the most common of the kingdom taken on as pets):

You’ll be surprised…

One-time pet expenses

Spaying or Neutering: Dog: $200 / Cat: $145 Initial

Medical Exam: Dog: $70 / Cat: $130

Collar or Leash: Dog: $30 / Cat: $10

Litter Box: Cat: $25

Scratching Post: Cat: $15

Crate: Dog: $95

Carrying Crate: Dog: $60 / Cat: $40

Training: Dog: $110

Total One-time Costs: Dog: $565 / Cat: $365

Annual pet expenses

Food: Dog: $120/ Cat: $145

Annual Medical Exams: Dog: $235 / Cat: $130

Litter: Cat: $200

Toys and Treats: Dog: $55 / Cat: $25

License: Dog: $15

Pet Health Insurance: Dog: $225 / Cat: $175

Miscellaneous: Dog: $45 / Cat: $30

Total Annual Costs: Dog: $695 / Cat: $705

Let’s add this up shall we?

Dogs: $1,260

Cats: $835

Whoa! A lot more than you thought right? One-time costs are, of course, one time, but $700 a year for each. It doesn’t include any boarding as well which goes into the $100’s as well for multiple nights.

So, let’s have a quick powwow. If you’re just starting out, graduated, ready to experience life. Spend time Experiencing the world. Take your $1,260 and go with your friends on a cruise. Save up the cash so when you’re financially ready to commit and you’ve experienced some of what’s out there, then pull the trigger.

I don’t know your relationship status, but you also never know when a baby is coming…

Whoa!!

Read more at: MoneyUnder30: The Annual Costs of Pet Ownership

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