Stroll into any supermarket and you may see shoppers peering curiously at their grocery bills. The looks on their faces make it clear that sticker shock has set in—the cost of food, and just about everything else—has risen sharply over the past year.
Prices in the pet food aisle are no exception. The increasing cost to manufacture food, coupled with the high gas prices to transport food to stores, has forced pet food makers to shift the costs to consumers who are getting a one-two punch in the wallet.
Finding ways to cut costs is at the top of many pet owners’ minds. Petside explored cost-cutting tips for savvy pet owners and came up with some hints for saving on food, toys, vet costs, and even on that cute carrying case you’ve had your eye on.
FOOD
Saving money on pet food means doing some research and comparing prices, which is the basic principle in any cost-cutting measure.
- Depending on the size of your pet and its preferences, you may be able to save about five to 10 percent buying at warehouse clubs like Costco or BJs. If you’re not a member or you don’t want to lug home a 50 lb bag of pet chow, large discount chains like Target and Wal-Mart also offer lower prices than pet specialty stores.
- If your pal likes a certain gourmet brand of food available only at large chains like Petco and Petsmart, sign up for their reward card or clip the store coupons. Buying online is also an option.
- Local dollar stores often have an entire aisle devoted to pet supplies. Name brand items—from leashes to chew toys—can sometimes be found for pennies on the dollar.
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Want more buying tips? Check out our Tips & Treats section!
