Yes, I recently moved from the east coast to the west coast with my husband, cat, and dog.

And while it was stressful at times, it wasn’t nearly as difficult as I anticipated. Here are a few tips for moving across the country with pets.

Make a Trip to the Vet

 
First thing’s first: make sure your pets are fit for travel. When we found out we were moving from South Carolina to Washington state, we knew we first needed to ensure our pets were ready for the trip. We made vet appointments for both our cat and our dog.

We had our vet check their general health, and we asked her questions related to pet anxiety. Our vet prescribe our cat, who gets anxious when in her carrier, an anti-anxiety medication, which helped in the trip.

We also researched what our new home state required as far as vaccinations go. Our new state required our dog received more vaccinations more often, so be sure to check on that before you move. And if your pet isn’t microchipped, now is the time to do so.

Lastly, we asked our vet for recommendations of other veterinarians in our new state. While it seemed like a far-fetched question, she actually recommended someone who we started to see. It never hurts to ask!

Travel with your Pets

 
If your pets have never been on an airplane, now is not the time to send them, especially if you’re going a long distance.

Since our pets had never flown before, we knew this would only add to the stress of traveling. While it was a very long car ride, we felt better about it because at least our pets were comfortable in the car. Plus, then we knew we could be with them the entire time.

Search for Pet-Friendly Accommodations

 
Before you leave on a long road trip, research pet-friendly hotels along the way. You’d be surprised at how many hotels are pet friendly nowadays. Particularly, we were impressed with Best Western hotels as an affordable, clean, and pet-friendly roadside hotel. They have really revamped their chain in the last few years, and we were all shocked at how nice their hotels were!

Researching and booking beforehand is key. You certainly don’t want to be driving all day and have a hard time finding a hotel along the way. Most hotels charge a small pet fee, so be prepared to see that on your bill. We used credit card points to pay for the additional expense, so it was easy to budget for.

Plan Pit Stops

 
We have a high-energy dog. While we knew he loved car rides, we also knew he would be extremely energetic as soon as we checked into a hotel room – and we would most likely be too tired to play with him in a small space. So, we made it a point to find dog parks along the way!

Dog parks are usually free to visit, and it was a great way to tire our pup out before we checked in for the evening. Plus, it was a free way to enjoy a little bit of each city we were in. And, of course, we loved the opportunity to stretch our legs as well!

Bring Everything you think you Need – and More

 
However you travel, be more than prepared. Your pets will need plenty of the basics – including food, water, and bedding. But make sure you think about that.

Travel can be stressful for most pets. Not only are they stuck in a vehicle for a long time, but they may have to spend evenings in unfamiliar hotels. The uncertainty may provoke some unexpected behavior from pets. The worst thing you can do is assume they won’t be affected by the change – for most pets, moving is a major stressor.

That being said, be sure to pack items you rarely need on a regular basis. We packed items such as paper towels, carpet cleaner, pet-approved wipes, lots of toys and treats, a kennel, and blankets.

If your pet is on any medications, ask your vet for extra while you move. This way, even if you don’t use the medications, you have them in case it takes you awhile to find a vet in your new city.

Further, be sure to bring any immunization records with you. No matter where you are, you could always be asked about this, so don’t forget to have them on hand.

Secure your Pets

 
This was a tough topic for us. With such a long car ride ahead of us, we felt terrible having our pets kenneled for that long. But the truth of the matter is, it’s really dangerous to let pets walk around in a moving vehicle.

Not only can pets be a distraction for you, but if they aren’t kenneled, they aren’t secure. Any bump you hit could send them flying. Plus, your pet could always escape when you open a car door. I don’t know about you, but I think losing my pet in a strange city would be about the worst thing imaginable.

We felt guilty having them kenneled, but it was certainly better than the alternatives. And to be honest, it didn’t end up being that bad. Mostly, our pets just slept the entire way. Plus, pets tend to feel at home in their kennels, so we felt better knowing our pets were (and that they felt) more secure.

Give them Extra Attention

 
Lastly, understand that this is a stressful transition for your pets. You as their owners are the only constant they have while traveling. Be empathetic to that and support your pet as much as possible. Take breaks often, and give them extra attention until they become comfortable in their new home.

Related:

• How to Start a Pet Sitting Side Hustle

 
 
Have you ever traveled or moved with pets? What went well? What didn’t?
 
 

Several money-making options are well documented and are considered tried, tested and true methods for adding money to your bank account, however there are many unique and interesting ways to make money that are overlooked.

Whether the world of the side hustle is completely new to you or you’re a pro in this realm, reading our guide to side hustling will help you get started.

Today I have a fun post highlighting 7 side hustle ideas that may surprise you.

1) Brand Ambassador

 
Most people hear the term brand ambassador and think it’s reserved for high profile celebrities and online influencers however many companies today are branching out and are seeking everyday people to represent their brand. Are you interested in getting paid for trying and promoting the newest products a brand has to offer? Then read on.

A brand ambassador’s job is to positively represent a company or brand while raising public awareness of the brand and giving consumers a memorable one-on-one interaction experience.

These positions are great ways to work with major companies, have fun and make great money. On average the starting rate is $20-$25/hour and as you continue to add to your experience, including going on tours or running events for companies in a managerial role, you can start earning $50-$100/hour and sometimes perks are included.

Caught your attention? To learn more check out IZEA or Brand Ambassador World.

2) Pet Airbnb

 
Renting out your space to people has become big business in the new sharing economy but what about renting out your space to furry friends? Opening your home to dogs is a great way to produce extra income while hanging out with man’s best friend.  Many dog owners want to offer their four-legged family members the best of care while they are at work or away on vacation and they will pay for customized services.

Doggie daycares and long-term pet sitting for dogs are becoming a lucrative side hustle for many. In addition, offering side services such as dog walking, daily drop-in visits while owners are at work, and dog pampering services can help boost your income stream in this side hustle.

How much can you make? It can range but the average is $20-$50 per service. With a few dogs per day on your roster, you can certainly make extra money that can earn you hundreds if not thousands each month (or even each week).

3) Rent your Car

 
You have heard of driving for Uber and Lyft but what about cutting out the chauffeuring service and just renting out your car? With the option to rent your vehicle to people who are in town and looking for a specific ride at a great rate, this opportunity is truly a unique one that makes a great supplemental income.

Find out more on how you sign up for this service at Fluid Market and Turo.

4) Professional Bridesmaid/Groomsman for Hire

 
Ever thought about just how big the wedding business really is and how you could get involved? Well, it is a $72 billion-dollar industry and growing each day with hundreds of ways to earn income in this area.

One very unique way is to be a bridesmaid/groomsman for hire. While this may sound like a far-fetched idea or one that would only work in movies, think again. This idea has worked for others with some raking in 5 figures monthly.

If weddings aren’t your thing but you’re interested in the idea, you can offer this service for year-round friendships. Sites such as Rent a Friend make it easy to become buddies with someone for a specific need such as a person to go to a concert with or to be a plus one at a wedding.

5) Coach the Elderly in Becoming Tech Savvy

 
Learning the ins and outs of the digital world is an important skill at any age. Creating a course with one-on-one or group coaching to help seniors navigate the online space and their associated electronic devices can be a great side hustle option.

Many elderly people also struggle with using computer programs and functions to their fullest. Between these services and internet mastery services, you will be able to generate extra income just by using your everyday knowledge in these areas.

With nearly 13% of the world’s population being over the age of 60 there is a large market available to tap into this side hustle niche.

6) Online Dating Profile Consultant

 
The world of online dating is big business and generates more than $3 billion in revenue annually. There are many ways to enter this market as a side hustle and acting as an online dating profile consultant who helps others figure out how to maximize their profile is an uncomplicated way to get your slice of the pie while helping others get the dates they seek.

As a dating profile consultant, you can also branch out by offering associated services such as dating etiquette, one-on-one ongoing coaching and specialized courses that can help your clients raise their dating scene status.

7) Ad Wrap your Car

 
Your car is a useful canvas for companies to advertise and many will pay you well to utilize this space! Ad wrapping vehicles is a great way to earn money while you complete your daily driving routine.

Wrapify pays based on the amount of ad coverage you agree to and the distance you drive which is monitored through their easy to use app. By signing up for making your car a moving billboard you can add hundreds of dollars to your bank account each month!

 
Related:

• 50 Ways to Make Extra Money
• Things My Side Hustle Taught Me About Money
• How to Start a Side Hustle, Even if You’re Busy
• Beyond The Hustle: What To Do When Your Side Hustle Gets Real

 
As you can see, the world of the side hustle is truly open to your imagination. For every niche, there is an opportunity for income and these ten will get you off to a good start.

 
 
What are your most pressing questions about the world of side hustles? What side hustles have you tried and what was your experience?
 
 

Do you know the basics of training and caring for animals?

Would you like to make some extra money?

If you said yes to these questions, pet sitting may be a good side hustle for you to consider.

Let’s cover who should consider pet sitting as a side hustle, and how to get started.

Why Consider Pet Sitting

 
Low Start-Up Cost – Aside from travel and any marketing or ads, pet sitting is incredibly easy to get into without much initial investment. The main cost you’ll want to account for when starting is pet sitting insurance, which will help protect you in case anything happens to the home or pet while on your watch (more on this later).

Pay – According to indeed.com, pet-sitters on average make $12-$13 dollars an hour, however this can vary widely by how many hours you work and how many pets you watch. In doing my research, I found pet-sitters that make anywhere between $500-$1,000 extra dollars per month by pet sitting.

Flexibility – Pet sitting can be great because you generally set your own schedule. If you need to make extra money, you can pick up more shifts during the week, or cut back if you’re feeling burnt out. Keep in mind that if you’re pet sitting a dog, they’ll have a more strict schedule and routine. Pet sitting can be an especially flexible side gig if you normally work from home. You can take your laptop with you and work while you watch the pets.

Mood Booster – New research is showing the positive correlation between interacting with animals and improving your mental health. Dogs in particular can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, ease loneliness, encourage exercise and playfulness, and even improve your cardiovascular health. Nice perks to earning a few extra dollars!

1) Know What You’re Getting Into

“People should know that as fun as pet sitting is, it’s not always easy. You are responsible for lives, which is a big deal especially when many pet owners consider their pets family members. You have to be punctual, caring, responsible, meticulous when it comes to following instructions, and you have to love animals. You also have to be able to handle the gross or difficult tasks like cleaning up accidents, administering medication, and staying calm in an emergency situation should one arise,” says Ashley Jacobs, CEO/Founder of Sitting for a Cause.

Pet sitting should not be taken lightly. “Be aware that you are being trusted to look after someone’s pride and joy, and have access to their home, so making sure you’re securely locking up before leaving and respecting their home is so important,” says Laura Hall, marketing executive at Shiply.

“I wish I’d known the amount of work involved. Taking on too many jobs can be very time consuming, so don’t say yes to too many!” says Laura. Start small while you learn the ropes and scale up if needed.

2) Develop Your Business

 
What kind of animals do you want to care for? How much time can you commit to this endeavor? What special certifications, experience or skills make you stand out from the others? Being able to answer these questions before you start will help you nail down your personal value proposition and set parameters for your business.

Also consider the area you want to serve and where you want to provide care. Are you going to take care of pets in your own home? If so, do you have a fenced-in yard? How will neighborhood animals respond to new animals in the area? Are you going to drive to client’s homes? If so, you may want to factor in the gas mileage and driving time into your losses.

When establishing your business with clients, “Be firm with drop off and pick up times,” says Diane Orenchuk, owner of Beyond the Walk Doggie Daycare and Boarding. “Provide each client with a half hour window or you may be waiting two hours for a dog’s owner to pick them up while your other appointments or plans need to be rescheduled.”

Diane also recommends you require payment at the time of pick-up. Or, if you’re using an app, you can ask your clients if they would be open to paying you in cash, rather than through whatever app they’re using. “I have found that many clients would rather you get the money rather than giving it to the third party,” says Gianna Sollitto, who has been pet sitting for over 5 years.

3) Consider the Pros and Cons of Pet Sitting Apps

 
With the gig economy booming, websites have popped up to help people connect with prospective clients. Some of the most popular pet sitting apps/websites are sittercity.com, care.com, rover.com and nextdoor.com.

With each of these sites, you create a profile, list your specifications and qualifications, area, rates and other details. It then connects you with people looking for pet-sitters. The main benefit of these tools is that they do most of the marketing for you, and can even provide insurance, emergency assistance and educational resources.

That being said, many of them will charge a small fee or take a portion of your profits for using their service. “[Be] aware of the exact pricing models that the app you’re going through uses is something I wish I had known beforehand. I wish I knew how much Rover took out of each gig before I started” says Gianna. According to Rover’s website, new pet-sitters and dog walkers whose profiles were created on or after March 1, 2016 take home 80% of their earnings from each booking. If you’re a pet-sitter or dog walker with RoverGO, you’ll take home 75% of your earnings from each booking.

4) Buy Insurance

 
If you work for a service like Rover, they offer insurance, but if you want to work on your own, you should purchase insurance from another organization. Having pet sitting insurance can mitigate your risk in case anything happens to a client’s home or pet under your watch. For example, let’s say you’re on a walk with a dog and it happens to bite someone walking past you. Your insurance should be able to protect you in case that person submits a claim against you for personal injury.

The four main carriers are:

• Pet Sitters Associates

• Business Insurers of the Carolinas

• Kennel Pro

• Pet Care Insurance

Two things to look for when choosing insurance is General Liability coverage and Bonding. General Liability protects your business from things like bodily injury, personal injury or property damage caused by your business’ operations. Being “Bonded” protects your business from theft or mysterious disappearance of your client’s personal property.

5) Get the Word Out

 
If you’ve signed up for sites like Rover or Sitter City, they’ll take care of matching you with work, but if you’re on your own, you’ll need to figure out how to go to market. Ashley recommends starting by offering to care for your family and friends’ pets for a lower rate in order to get references. As your references grow, so will your trust-worthiness and client base.

If you want to get into advertising your business, try using Facebook to launch a few geo-targeted ads in your neighborhood. They don’t cost much – you could spend as little as $10 and see if you get any traction. Just make sure your copy is clear, short and mobile-friendly, and your images are high-quality.

You can also get more clients by making sure your business goes above and beyond and puts clients minds at ease. “Owners love updates via text, email, photo and video. It is very important to send these to keep your clients’ minds at ease,” says Diane

Bonus Tip: Always Meet Pets First!

 
It’s always a good idea to meet the pet you’ll be sitting before agreeing to care for it. Julie Austin, author and business-owner advises, “You need to make sure you never take on mean or aggressive dogs. Not only is it a legal liability, but it upsets the whole pack in general. Know the personalities of the dogs and which ones will get along. Don’t take on dogs just because you need the money without making sure they are right for you. Have a meet and greet first to find out.”

This is especially important for sitting dogs, as they can be territorial. “If you are watching dogs at clients’ homes, understand that you are entering the dog’s home and should always meet the dog before caring for them for the first time,” says Diane.

I hope you found these tips useful and are ready to dig into launching your own pet sitting side hustle! Animal lovers have found it a great way to make extra money while getting in some quality time with pets.

 
Related:

• 10 Expert Tips if You Want to Become a Great Airbnb Host

• 10 Ways to Make an Extra $1,000 a Month

• The Most Popular Side Hustles (According to Research)

• Want to Work From Home? Here’s 15 Ideas to Get You Started

 
 
Have you made money pet sitting? What have you learned and would add to this list?
 
 

Are you a cat person or a dog person? Both? Neither?

Chances are, if you’re a pet owner, you will go to extreme lengths to care for your pet, including paying for both regular and emergency pet care.

It seems that there are quite a few animal lovers in the United States. According to the humane society, there were an estimated 79.7 million households in the United States who had pets from 2015-2016. The average amount spent on veterinarian care for the 163.6 million cats and dogs in America was $1,288.50.

There’s no question that pets are expensive. You can be as frugal as possible as a pet owner, but there’s no telling when or how your pet might have a medical emergency, and emergency care is expensive.

A growing trend among pet owners to help cover both the expected and unexpected costs is to pay a monthly rate for pet insurance coverage or simply to have savings from which they can pay for any pet emergencies.

If you’re a pet owner with neither pet insurance nor a savings fund, the following pet horror stories (and the huge costs these pet owners faced) may just persuade you to have a backup plan for any pet emergency.

Pet horror story with pet insurance

Rachael Jovero of Minneapolis, MN is extremely grateful that she opted in for the $20/month insurance continuation after her free month of Petwatch pet health insurance that came with the adoption of her cat, Omar. She felt that it was a small cost which provided ease of mind.

About 3 weeks after adopting him, Omar became very ill, slept constantly, and wanted no food. After Rachael had taken Omar to the vet, they discovered that he had immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, which is an extremely rare and expensive medical condition in cats. She needs to continue to monitor his platelet count and pump him with steroids to maintain his counts to keep her cat healthy.

Luckily, due to having pet insurance with only a $100 deductible and 20% co-pay, she has saved about $1500 in veterinarian costs so far. Having Omar’s insurance has made all the difference. Because they had the coverage, they didn’t have to worry about making the tough decision to continue trying to figure out what his diagnosis was. They are able to keep Omar, and take care of his medical needs.
 

Pet horror story with an emergency fund

Lindsey Olson of Minneapolis, MN has a golden retriever with a penchant for eating things he shouldn’t. While attending a tailgate party, their dog decided to swallow a corn cob whole. After a week of acting abnormally, they brought him to the emergency vet. Imaging showed that the corn cob was lodged in his bowel, cutting off blood supply to his organs. By midnight that night, their golden retriever was in emergency surgery to have the corn cob removed.

Luckily the surgery went fine, and he was as good as new, but Lindsey had to pay a $3,000 emergency pet surgery bill. Lindsey didn’t have pet insurance at the time, but she was able to pay out of pocket from her general emergency fund.

After the corn cob incident, however, Lindsey says, “With our next pets, we will definitely get pet insurance. Especially since we have paid for our other two dogs to get both of their ACLs fixed, and have incurred additional expenses for various incidents beyond normal check-ups and care.”

Laura Craig of Minneapolis is also grateful for having an emergency fund large enough to cover any contingency, including vet bills. Even after spending $4000 on vet bills and continued care, she believes that having an emergency fund is cheaper than paying for pet insurance in the long run.

She suggests having a portion of your paycheck automatically deposited into an emergency savings account. She says, “It’s amazing how quickly it adds up and is so easy. That’s my emergency fund for whatever may happen, including pet problems.”

Jamie Kauppi of Minneapolis wishes that he had pet insurance for his dog Elsie. She first had heartworm from the rescue she came from and was on medicine for the heartworms which caused hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (bloody diarrhea). Between the heartworms and the medicine itself, he had to deal with a lot of vet trips and even a three-day stay in the animal hospital for Elsie. All said and done, he ended up paying $2100 for Elsie’s care and treatment. Jamie was able to use some savings, but the rest had to be put on care credit, for which he applied in the vet’s office.
 

Deciding on pet insurance

If you decide that pet insurance is an expense that you’re both willing and able to afford, to help protect yourself from the costs of devastating medical disasters with your pets, then you’ll have a ton of companies to choose from.

According to ConsumerAdvocate.org the following companies are the best Pet Insurance companies: Healthy Paws, PetPlan, Trupanion, Embrace, PetsBest, and Petfirst. You can also pay for a pet health insurance policy through regular companies such as Progressive or Farmers Insurance. It may be worth looking into whether or not you can get added coverage for your pet in a bundle with your car or home insurance.

Make sure to get quotes from at least three different companies and compare the product that they’re offering. When you’re armed with lower quotes from different companies and have a list of the services that are included in that rate, then you may be able to negotiate a lower price with a different company. Insurance companies want your business, and they are usually able to haggle on the price to either keep you or secure you as their customer.
 

Deciding on a pet emergency fund

If you decide that pet insurance simply isn’t worth the cost, then you’ll definitely want to consider either starting a separate pet emergency fund or beefing up your catch-all emergency fund.

You don’t want to be left making the choice of not being able to save your furry family member because you can’t afford the medicine or procedure necessary to keep them with you longer. Decide before hand how much you would be willing to pay for medical treatment and try to put that much into savings for a pet emergency.
 

Choosing a combination of the two

You may even want to consider purchasing a basic pet insurance plan with a low monthly fee and a reasonable deductible while having a smaller pet emergency fund on the side as well. If for example, you’re able to get a pet insurance plan for $20 a month with a $200 deductible, you would only need to have $500 or so in your pet emergency fund. You’ll know that you’ll be covered both for basic shots and medical upkeep, as well as the chance of a bigger pet emergency.
 

Are you willing to fund the liability of having pets?

Remember, no matter whether you decide pet insurance is worth the cost or not, and whether you decide to start a savings account specifically for pet incidentals, it’s a good idea to have at least $1,000 set aside in your general emergency fund.

Life is full of emergencies, and pet care is just one of them. Give yourself some breathing room in your budget, either through insurance or savings, so that you can make the best decision possible for both your family and your pet. You don’t want to have to face the impossible decision of not being able to afford much-needed care for your furry family member.

Have you ever dealt with an expensive pet emergency? Do you have pet insurance or wish that you had pet insurance? How do you deal with your emergency veterinarian bills?

This post is by our regular contributor, Erin.

Have you ever visited an animal shelter, a rescue organization, or a breeder when looking to adopt a pet? It’s really hard to say “no” when adorable puppies and kittens are vying for your attention in the most adorable way, isn’t it?

I get it. I worked at an animal shelter, and I always wished I could give all of the dogs and cats there a home.

While I appreciate people’s enthusiasm for wanting to adopt a pet, sometimes the enthusiasm leads to neglecting the financial aspects of adoption.

You fall in love with a dog or a cat and want to take it home immediately. Maybe the upfront adoption costs aren’t enough to make you think twice, but pets can be downright expensive to have, especially in the future when they’re older and experiencing health problems.

I could tell plenty of stories from my time working at the animal shelter of people who were financially irresponsible and couldn’t afford to take care of their pet anymore. That’s a situation no one wants to be in. Please take these financial considerations before adopting a pet to heart before taking one home.

1) Vet Bills

This is the first and most important. If your pet is having any problems, then they need to go to the vet. You could get a bill that’s less than $100, or your pet could need a series of ongoing treatments that total well over $1,000. Surgery could cost a few thousand dollars.

Thankfully, there’s pet insurance, but it’s not a magical solution by any means. More often than not, basic insurance doesn’t cover routine things like physicals, and it won’t cover the entire cost of a surgery or any pre-existing conditions your pet is determined to have. You’ll still have out of pocket expenses (and a deductible) that need to be planned for.

I highly recommend saving a separate emergency fund for your pet should anything happen to them. If you can’t afford to treat your pet, you probably shouldn’t have one. You might be able to provide a home, food, and love for a pet, but you also need to make sure you can provide the proper care for them.

“But my puppy/kitty is healthy!” Sure, but dogs and cats often don’t know any better when it comes to making good decisions. You know, curiosity killed the cat and all…

One of my former coworker’s dogs decided to eat a bunch of fast food wings that were left on a table one day. My aunt’s dog ate an entire loaf of bread that was left on the counter. DC’s friend’s dog ate a corn cob and the surgery cost $5,000. My dog used to love going through the garbage.

Pets are unpredictable, especially when they’re younger and enjoy getting into all sorts of mischief. It’s best to be prepared.

2) Food Costs

Processed food from the grocery store has been proven to be garbage for pets. It’s like the equivalent of eating ramen constantly. Unfortunately, grain-free, wet food, or raw food can be ridiculously expensive, depending on how many pets you have and how large they are.

It can be worse for pets that need prescription food. At one point, DC was paying $730 per year for cat food. Most of the “high-end” brands of cat food I’ve looked at and purchased are between $30-$40 for a larger bag (over 10 lbs), or $1.50 – $2 per can of wet food. It’s not impossible to pay $1,000 per year for pet food, especially when dogs are in the picture.

However, I think it’s worth splurging on food. Just as it’s better for us to eat well for our long-term health, it’s worth it for our pets.

3) Vaccinations and Spay/Neuter

The shelter I worked at provided all the “starter” shots and vaccinations pets needed when they were in the shelter, so upon adoption, most of them were good to go. The shelter also had a vet come in who took care of all the spaying and neutering.

If you adopt from a place that doesn’t provide these services, you might be looking at a hefty first vet bill. A lot of people don’t realize how much these procedures cost, or aren’t aware they need to do them.

I’m not going to debate the merits of getting your pet spayed or neutered, but pets do require ongoing vaccines for things like rabies, distemper, FeLV, and bordatella. How often is up to the discretion of your veterinarian (for example, indoor cats face less exposure to disease than indoor/outdoor cats), but it’s a good idea to go for an annual exam regardless.

Plus, if you board your dog, it needs to have the vaccinations required by the boarding facility. On the chance you want to adopt another pet, most shelters and rescue organizations will do a veterinary check to see how often you treat your pets and if they’re up to date on their shots. Preventative care is key with pets.

4) Miscellaneous Costs – Boarding, Grooming, Etc.

Do you travel frequently? It helps to have a friend or family member nearby who’s willing to check up on your pets, or take them in while you’re gone. Otherwise, petsitting and boarding costs can add up quickly. If you can, take turns watching your friends’ pets so you can all benefit anytime someone goes away on a trip.

Do you work long days at a place where dogs aren’t allowed? You might have to invest in a dog walker or someone to check up on your dog during the day when you’re not home. It helps if you can use your lunch break for this, but that’s not always possible.

You can choose to groom your dog, but certain breeds are more high-maintenance than others. My aunt gets her Bichon groomed at least once per month to keep him looking handsome.

What about hiring a trainer to work with your dog if it has behavioral issues? Or choosing to go to a class to socialize your dog?

These are just a few costs most people don’t think about when adopting a pet.

5) Research the Breed

Lastly, it’s important to research the breed of dog or cat you’re considering adopting beforehand, as each breed has different medical conditions they’re prone to. For example, many Labs need hip surgery due to hip dysplasia, and Pugs often have respiratory problems.

Lifespan also differs across breeds, which can help you determine how much you need to save. Beyond that, larger dogs typically cost more at the vet. When I worked at an animal shelter, most of our services were priced by weight tiers.
________________
Adopting a pet can be one of the best decisions you make, and they’re great additions to any family. Just don’t adopt blindly. Take these financial considerations seriously so you can be the best pet owner possible for your furry friend.

What unanticipated costs have you run into with your pet? Do you include pet-related expenses in your budget? Do you have a separate savings account for your pets? What’s the best thing about having or not having a pet?

I recently returned from an absolutely amazing trip to Austin, TX where I had the privilege of standing next to one of my best friends while she said “I do” to the man of her dreams. While I had never been to Texas before, I have listened to quite a few conversations between the bride and several of my sorority sisters on how great of a place it is and was excited to be able to experience it for myself.

I had the pleasure of being picked up from the airport and getting to stay with a beautiful friend who is also a sorority sister and was a bridesmaid in the wedding as well. When I say she’s a beautiful friend, I mean that she’s salt of the earth. One of the many reasons I love getting to spend time with her is that she makes no qualms about needing to do her own thing, which includes a lot of self care. And as she works with traumatized children every day, self care is something that is extremely vital for her.

In fact, I think self care is something that is vital for all beings. Even doing something for yourself once a week can have a positive impact on your health and well-being. Here are a few ways of self care that one can do:

Massages

Getting a massage every month or once every couple of weeks could be just the thing to put you back on the right track. For the area I live in, the typical price seems to be about $50 to $60 for an hour-long massage. So about a dollar a minute for something that could really make a difference for how you feel and if you get them once a month, something you can look forward to.

Exercising

Okay, for some people, this is their worst nightmare. I can definitely understand! But the benefits you get from working out consistently are amazing – you feel more confident about yourself, your body physically feels better, your skin becomes healthier and looks it too! Try a few different ways to work out until you find one that’s best for you such as swimming, tennis, running, biking or the myriad of other work outs that exist. This gives you time to focus on your body and making sure it’s healthy; working out has a positive impact not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally as well.

Reading/Audio Books

Not everyone likes to read, but if you do or have a faint memory of enjoying reading back when you had free time, reading might be the perfect self care for yourself. Giving yourself 30 minutes before bed every night or taking some alone time at lunch to read a few chapters, may be what you need. Listening to audio books on your daily commute can help combat the ‘work blues’ or prepare you for the chaos you will find when you get home from work that day. This is also something that you can choose how much money you spend doing it, thanks to local libraries.

Animal Therapy

If you have ever owned an animal or own one now, then you’ve probably noticed that they somehow just make you feel better. Now, I’m not suggesting that you run out and get an animal if you don’t have one because animals require a lot of care and you need to put in a lot of thought before you own one (David’s wife Victoria wrote a great article about that here); but what I’m saying is that animals can give you the therapy and happiness you need. If you don’t own a pet, get some face time with a friend or family member’s, or go to the shelter and volunteer to take the dogs for walks. There’s nothing like a nice walk with a dog whose love and joy at being with you in the great outdoors can’t fix.

Self care is something I definitely feel is so important for people to give themselves. One of my favorite ways I take care of myself happens when I lay down for bed at night – I relax all of my limbs one-by-one and do deep-breathing techniques. When I wake up the next day, I feel much more positive. Whether it’s journaling, getting your nails done, one of my suggestions above, or something else that helps you reconnect with yourself, try to do it regularly. And an important thing to remember is that while you might not think you have time to do some self care, that’s exactly when you need it most.

What are ways you take care of yourself? Do you believe that self care is something important to do for yourself?
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Photo by The U.S. Army

So, I have this little creature in my house. Her name is Julep. You can see her picture on the left there.

Julep is a 5 year old mixed-breed rescue dog who is so spoiled she sleeps with her head on my pillow. If you told her she was a dog, she’d be astonished, seeing as she operates her day-to-day life with the assumption that she’s human.

I want you to know I begged my husband for this dog. We were only dating at the time, and I would talk incessantly about getting one. He would even take me on dates to pet stores where you could play with puppies for 15 minutes or so. He thought that would maybe quell my hope for having one of my own, but obviously it only made me want a dog more.

I finally got Julep for my birthday in 2009, a few months after my husband and I got engaged. She was a rescue from a puppy mill, which had several litters of puppies all over the property. Of the 30 puppies at the puppy mill, Julep was the smallest and the one in the most need of care.  So, once we were able to get her into our possession, she required a lot of vet visits.

The start up costs of owning her were way more than what I predicted, so if you are thinking of owning a dog, here are some things to consider:

1. Vaccines & De-Worming

I wasn’t as financially responsible 5 years ago as I am now, so I don’t have the exact numbers that we spent on Julep’s initial health check ups. I do remember that she had two different types of worms from the bad conditions she was living in, and that all of her initial vaccines and de-worming were approximately $500.00.

2. Spay/Neuter

Unless you are a breeder or have show dogs, the responsible thing to do is to spay or neuter your pet. Given that Julep is a mutt and her history at the puppy mill, this was an easy decision for us since we did not want to further contribute to the problem. For $150 with a student discount, Julep got spayed and microchipped.

3. Crates and Collars

You will have to buy a few different collars because you’ll need puppy sized collars and then as your dog grows, you’ll need other sizes. We had to do the same thing with dog crates. We thought that Julep was a German Shepherd mix based on her appearance and so we purchased a huge $100 dog crate from a friend. Well, it turns out that Julep stopped growing at 35 pounds, so the large crate was unnecessary. She now has one that is appropriate for her size, although we never use it now that she is grown up and potty trained. (She spends most of her day lounging on the couch or in a sun spot on the floor.)

4. Training Supplies

Julep went through a 6 week obedience class starting when she was just 10 weeks old. This was about $150 if I remember correctly, and I’m really glad we did it. Although she’s definitely not perfect with her obedience, she can do some pretty fun tricks. This class also led us to buy special harnesses for walking her, etc. which all add up.

In all my begging for this dog, I never took the time to look up how much she would cost. I was fresh out of school when I got her and about about start graduate school, so I definitely didn’t have $1,000 of discretionary income to spend on her medical bills, food, obedience training, and dog gear. I wasn’t tracking my spending at the time, and I’m sure it didn’t help the credit card debt that I eventually got into. Still, this little dog of mine was worth every penny. Now to see how she handles having her space invaded by two babies in just a few weeks…

Do you have a dog? Do you remember the start up costs?