by Jeana McKinley

Created on: November 03, 2008   Last Updated: November 30, 2008

During economic hardship it can be difficult to balance your checkbook but we can't forget our beloved family pets. Here are helpful guidelines to ease the dent in your wallet while caring for your loyal little friends.

When purchasing for animals shopping smart and taking advantage of available resources are key. When choosing your pet's food be sure to shop for the best deals including browsing local store circulars for sales. Don't be afraid to look into "Dollar" stores for deals. Sometimes buying in bulk can save you money. Compare size and price ratios to see whether the smaller or larger packages will get you more bang for your buck. Also, do consider generic brands of your animals consumables. Normally, generic items have all the same key ingredients or have the same product quality as the name brands. Buying these products will cost you less and you won't have to compromise the quality of the merchandise you purchase.

Some families even like to take the hands on approach. Instead of buying more expensive treats for your pets make them yourself. There are plenty of places to visit online that have homemade recipes for a variety of pet treats. Making these treats are inexpensive and the ingredients can be found at most all local grocery stores. Amazingly, there are oodles of treats that are quick, easy to make and are healthy for your pets too!

The Internet has a vast amount of resources available, take advantage of it. There are many manufacturers of pet merchandise online. Most of them have free sign ups for savings, a great way to get coupons for the brands you truly love the most. You can also go to online coupon sites that have both online and printable coupons that can be used at stores in your local area.

Lastly check out online pet medication websites. These companies can send out medications on a scheduled time line and most of them won't charge your shipping! Doing this will save you time, unnecessary veterinarian visits and costly gas for trips to purchase these products at stores. Works wonderfully for usual items like flea and heart worm products. You get medications you need, deeply discounted prices and still receive the name brands you know and trust. So, the next time you go shopping follow some of these guidelines to care for your family pet without breaking the bank.

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