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5 pets, out of work - need to save SOMEWHERE

gettingready
Posts: 11,330 Forumite

Ok, so as of today I no longer have a job.
My pets expenses are quite big with a GS and 4 cats, ned to cut something somewhere so hopefully someone can advise me here.
Pet insurance for all 5 of them £65 per month (the cheapest I could find so has to stay)
Dog food, bag of Orijen for Zara around 55-65 per month (depends what variety I get), would be difficult to change as with her stomach issues any change of food spells a diseaster....
Cat food - about £20 for a bag of Orijen cat plus some tins.
Also - spare ribs/chicken wings/mince for both cats and dog as I like them to have raw food and they enjoy it.
Cat litter cost me about £40 per month, between 4 of them they go through a 30 litre bag of Pets at Home own wood pellets cat litter per WEEK (they do not go out so it is either that or the place stinks... bless them)
ANY ideas anyone? What/where/how to cut?
Dog walker of course gone now......
I have to say I am a bit... hmmmm scared... right now...
Thanks
My pets expenses are quite big with a GS and 4 cats, ned to cut something somewhere so hopefully someone can advise me here.
Pet insurance for all 5 of them £65 per month (the cheapest I could find so has to stay)
Dog food, bag of Orijen for Zara around 55-65 per month (depends what variety I get), would be difficult to change as with her stomach issues any change of food spells a diseaster....
Cat food - about £20 for a bag of Orijen cat plus some tins.
Also - spare ribs/chicken wings/mince for both cats and dog as I like them to have raw food and they enjoy it.
Cat litter cost me about £40 per month, between 4 of them they go through a 30 litre bag of Pets at Home own wood pellets cat litter per WEEK (they do not go out so it is either that or the place stinks... bless them)
ANY ideas anyone? What/where/how to cut?
Dog walker of course gone now......
I have to say I am a bit... hmmmm scared... right now...
Thanks
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Comments
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Ah - all cats will need to be neutered... in about 2-3 months.....
Zara is on medication, Seraquin which cost about 30 per month (AnimedDirect - the cheapest I could find)
Already made plan (sort of) with my normal bills/expenses but have to also cut something/somewhere on the pets as there is no way any of my babies are going anywhere just because I may/may not get JSA...hmmmm0 -
Do you think you need the insurance if the cats don't go out at all? If your cats are fit and healthy and always have been maybe you can let that go, also worth remembering to check if you qualify for PDSA services. If you are going to be in a lot more, can you downgrade the cat litter and start scouping out a bit more often, so you don't have to completely change the litter. Could you also downgrade the food a bit and look out for offers, eg, the bogof from Pets at Home. Just trying to see what can be reduced to ease the pressure. I am sure your pets would rather that, to make the money last longer rather than getting to the stage where you are forced to make a choice that you don't want to. x0
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Minimoneysaver - thanks for posting.
I have 4 trayes at home and between myself, my daughter and her b/f we seem to be scooping all day
Still have to change the trays completely once per day, kitties are still very young so they pee/poo several times per day.
Cancelling cat insurance - I am bit worried about that as my last cat was only 8 when he developed kidney problems which turned out to be a kidney cancer and was on medication/in and out of vets for 2 years before we had no choice but to put him to sleep when he was 10 years old
I can not imagine being out of work for long but going from a 40% tax bracket to 65 JSA a week (if I get it that is - appointment at JC tomorrow morning) is going to be... tough.....0 -
Ah, the cat litter I do buy is quite cheap at under £9 per 30litre bag....it is wood based, nothing fancy0
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Is there a PDSA near you, as if you do get certain benefits you might be entitled to the reduced price neutering. If you're getting council tax benefit you'll qualify for the free treatment as well. Not ideal, but if you can cancel the insurance (for the cats at least) until you get on your feet again (presuming no ongoing medical conditions that you know you'll need covering in the future), that might help to tide you over. Depending on where you live at all.
Good luck, hope you manage to find something soon.
Edit - do you get the food online? Last time I looked, gjwtitmuss were doing a good deal on the JWB I get for mutt, you can use quidco and they were doing free delivery.All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.
Pedant alert - it's could have, not could of.0 -
Have you looked at other areas of expenditure gettingready? If you are struggling to cut your pet expenses maybe you can find a saving elsewhere?
Good luck:AThe trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt.Bertrand Russell0 -
Not a cat owner, so I have no idea of it's good advice or not, but have you seen this previous thread?
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/36859368#Comment_36859368
With regard to the raw food, is it really necessary for now? They might enjoy it, but if they can manage without, needs must and all that.All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.
Pedant alert - it's could have, not could of.0 -
When you get your JSA claim accepted (fingers crossed for you, I know how stressful that uncertainty is) check on the cat protection league website to see if they do free neutering in your area. We had our two youngest girlies done recently while OH was out of work.Accept your past without regret, handle your present with confidence and face your future without fear0
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Thanks everyone for your response....
It is the hanging in the air bit - not sure if I get any "benefits" and of course I will rather be in another job sooner rather then later but with December being slow and generally job marked being bad....hmmmm
The cat litter I use is the cheapest one really, only about 8.50 for a massive 30 litres bag, it is the volume that the kitties go through - but with 4 kittens I can not see a way round it.
Lots depends on tomorrow's appoitment at JC as far as "benefits" are concerned but still - the single person's rate is about £65 per week from what I know... going to be toughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh0 -
Other expenses - mobile, sky can not cut as still within the 12 month period, wish I was not.
Internet - how can one live without internet nowadays?
Will be turning off the heating and the lights and shopping on offers for myself but still can not imagine this long term...0
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