Frugal, thrifty, make do, mend! Let this debt come to an end!

Nonnadiluca

Congratulations, dogs are the best! Whatever the financial cost, it pales into insignificance compared with what you get back from them; what else can make you smile every day before breakfast? I hope you'll be very happy together.

astrocytic_kitten

Oh wow, that’s amazing - I think it will be a great thing overall, dogs are wonderful, and I can see it fitting in so well with your life! I don’t have a dog at the moment, but I grew up around labs - my biggest tip is ignore the puppy dog eyes 😂 Even the happiest labs manage to look utterly tragic if you don’t give them what they want, especially food related. On the plus side training is easier because they’re so food motivated.

Not to be a downer, but private rehomings can have pitfalls, especially if they’re asking for money - I’m sure you’ve done your research around that though.

DawnW

A 22 month old lab will be hard work Elisheba, as they tend to be excitable and bouncy, and need lots of exercise. They are lovely though!  I am older, and don't have the energy to cope with a lab any more, so my dog is pocket sized - still bouncy as he is only 3, but the bounces are much smaller   Hope your cats don't object - though they will probably put him in his place. When we had both dogs and cats, the cats were always in charge.

Enjoy your new friend

PS, it might be worth asking at your vet's whether they have a 'Pet Club' or similar. You pay so much each month and that covers routine injections, all wormers and flea treatments, and regular health checks if you want them. It also covered his neuter operation and microchip. And he gets a £10 voucher once a year to spend on treats or toys. For my mini hound, this costs £12.50 per month, but the amount varies according to the type / size of animal. I think cats cost about the same, rabbits are less, and bigger dogs cost more, but it has saved a lot over the 3 years I have had him, as opposed to paying for all these things separately.

StartingAgainAt29

Aww a doggy! I have no tips as I've never owned a dog (and the dogs I've had the most dealings with have been small poodly types lol) but that's amazing that you've made the decision. I hope you have great fun with him

Broke_Bear

Thats fabulous, i lost my two bears to old age just over 18 months ago and I can honestly say that the love and companionship that labs give is second to none (not that I am biased or anything!!)  they are a handful though.  

Re insurance, I would advise do your research and then stick with the same one all the way through as, so I found to my cost, if you change insurer the new policy will not cover for any existing issues even if they have not been previously claimed for.
My bear hurt her leg as a pup, I changed insurers and she then went on to damage her cruciate ligament which required a knee replacement in her back knee.  £2500 later, the insurance company decided they would not be paying out as she had pre-existing issue with her legs!!

I would always stick with whichever one I start out with now for that reason and I would look at Pet Plan (not the one i had the issue with) as most vets will bill them direct so you don't have to pay up front either.

(sorry for the rambling!)

hope your new pooch comes home and settles in soon x

Elisheba

Thanks for the comments and support everyone!  So far so good with Merlin - I'm just super busy with him and all the walks and attention he needs and fitting in full time work as well!  

His behavior is a bit all over the place.  he has been started on some training but is very hit and miss right now.  He is toilet trained thankfully! He's also only 16 months old, so very much still a puppy.  Its been challenging so far, but he's very good natured - he just really wants attention and doesn't also ways use positive ways to get it, like jumping on people and chewing on clothes.  He's very energetic and constantly wants to play, even after 10 miles walking a day.  I'm going to have to find stimulating activities for him as I've been told they can tire him out more than long walks.

So its a learning curve for both of us - we need to get used to each other and work out a routine.  I imagine I am going to get very fit very quickly at this rate - I did over 4 miles with him before work this morning!

Money-wise, I haven't spiraled thankfully.  I haven't spend a penny actually since I got him.  he doesn't like going in building, and hes not fold of supermarkets full stop so that makes shopping hard.  I have also sad done and put all his associated expenses into my spreadsheet and worked out how I am going to pay for them.  Basically I need to have a couple of very quiet months to cover what I paid for him, but after that it will be fine.  Quite useful we are all under quarantine for a few months then really! Every cloud and all that!

Honeysucklelou2

How lovely that you have been able to get a dog. We used to have something called a konk that food could be put inside and then frozen, so keeps dogs occupied for quite a while.

Chrystal

Honeysucklelou2 said:

How lovely that you have been able to get a dog. We used to have something called a konk that food could be put inside and then frozen, so keeps dogs occupied for quite a while.

Think it's called a 'Kong'   The puzzle things are definitely what keeps them occupied AND wears them out.... worth their weight in gold

He sounds delightful

Elisheba

Afternoon, everyone. 
I hope everyone is safe and healthy and managing in isolation. I have been run ragged by my new furbaby, and getting lots of exercise.  

Food wise this month I have probably spent about £25 extra on food shopping this month than planned.  Some of this was just using more than expected, some was paying more than expected because my normal cheap brands weren't available, and some was just chocolate and other junk food to be honest.  These are trying times.

Because I've broken the bank with the furbaby, I will be going into my emergency overdraft for 3 days this month.  If that still exists after the overdraft changes tomorrow?  If it doesn't I''ll need to borrow off a credit card for 3 days. I hope I don't need to do that as cash withdrawals are the most expensive and the last thing to be paid off.  Are banks even still open to deposit money?  Oh Lord, its all so complicated.  Well, one way or another I hope I can sort it out! Next month will also be tight as I need to pay the extra from this month, and I am also still paying off £100 a month towards that massive energy bill I got when I changed suppliers.

With everything being topsy turvy in the world, and with having the overgrown puppy, I haven't been as frugal as I would have liked.  It seems hard to find the time for proper cooking and planning, but hopefully as I get fitter and he gets more settled I'll have a bit more time to devote to it all.

I am aware that I am so very, very lucky in that I can work from home, my job is secure and I will be getting paid.  I just hope everyone stays healthy.  Its such a worry as half my family are high risk. What awful times these are.

Elisheba

I've just looked my online banking and B@arclays have increased both my personal and joint overdraft for about £1000 each!  That's nothing to do with helping people out in this crisis, that's pure moneymaking now they are charging interest on overdrafts! Oh, that is very naughty!