The Best View Comes After the Hardest Climb.

Buffythedebtslayer

They really do. 

Guinea pig wheeks are the BEST. 

It does sound silly but when I had the two indoor rabbits they didn't have as much hay, as they didn't waste it. then when they went outside I bought a bag a week from the pet shop (4 quid) , but kept running out so then it got to 8 quid a week which was 32 quid a month. So really paying 47 on a subscription service for 5 rabbits is definitely cheaper. Just not actually cheaper if you see what I mean! 
But then I do have 3 extra rabbits! 

It would be cheaper to buy from a farm but nowhere round here sells like that. It is all ten bales minimum order. Not going to fit in my little car! 

Buffythedebtslayer

Alchemilla said:

Hope you are feeling a littlee better?

Yeah, a bit. Resting and napping this afternoon has helped. 

milann said:

You’ve done so well with the low spends……I’d go for another one or if that’s to hard up the limit a bit but don’t go too mad.
Pleased to hear your mum is trying a little harder and is realising there is too much clutter.

beanielou said:

Another low spend month sounds good 

Yes, Shopping wise the only extra thing has been the lunch bag. I did go out to dinner, 29.50 (for a kinda crappy pizza and a vodka lemonade! but it was good to see my friends really good) and 6.60 for travel but I allowed that as I don't get the chance very often. 

Petrol is expensive for my car - 40 quid a week. 

and the pets... I think once I sort the aviary out I might be able to use less hay. I think I must find a way to keep cost down. The summer is cheaper, I should remember that before I start having fits. 

Scottiedog_3

It's quite sobering how much our pets cost us.. My dog is probably going to need complicated knee surgery - luxating patellas(or should that be patellae?) and I need to get the animal hospital to get PetPlan to OK it in advance. However, before that will be x - rays and more meds. 

WinterWarrior

Same here, it’s about £350 a month for 4 house cats and a dog, excluding any vets trips. It kind of creeps up on you and you don’t realise how much it’s costing. That could be a fair bit lower if I reduced all the treats and food quality, but that would make them miserable and it’s my job to keep them happy.  

Jellytotts

I love my cats dearly but I couldn’t spent that much on them each month.  For starters I literally couldn’t, there’s not enough room in the budget for that but secondly that’s more than our monthly groceries and incidentals budget. 

When I got my first cat, my grandmother was aghast that you bought food designed for cats. They’d always had cats on the farm that hunted and got scraps. Pets are very pampered now and whilst I don’t begrudge what I spend on them, I certainly won’t be spending more on them than I would on myself.

Is there any shelters or rehoming places that you could buy hay/straw from, I know one near here buys in bulk and sells by the bale to make a small profit.

Are you meeting all the costs for the foster rabbits? It seems unfair if you’re having to spend extra to fit them into your aviary.  Is it possible to use one of the sheds to house a pair? Maybe by adding high shelving for the stuff you need to store but giving them floor space and an added outside run?

Buffythedebtslayer

The following post is prefaced with I have spent about 2 hours in bathroom this morning and feel horrendous, only eaten one slice of bread and some grapes all day. I have done a covid test and it is negative. 

I will pass the idea on to my local shelter jellytotts, I have spent ( when not otherwise engaged) a lot of time researching cheaper hay etc. It just seems an obscene amount of money to spend on hay and animals generally when i work with families who are struggling. 

Thing is i do agree with WW, it is my job to look after them. Their whole life experience is down to me. 

And the foster rabbits. well I suspect you all thought this would happen but the "friend" is no longer speaking to me, she claims I don't have time for her...........no love, too busy looking after your rabbits!! I was really upset first off but now am going with people show their true colours. 

Willowtree222

I suspect that’s a cop out to absolve herself of any responsibility. True colours indeed. X

Scottiedog_3

@Buffythedebtslayer That is truly awful coming from somebody who was supposed to be a "friend". Sail on without her. You are doing a Good Thing rescuing the animals , as you know. 

RosaBernicia

Sorry to hear about the former friend... but think you're right about true colours, and that Willowtree is probably also right about her projecting blame onto you to avoid her own guilt. 

Just looked at my budget and I've gone for £150/month for the dog and £100/month for the elderly cat, to cover everything and try to build up a savings pot again for each by this time next year.  Both would be more if I hadn't gone for lifetime insurance from the minute I got them, in fact the cat would be uninsurable by this point (she is a rescue with various issues).  They do get really good food because I think it saves on vet bills overall as well as gaining quality of life for them, and the dog is in her first year so has cost more in equipment.    I feel similar to WW and Buffy, they are my responsibility so they get the best I can do for them, if my situation changes then I would have to review it but for now this is where we're at.  They do work out to as much as my entertainment, eating out, clothes and petrol budget all put together though - never dared look at it like that before! 

doingitanyway

RosaBernicia said:  

Just looked at my budget and I've gone for £150/month for the dog and £100/month for the elderly cat, to cover everything and try to build up a savings pot again for each by this time next year.  Both would be more if I hadn't gone for lifetime insurance from the minute I got them, in fact the cat would be uninsurable by this point (she is a rescue with various issues).  They do get really good food because I think it saves on vet bills overall as well as gaining quality of life for them, and the dog is in her first year so has cost more in equipment.    I feel similar to WW and Buffy, they are my responsibility so they get the best I can do for them, if my situation changes then I would have to review it but for now this is where we're at.  They do work out to as much as my entertainment, eating out, clothes and petrol budget all put together though - never dared look at it like that before! 

Thanks for posting this. As someone who will get pets if I ever find a place to settle in it helps to know the costs. I hadn't thought of lifetime insurance. Does that mean the cost doesn't go up for the insurance?