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Authors: Clark Howard
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and claims processing. Yet, perhaps because it once was just about useless, only about 1 percent of pet owners buy pet insurance.
The best way to find a good pet insurance company is to ask your vet which insurance their customers have had the best results with. Premiums for pet insurance start at about $10 a month per pet, and are based on the type of pet, its age, and the type of insurance plan you choose. Some plans cover major illnesses only, while others also include routine vaccinations, heartworm prevention, and flea control medication.
I’m neutral about pet insurance. It makes sense if you would be financially or emotionally crushed if your pet became seriously ill and you had to decide between two terrible outcomes. If you’re interested, ask your vet what plans he or she likes, and which one customers have had a good experience with.
A great way to save on pet medicines is to visit PetCareRX.com, an online pet pharmacy. For example, Heartgard Plus, a chewable heartworm prevention medicine, costs $19.77 on PetCareRX.com versus $34.44 at PetsMart. Advantage flea killer for dogs costs $32 on PetCare RX.com, and PetsMart charges $40.02.
• Tips on Pets •
If you want a purebred dog, get one from one of the rescue societies for the breed you like.
There are a lot of good reasons to own a mixed-breed dog. Get one at the Humane Society or shelter in your city.
Inexpensive store-brand food should be fine for most animals. Make sure it has AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) on its label, your assurance that it will meet the complete nutrition needs of your pet. Dry food is cheaper.
I’m neutral on pet health insurance. It makes sense if you would be financially or emotionally crushed if your pet became seriously ill.
Save money on pet medicines at www.PetCareRX.com
• Internet •
www.hsus.org
www.PetCareRX.com
www.about-dogs.com
CHAPTER 3
NECESSITIES
Of all the things we spend money on each month, some could be considered things we need, and some could be considered things we don’t need. But the distinction between the two isn’t that easy to make.
What must we buy? Well, we have to wear clothes every day and have shoes on our feet. If we get sick, we may need a prescription medicine to help us get better.
Other products or services, such as a haircut or cosmetics, are less necessary, but have become an important part of today’s lifestyle. In this chapter, I’ll show you some strategies to save money on some of the necessities of life, and others you may think of as necessities.
I’ll also show you how to save on something I wear every day but hate: eyeglasses. Or, if you can stand putting them in your eyes, I’ll show you how to save on contact lenses.
We may need to get dressed every day, but we certainly don’t need the amount of clothes that many people own. I once bought a house that was built in 1937, and the closet in the master bedroom was barely larger than the door. In those days, ten outfits might be all a couple owned. Now those ten outfits might be enough for two people for a week.
As you read this chapter, think about some of the things that have become necessities, that really are optional, and be flexible in how you spend in many of these areas.
* CLOTHING *
As frugal as I am about everything else, I’m extra cheap when it comes to clothing. I recently broke the $10 shirt “barrier” when I paid $12.96 for a dress shirt at Wal-Mart. It was the first time I paid more than $9.99.
I used to buy irregular dress shirts, but the last few times I went shopping, I couldn’t find the selection I wanted in the irregulars, so I had to spend a little more.
Clearly, I don’t buy what the stores call “fashion forward” clothing, because I believe today’s trend is tomorrow’s donation to Goodwill. Some people might consider that dull. Others might say I prefer classic styles. I accept dull, because dull is more affordable.
But even if, like most
The best way to find a good pet insurance company is to ask your vet which insurance their customers have had the best results with. Premiums for pet insurance start at about $10 a month per pet, and are based on the type of pet, its age, and the type of insurance plan you choose. Some plans cover major illnesses only, while others also include routine vaccinations, heartworm prevention, and flea control medication.
I’m neutral about pet insurance. It makes sense if you would be financially or emotionally crushed if your pet became seriously ill and you had to decide between two terrible outcomes. If you’re interested, ask your vet what plans he or she likes, and which one customers have had a good experience with.
A great way to save on pet medicines is to visit PetCareRX.com, an online pet pharmacy. For example, Heartgard Plus, a chewable heartworm prevention medicine, costs $19.77 on PetCareRX.com versus $34.44 at PetsMart. Advantage flea killer for dogs costs $32 on PetCare RX.com, and PetsMart charges $40.02.
• Tips on Pets •
If you want a purebred dog, get one from one of the rescue societies for the breed you like.
There are a lot of good reasons to own a mixed-breed dog. Get one at the Humane Society or shelter in your city.
Inexpensive store-brand food should be fine for most animals. Make sure it has AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) on its label, your assurance that it will meet the complete nutrition needs of your pet. Dry food is cheaper.
I’m neutral on pet health insurance. It makes sense if you would be financially or emotionally crushed if your pet became seriously ill.
Save money on pet medicines at www.PetCareRX.com
• Internet •
www.hsus.org
www.PetCareRX.com
www.about-dogs.com
CHAPTER 3
NECESSITIES
Of all the things we spend money on each month, some could be considered things we need, and some could be considered things we don’t need. But the distinction between the two isn’t that easy to make.
What must we buy? Well, we have to wear clothes every day and have shoes on our feet. If we get sick, we may need a prescription medicine to help us get better.
Other products or services, such as a haircut or cosmetics, are less necessary, but have become an important part of today’s lifestyle. In this chapter, I’ll show you some strategies to save money on some of the necessities of life, and others you may think of as necessities.
I’ll also show you how to save on something I wear every day but hate: eyeglasses. Or, if you can stand putting them in your eyes, I’ll show you how to save on contact lenses.
We may need to get dressed every day, but we certainly don’t need the amount of clothes that many people own. I once bought a house that was built in 1937, and the closet in the master bedroom was barely larger than the door. In those days, ten outfits might be all a couple owned. Now those ten outfits might be enough for two people for a week.
As you read this chapter, think about some of the things that have become necessities, that really are optional, and be flexible in how you spend in many of these areas.
* CLOTHING *
As frugal as I am about everything else, I’m extra cheap when it comes to clothing. I recently broke the $10 shirt “barrier” when I paid $12.96 for a dress shirt at Wal-Mart. It was the first time I paid more than $9.99.
I used to buy irregular dress shirts, but the last few times I went shopping, I couldn’t find the selection I wanted in the irregulars, so I had to spend a little more.
Clearly, I don’t buy what the stores call “fashion forward” clothing, because I believe today’s trend is tomorrow’s donation to Goodwill. Some people might consider that dull. Others might say I prefer classic styles. I accept dull, because dull is more affordable.
But even if, like most
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