Sorry I’ve been MIA this past week! Lots going on:

• MAN-FRIEND PASSED THE ILLINOIS BAR!!! Rejoice!  (Anybody need an environmental lawyer?)
• Man-friend and I volunteered at the Chicago Food Depository on Saturday. What a great experience!  CFD was one of my 12 charities of 2011, so the opportunity to actually see the way the distribution center works was awesome. We were on a production line stuffing emergency food kits that the city distributes after disasters like floods or blackouts or blizzards. Our team packaged something like 36,000 pounds of food. My item was peaches. The song “Millions of peaches/Peaches for me/Millions of peaches/Peaches for free” kept me buzzing all day long. After that, we went to the heart of Chicago for tacos and tamales and tres leches cakes. Perfect date day.
• One of my best friends and her hubby just moved from Nevada back to Chicago. We saw them Friday and Saturday night. Now I need to help her find a job! (Anybody need a healthcare marketer?)
• On Sunday I ran the Shamrock Shuffle. I finished the 8K (about 5 miles) with a time of 47.27. My best finish ever at this race and in the top 25th percent of all female finishers! I guess all the rehab and gym time this winter paid off. Giant WOO-HOO to myself there. Here’s a post-race pic.
  Total cheeseball, I know. But I love those $5 gloves.  Wheee!!!!
• My brother adopted a shelter puppy! A 1-year-old American Bulldog, white with a brindle patch on his eye. He looks like Pete from the little rascals. We visited him after the race. So sweet! And so glad my fam could save this little guy and find him a new home. Here’s a gratuitous picture of his adorable little self. (Also, anybody need a video game designer? My brother is out of meaningful work, too. He designed this site.)
• Finally, I went to my first yoga class yesterday. It was $15 for 90 minutes. I was super nervous to go alone and worried I’d find myself in the company of super bendy people. But ya know what? I was one of three people there, and it was not scary at all. It was excellent. We focused on stretching our legs. PERFECT for this runner. I learned so much and can’t wait to go back!

OK, now what was I saying about taxes? Oh right. I need to do them. Sigh.

The post Hi there. I’m too busy for tax time. appeared first on The Budgeting Babe.

So I was saddened, but not entirely surprised, to receive an e-mail with this lead:

“With economic pressures on the rise, consumers are looking for ways to tighten their belts while maintaining the best level of care they can for their pets. In the midst of the downturn, veterinarians around the country have observed a decline in visits and spending for recommended procedures.”

Luckily, the team at Merck/Merial have come up with a few tips to help pet owners get through tough times:

1. Be a Grooming DIYer: You might think clipping Miss Fancy’s toenails is as fun as a bad hair day, but grooming is really important in maintaining your pet’s health and condition. And, according to our friends at Merck/Merial, it’s a skill anyone can perform with practice.

An added bonus for taking an active role in your pet’s grooming is that you can identify problems early (e.g., bumps, lumps, changes in coat quality, etc.) that a groomer may not think to tell you about. Doing the grooming yourself can save as much as $400 to $1,000 per year, but to avoid a costly mistake be sure to use products, such as shampoos, that are designed for pets and not people. (Me: cleaning, clipping and combing are easy to do. Why not?)

2. Bulk Up: Resist the urge to buy pet food, heartworm and other preventatives in smaller quantities to cut immediate costs at the cash register. The reality is, as long as you’re mindful of expiration dates, buying in bulk is generally cheaper. (I need to check this one out. Wellness brand cat food is not cheap.)

3. Don’t Wait to Vaccinate or Medicate: Making sure your pet is current on recommended vaccinations will save you a bundle in the long run because you’ll help ward off preventable diseases. Vaccinations such as one that prevents rabies, for example, are particularly critical and may save your animal’s life. Similarly, routine medications such as heartworm preventives should be given every month. Skipping doses can be expensive, as treating heartworm costs as much as $800 – $1,000 (yikes!). In addition, treating the disease is risky and can be painful for your pet.

4. Spay and Save: For the average pet owner, spaying or neutering is a must. If you have a limited income, you may be able to save by taking advantage of low-cost clinics for these services. Keep in mind that spaying or neutering your pet can prevent the immediate expense of new pets in your family and the societal expense of unwanted pets being turned in to shelters. It also reduces the occurrence of some common diseases, such as breast cancer in pets.

5. An Ounce of Prevention: Prevent an unplanned, emergency vet visit this holiday by doing your part around the house. Many items that are a routine part of holiday celebrations could be toxic or harmful to your pet. Examples include:
– Mistletoe and even poinsettia, while beautiful, are highly toxic to dogs and cats
– Chocolate and macadamia nuts are toxic as well, and yeast-based bread dough can actually be fatal to your pet as it causes intestinal bloat
– Tinsel, if swallowed by a curious kitten or puppy, might cause intestinal blockage
Consult The Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health for more in-depth guidance.

6. Brush Up: Proper dental care is an often-neglected component of the pet health regimen. Regular use of an inexpensive toothbrush and toothpaste designed for pets can delay or avoid a professional cleaning costing several hundred dollars. You also can purchase pet food designed to help eliminate tartar. (I buy tarter-preventing treats…yum!)
******

My friends at Merck/Merial note that more tips are available in their book, “The Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health,” written with tips from more than 200 veterinarians. You can buy it for $15 at www.merckbooks.com and wherever books are sold.

Thanks for the info! What tips do you guys have for caring for pets on a budget? I would add to the above that spending time with your pets can keep them healthier and happier, and might actually stop you from spending all your time shopping.

The post Tips for Caring for Your Pet when Your Wallet’s Skinnier than your Skinny Jeans appeared first on The Budgeting Babe.