Three simple tips to save on pet expenses

As people continue to shop online for essentials, there’s one category that cannot be forgotten – pets.

And according to a recent survey conducted by TopCashback.com, the USA’s most generous cashback site, 27% of Americans spend between $501 to $1,000 on their furry friends per year.

The survey polled a cross section of 948 adults, aged 18 and over.

Furry friends?

For the question “Do you own a pet?” 83% answered yes, and 17% said no.

The top four responses to “How many pets do you own?” found people had one, 41%; two, 24%; three, 14%, and six or more, 9%.

Me-ow much do you spend?

On average, how much do people spend on their pet per year, including veterinarian expenses? According to the top five responses, 27% spent $501 to $1,000, 24% spent $1,001 to $2,500, 20% spent $251 to $500, 10% spent $100 to $250 and 8% spent $2,501 to $5,000.

Do you spend more money on your pet than yourself? The survey found 20% answered yes, 45% said no and 35% responded sometimes.

To the question, “What’s the biggest expense for your pet, aside from veterinarian expenses? The top five responses found daily food, 70%; accessories such as dog bed, collar, leash, etc., 9%; food treats, 9%; other, 5% and toys, 5%.

Whether families have one pet or six pets, TopCashback.com suggested three simple tips to help save on pet expenses.

Try to DIY.

With treats being a big expense for pets, try to save money and make them yourself. You may find that you already have nutritious ingredients in your kitchen. Plus, you’ll know exactly what is going into your furry friend’s food. Pro-tip: Always check with your veterinarian to make sure the ingredients are safe.

Stack the savings.

There are lots of options for pets when it comes to food, accessories and even fun costumes. But it’s important to take the time to look for the item at its lowest price point by comparison shopping. Once you have the item at its lowest price point, see if you can stack on any additional savings with coupons, deals and credit card rewards. Plus, be sure to shop through a cashback site, like http://TopCashback.com, to score a percentage of your purchase in cash back from stores like PetSmart, Chewy, BarkBox and many more.

Opt for in-store pickup.

Getting pet supplies delivered right to your doorstep may be extremely convenient. However, if you find yourself buying more products to reach the free shipping minimum, opt to pick up the items in-store. This option could help you score your typical online discounts while avoiding pesky shipping fees.

Rebecca Gramuglia is a consumer expert with TopCashback.com.