A couple of months ago I shared with you how I easily spend over $1000 per month on my dog. It’s definitely costly. However, I’ve been thinking about some of the ways that my dog actually saves me money. So, I thought I’d share that perspective about being a pet owner today.
My Dog Exercises Me
As I shared before, I send my dog out with walkers during the week. However, I do also walk him myself, during the week and more so on weekends. Plus, we play together a lot at the house. I’m someone who really doesn’t enjoy exercising. So, it’s good for me to have that daily excuse to get moving.
Since I’m exercising with the dog, I don’t have to pay for a gym or yoga studio. Honestly, I’m not a gym person. But, I used to spend money on yoga. Instead, now, my dog absolutely reminds me to just stretch at home because he does it naturally every day.
Health Benefits of Having a Dog
So, I save a little bit of money by walking the dog instead of paying for a fitness center. However, more than I that, I believe I save countless sums because of how much he improves my health. I may or may not pay for a gym or yoga studio if I didn’t have him. I would definitely exercise less, though. He gets me moving daily. He gets my fresh air and sunshine. As a result, I know that I’m healthier. And obviously a healthier body pays less for healthcare.
My Dog Entertains Me
I truly could play with dog all ay long. Just watching him is a delight. He’s funny and silly and loving and adorable. I have so much fun with him. Therefore, I spend less on other forms of entertainment because I have him. I don’t need to go out and spend money for something else to entertain me when I can just spend time with him instead.
My partner and I spend less on dates as a result, too. We take him to dog parks and easily spend hours there. Who wants to pay money to go sit still and watch a movie when we can watch the dog play with new friends instead?
Mental Health Benefits of Having a Dog
I struggle with chronic, recurring depression. Having a dog helps my mental health. The entertainment, the comfort, the daily exchange of love … it all helps me. Depression costs me money in many different ways. Therefore, I save money every time he helps me maintain good mental health.
He’s a Good Excuse Not to Go Out
Okay, I don’t really need an excuse to avoid going to things I don’t want to go to. I’m pretty comfortable with telling my friends no to things. However, sometimes I’m on the fence. Sometimes I’m not sure if I want to do a thing. And it helps to frame it as, “does it sound more fun than hanging out at home with my dog?” If it does, then I go, and it’s usually worth it. If it doesn’t, then I stay home, and I don’t waste that money.
In what ways does your pet save you money?
Read More:
- How Much Do Pets Really Cost?
- What Owning a Dog Teaches You About Life, Balance, and Happiness
- How Much Can You Earn as a Petsitter?
Kathryn Vercillo is a professional writer who loves to live a balanced life. She appreciates a good work-life balance. She enjoys balance in her relationships and has worked hard to learn how to balance her finances to allow for a balanced life overall. Although she’s only blonde some of the time, she’s always striving for total balance. She’s excited to share what she’s learned with you and to discover more together along the way. Learn more about her at www.kathrynvercillo.com.
