Prices have been rising with each passing day, and the bigger your family, the more money you can expect to spend in your everyday life. Pets are a big part of the family, and caring for them can be a real financial burden at times. All pet owners must face regular expenses like food, grooming, toys, health screenings, vaccines, and medical care.

Here are four money-saving tips for pet owners who want to reduce their expenses.

1. Choose Reliable Pet Insurance

The costs associated with veterinary care and treatment represent the biggest financial burden for pet owners. You never know when your pet might get sick or injured. If you have a high-energy dog that loves to play outside, the risk of injury is high. Aging pets are at risk of developing chronic health conditions or allergies. Generally, age and medical history will determine how often your pet needs medical attention.

Find a good insurance policy for your pet to keep medical care costs low. You’ll never have to worry again about vet bills piling up.

2. Buy Pet Food in Bulk

It’s normal to want to offer your pets the best food you can find. However, the best pet food is not necessarily the most expensive. Not all brands use high-quality, natural ingredients. Many companies rely on brand recognition to sell average pet food at premium prices. Don’t choose pet food based on brand and price. Compare the quality of the ingredients instead.

Do some research about your pet’s specific nutritional needs based on age, energy level, and other particular criteria. Once you find a brand you can trust, place a bulk order to get the best price per unit.

3. Stop Buying Toys

There are few things as entertaining as seeing pets playing with their favorite toys. Unfortunately, most pets, including dogs, cats, hamsters, and rabbits, tend to chew, destroy, or lose their toys and possessions. Having to buy new toys all the time can be frustrating, not to mention the costs. A great money-saving tip is to stop buying toys. What you can do instead is look into DIY toys.

Making toys for your pet can be fun and easy. You can use things you no longer need, like old socks, kitchen towels, old fabrics, or tennis balls. If you have a talent and passion for crafts, you can make many unique and quirky things that your pet will love.

4. Groom Your Pet at Home

Grooming your pets at home can be an excellent way to save hundreds of dollars a year. This tip is especially relevant if you have dogs or cats because they need regular grooming to stay clean, healthy, and presentable. Getting your pets into the bathtub can be a real adventure. Cats hate water, for example. However, even pets that hate water like being clean, so you may be able to convince them eventually to find pleasure in taking a bath.

Pets make our lives more interesting, but caring for them is not easy. The good news is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to give your pet the best care.