Like most couples today, my husband and I are trying to spend less and save more. Here are a few things we’ve done to conserve cash when it comes to caring for our two cats:

*  We were paying a lot at the vet, so we shopped around for a new one. We called nearby clinics and asked about their prices, and asked friends for recommendations. We ended up switching to a friend’s vet. An exam used to cost us about $90 per cat; now we pay $45 (we live in New York City so the cost is still pretty high!).

*  Find toys around the house. My cats love batting around Q-Tips, emery boards and ponytail holders (be sure to monitor cats as they play with these items—and put them out of reach after use. They could potentially be a choking hazard if your cat puts them in her mouth).

*  Cat food is expensive at our nearby corner deli (about $3 for an 18-oz. box of Cat Chow). So we make sure to pick up a couple of big bags of food when we go to Walmart or Target, where it is much cheaper (it’s usually about $15 or so for a 16-lb. bag, depending on sales). This saves us about $2 per pound.

*  Barter with other animal lovers. My former roommate and I used to feed each other’s cats when one of us went out of town—that way, we didn’t have to pay a cat sitter. You could do this with neighbors or friends as well.

Posted by Emily Hendricks Turnier, Associate Editor

SEE ALSO:
Find deals on pet food
Surprising ways to save on pet health care
What’s the best pet advice you’ve ever received?
Little known pet health hazards

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