$$$ SAVING ON PET FOOD $$$

Sometime in December I read a quote, I believe from a Harvard Business School professor, stating something along the lines of, “If you purchase items for the price they are listed at [in this economy] you are foolish.” It is so easy to put consumer goods in your shopping cart, and head straight to the check out line. What most people fail to realize is if you take a few minutes out of your day to speak with a manager, you often will get a discount on your purchases. Yes, I’ve even started doing this at big box stores, and while it doesn’t always work, more often than not I get 5-10% marked off of my total bill.

In these unstable economic times people are watching their savings diminish rapidly—it is not uncommon to hear someone say they’ve lost 40% or more of their 401K in less than a year. With prices on groceries, utilities, gas etc. all going up, people are finding new and different ways to save. For example, coupon use is at an all time high—companies are now putting tougher restrictions on coupons (for example, shorter expiration periods) because people are not only using them but also, planning their shopping trips around these precious pieces of paper.

The same can apply to dog food—especially if you are committed to finding the right deals. I am a firm believer in feeding a high quality dog food. In the long run, the pricier bags of food can and do save you money. A high quality food is able to deliver the proper amount of nutrients to your dog, in a smaller measurement, can lower your vet bills (especially if your dog suffers from skin conditions or ear infections—where a holistic grain free diet may be appropriate). A high quality diet can expand the life expectancy of your pet—particularly when fed from puppyhood. If you are interested in learning more about your dog’s food, I highly recommend checking out this website.

I have been able to save with most dog products I use by contacting the companies directly. For example, Natures Variety has an option on their website called “Try It.” By filling out a form providing them with some basic personal information you can get a buy one get one free coupon. The coupons apply to their smaller bags of kibble, canned food, and raw diet. But, a heads up, you can only select one option. I think the raw food or kibble is probably the best deal to select. I know if you write to Purina Pro Plan and express an interest in switching to their food they will send you a coupon—I know one person who got a coupon for a free 50 pound bag of food. California Naturals also has a coupon option on their website—over all the savings with this are around $15. I recommend explaining you would like to sample the food, but do not know how your dog will like it, or whether or not the food will work for your dog’s sensitive skin, stomach, etc. when requesting a coupon.