This post is sponsored by Lunchbox. All opinions are 100% mine.

5 Tips to Save Money on Pet Expenses

Do you have a pet or are considering getting a pet? Pets are a huge responsibility and the decision should not be rushed.   Pets bring so much to your life.  They make you laugh, help you get exercise, protect your home; they are one of the family for most people.  Pet ownership can be expensive and is one thing to consider before adopting a pet.  Because I don’t know what I would do without a pet in my life, I wanted to share with you 5 Tips to Save Money on Pet Expenses.

•  Adopt a dog from a shelter.  The price to adopt a pet is much lower than buying from a breeder or pet store at the mall.  Even if you are looking for a specific breed, you’d be surprised at the number of pure bred dogs at shelters.  Shelter pets also generally come with shots and already neutered or spayed.  Plus, you will be saving a life!  Oh, and just a tip, studies have shown that mixed breed dogs have less health issues than pure bred.  Something to keep in mind.

• Going on vacation?  Hire a pet sitter instead of putting your dog in a kennel.  Not only does this save you money, but it is usually less stressful for your dog.  Your pet will be anxious enough because you are leaving and being able to stay in their own home, in a comfortable environment helps lessen the stress, especially on older dogs.  Get references and arrange a couple of play dates with the sitter to make sure they have a rapport with your pet.

•  Exercise. It is not only good for you, but good for your dog.  Keeping your dog’s weight in-check helps keep him/her healthy and lessens their chance of developing illnesses as they get older.  Exercise can include a daily walk and even vigorous play; indoors or out.  Start a game of “catch the squeaky toy” or tug-a-war, or play Frisbee with your dog.  Exercise and keeping your dog’s weight in check means fewer vet visits resulting in less out of pocket expense for you.

•  Join brand and store loyalty programs.  Check online to see if your favorite pet brand or pet store have loyalty programs and sign up.  Stores will offer exclusive savings to their loyal customers and both stores and brands periodically send coupons to their loyalty plan members.

•  Speaking of coupons; this is another great way to get savings on your pet supply purchases.  We see coupons on food, treats and even toys all the time.  Make sure you check out our printable coupon lists every day to see what pet coupons may be available. Print out your coupons and head to your favorite store and save.  Remember to check out the cash back sites too.  You can combine a coupon, a store sale and a cash back offer to save even more! Right now you can save on the wide variety of Purina Pro Plan products at Petco by grabbing this coupon: $5.00 on Purina Pro Plan Pet Food .

There are several varieties of Purina Pro Plan available at Petco:

• Bright Minds 7+ Chicken and Rice Formula
• Pro Plan Savor Shredded Blends Chicken & Rice
• Pro Plan Select Sensitive Skin and Stomach
• Pro Plan Sport Performance 30/20 Formula
• Pro Plan Focus Large Breed
• LMB Pro Plan Savor Shredded Blends Lamb & Rice