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The secret's out and we're not afraid to admit it: Americans love their pets. And judging by the nearly $51 billion spent on pets in 2011, we don't mind opening our wallets for Fluffy and Fido.
But as is the case of other areas of life, love comes with the bonus of added expense. Nevertheless, a savvy pet owner can do things to ensure his pet takes only a Chihuahua-size bite out of his wallet...
Save on Pet Health Care
I was happy she was OK, but my ears burned when I heard the news: "She's going to be just fine; the total, including local anesthetic and surgery, comes up to one thousand, eight hundred, ninety-nine dollars and thirty cents." Like me, you undoubtedly would have forked over the plastic in a split second.
Nothing hurts a pet owner quite like Fluffy feeling pain and unfortunately, regardless of whether it's simply the flu, a toothache, or something more serious, a few trips to the veterinarian office can take a Rottweiler-size bite out of your wallet. As I swiped my card, my vet sensed my angst and suggested a pet insurance plan for my now-incredibly-expensive bundle of joy. Pet plans are similar to, but more affordable than, their human health plan counterparts -- for a low monthly rate, your pet is covered for accidents and illnesses.
If you choose to forgo pet insurance, consider a wellness plan. For a small yearly fee, a veterinary office near you may offer a wellness program that takes a percentage discount off your vet visit.
Get a Job, Fido!
One overlooked or even unknown way to help a pet pay its way is by snapping creative, costume-donning pictures of your little ball of fur and entering them in a pet photo contest. In other words: get a job, Fido!
As a proud pet owner, you can wait for that perfect photo-op moment or even dress up your fur baby in a variety of costumes or outfits. In the past, the Martha Stewart Company, Fresh Step Litter company and Purina have held pet photo contests. The winnings are nothing to sneeze (read: bark or meow) at either.
An Ounce of Prevention Beats a Pound of Cure...
Keeping your pet active and trim and maintaining a healthy diet not only potentially adds years to its life, but also cuts down on the possibility of costly vet visits.
In addition to prevention, keep expenses on a tight leash by buying pet food in bulk. To save money on pet medications, purchase prescriptions for your little fuzzy guy or gal online.
Taking care of your pet is important, but so is managing your wallet. Luckily there's plenty of ways to lower costs and make a buck on your pets.
Kyle Taylor is the editor of The Penny Hoarder, a daily blog with weird & wacky tips on how to make extra money.
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We are excited to Guest Host the Ebates Blog! Monroe and Main has worked with Ebates for over 10 years. We have always enjoyed the site and the cash back Ebates offers our customers. We currently have a 10% off promo right now!
Monroe and Main is dedicated to bringing you flattering fashions, fabulous footwear and the latest accessories. Whether you're heading to the office, out on the town, or off on a fun-filled get-away, we can help you put your look together with mix and match staples.
Besides the products we offer, we also have a lot of fun on the social scene. We'd love to have you like us and follow us to chat about our products. Then you can develop your wish list and come to Ebates and get the best deal!
Enter to win our Shoe Tote on our Facebook page! We're giving away 10 them once we reach 10,000 fans! You can every day here!

Hope to see you around! :)
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