We all want to make sure our pets are fed and happy.
But buying pet food can be expensive, especially if you have a dog like a Beagle that eats 24/7.
Buying food with that all important 'nutritional value' can really take a chunk out of the weekly budget.
So, it is important to find meal options that are healthy but affordable.
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To help save cash when buying food for our furbabies, the 9Honey team has shared some of the budget-friendly pet food hacks they swear by to keep your pet food expenses to a minimum.
Here are 10 tips for pet owners to spend less on food supplies while keeping your four-legged friends happy and satisfied:
Homemade pet food can be a cheaper and healthier alternative for owners looking to save some extra cash.
One of the downsides of buying pre-packaged pet food is not always knowing exactly what is in it.
But with cooking your own meals, you can control what ingredients are put into your pet's meals.
Making your own pet meals doesn't have to be time consuming either.
Just cooking up some meat such as turkey or chicken and throwing in some cooked vegetables like carrots and peas can be a yummy dinner for your pooch while also quick, easy and affordable to make.
For some inspiration, here are some dog-friendly recipes you can whip up at home for your pup according to PETstock.
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Another way to save money is to buy your pet food in bulk.
Whether it's kibble for your dog or canned tuna for your cat, buying in bulk is a great way to take advantage of specials and discounts at your local supermarket.
Sarah swears by this tip sharing, she will "bulk buy heaps of Fancy Feast cat food at Woolworths when it goes on offer, which is every few weeks!"
"Coles often have big tins of cat food on offer," Nicole also recommends.
Stocking up on foods that have a long shelf life like canned items will save you those extra trips to the supermarket too!
One way to get the cheapest possible price for your pet food is to price match.
Natalie recommends price matching to get the best deal on your next purchase.
"Most physical and online stores will match each other's pricing", she shares.
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"My dog likes eating some of my leftovers," Lauren admits.
While this may not be the most conventional advice, leaving leftovers from your dinner for your pets can be an easy and sure way to save money.
Consider cooking extra quantities of your meals so there is enough for your pet to eat as well.
Having leftovers is also a good alternative to cooking up separate meals for your pet, as you save time making the single meal.
Just make sure all your ingredients are safe for your pet to eat before giving it to them.?
Loyalty cards can be a great way to get money off your next pet food purchase.
Many of the major pet chains such as Pet-O and PetStock have a loyalty program to reward regular customers.
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"Petbarn gives you heaps off when it adds up," Shauna reveals.
Sindy buys her pet food from PetStock and recommends looking into their loyalty cards.
"If you buy the same brands each time, you get 15 per cent off the next purchase," she says.
"We always buy the same dog food brand so every time we go back, we get about $10 off!"
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Mixing your premium pet food with a 'filler' can help make your food supply last longer.
"We used to add rice or bread to our dog's canned food to make it a bit more filling," Jessica shares.
Fillers can also be high in nutritional value to get in that extra added health bonus for your pet's meal.
Consider mixing fruit and vegetables such as corn, cucumbers, carrots or broccoli into your pet's kibble or canned food.
Mixing your food brands can be a good tip to really savour the premium, nutritional food supply while saving money on 'cheaper' foods.
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Jo says that she mixes her cat's food to make the most of the more expensive Purina One foods she buys.
"I try to mix up the foods they eat so they don't get too attached to one so I can buy the one that is on special," she says.
Jo also recommends to "buy more of it when it is on special" to save every last cent.
This one may seem obvious but it's easily done.
We love to reward our pets with lots of yummy treats, but there is such a thing as overfeeding which can actually have disastrous health effects for our fur companions.
According to Burns Pet Nutrition, overfeeding can lead to conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and reduced lifespan.
As well as making sure your help is at a healthy weight, feeding your pet the right amount as recommended by your vet will ensure you are not unnecessarily depleting your food supply.
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Another really easy but effective money-saving habit is cutting back on buying treats,
Treats are a great tool to train your pet, but they are not needed as a regular part of your pet's diet, nor are they always nutritional.
Consider first cutting back on buying treats.
One way you can make your own 'treat' to entertain your dog is by putting kibble or food spread such as xylitol-free peanut butter into a KONG toy.
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For all our rabbit owners out there, this is a money-saving tip for you!
Natalie has found a way to save money on buying herbs from the supermarket for her rabbit to munch on.
"I have a rabbit who loves herbs so we put in a veggie garden to grow parsley, coriander, sage and mint which benefits us humans too - and you don't need a lot of space to do this, pots even work," she shares.
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As Natalie highlights, a veggie garden can be of use to pet owners as well.
Consider growing staple herbs you use in your cooking all the time. That way, you are not only saving money on your pets' food, but on your own meals as well!
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