I used to have a very logical and frugal plan for my pets’ veterinary care in old age: if they were diagnosed with anything terminal, I would keep them comfortable but not treat the illness. After all, only crazy people spend thousands to prolong their pet’s life, right?
This past fall I had to eat my words when my dog Charlie was diagnosed with cancer. Looking your beloved pet in the face and thinking of dollar signs is so incredibly painful. My entire perspective shifted, and I handed over the credit card because I wasn’t ready to lose Charlie.
My husband and I paid for all of Charlie’s care with cash from our emergency funds, but the treatment cost more than we would have predicted. I’m going to share the cold, hard numbers today, even though they’re scary, in the hopes that my experience can help some of you be more prepared than we were. . . .
Continue reading at Budget Blonde, where I had the honor of sharing this guest post last week.
2 Comments
Thanks for sharing this Jane. Like you, we’re the kind of people that will go the distance for our pets – they’re family, ya know? I’ve often thought about how to budget for vet bills, and your story gave me a much clearer idea on how to go about saving for those furry emergencies.
Cristina, I’m glad I could be helpful! It was a real wakeup call for us.