Five Ways to Save Money on Pet Food

Food prices are on the rise, and according to the New York Times, you're getting less for spending the same or more. The same packaging tricks and price increases have hit the premium pet food as well. Dog food that used to come in 40 lb bags now come in 33 lb or even 30 lb bags. Pet food that you used to pay $20 to $30 is now costing more than $40.

If you've been hit hard by the economy, you may have to make choices in pet food. If you're already living on beans and rice, the next step may be looking for a cheaper food for your pet. The good news is you don't have to sacrifice quality to feed your pet. Here are five ways to cut costs without affecting your pet's health.

1. Switch to a lower cost food. Believe it or not, there are still premium pet foods available that are lower cost than many of the nationally known brands. Smaller pet food companies often use quality ingredients that rival the bigger brands. Check the label. Make sure that the food is formulated to meet or exceed AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) standards and uses quality ingredients. Learn how to read a pet food label.

2. Join the Frequent Buyer's Club. Many pet foods now offer savings to their customers by offering a free bag of pet food after having bought a certain amount, such as 10 or 12 bags. You may have to save UPC codes and mail in for a free coupon, but it's worth doing and will save you money in the long run.

3. Skip the cans. Canned pet food is surprisingly pricey when compared to dry food. This is because you're paying for the can, processing and water weight. If your pet can't just eat dry food, try mixing in water, a little broth, chopped fresh or frozen carrots or green beans. Or, if you must use canned food, try mixing a smaller amount with water to make a gravy.

4. Use the Internet to search for coupons. Who wants to pay retail for pet food, anyway? Try RetailMeNot.com or another buyer coupon service to reduce the price.

5. Buy at a Buyer's Club. If you already belong to Costco or Sam's Club, take advantage of the pricing there. Often, you can get excellent prices for pet food that will take the high price out of premium. You can also use coupons there too.

References

Food Kept Hidden in Tinier Bags

Pet Food Labels

AAFCO

RetailMeNot.com

Cosco

Sam's Club