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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think that pets are a luxury?

136 replies

E320 · 31/03/2013 14:57

prompted by a post on another board.
Do people also factor their cost (food, vet's bills, insurance etc.) into the monthly budget or even the weekly shopping (food)?

OP posts:
cazboldy · 31/03/2013 14:59

don't know about luxury as such - some are expensive, some can be inexpensive

(think goldfish or thoroughbred horse!)

We have lots, and yes, costs (including vets etc) all factored into monthly budget.

livinginwonderland · 31/03/2013 15:00

it depends on the pet. goldfish, hamsters, etc. not so much, but things like dogs, horses etc, yes.

kinkyfuckery · 31/03/2013 15:00

In as much as children, food, clothing etc is a luxury. I factor the cost of our pet into our household budget.

propertyNIGHTmareBEFOREXMAS · 31/03/2013 15:01

I would say that are are a non essential item that only those with spare disposable income can afford.

JollyYellowGiant · 31/03/2013 15:02

Our fish cost very, very little.

But yes, if we were hard up we wouldn't consider getting a dog or cat due to the expense.

RainbowsFriend · 31/03/2013 15:02

YANBU, this is one of the reasons we are not getting a dog, despite me really missing having a dog :(

MiniTheMinx · 31/03/2013 15:05

There are some on here that say children are a luxury and it would seem IDS agrees.

Yes pets are expensive but its a quality of life issue isn't it. Pet expenses are factored into the monthly budget here but then I am not having to justify how I spend my income.

Mrsrobertduvall · 31/03/2013 15:06

Animals can be expensive.
Our cat is cheap as chips...about 3-4 boxes of catfood a month.
We don't have pet insurance for her...her annual checkup is aout £35.

cazboldy · 31/03/2013 15:09

and it's a case of priorities too

for instance I go without eating out often, new clothes regularly and haircuts etc to pay for my horses.....

Dh's friend was Shock at how much they cost..... but then I pointed out how much his dw spends on having spreay tans and nails done, new shoes and clothes monthly, paying to wash her car instead of doing it herself, fancy candles, etc etc and he decided I was cheap in comparison! Grin

Sparklingbrook · 31/03/2013 15:10

YANBU. Pets are expensive. Food, booster jabs, flea and worm treatments. Plus you need insurance/money put aside for if the animal becomes injured or unwell. And £9 a day for the cattery. In multi-animal households you are talking a lot of money, I don't know how some manage it.

dashoflime · 31/03/2013 15:10

I don't find a dog that expensive tbh. The cheapest dry food is not much extra on the shop and vets bills are a rare occurance (one scrap with a car and one attack from another dog in 10 years and counting)
Also worth considering that walking a dog is a very cheap and enjoyable form of exercise.

StateofConfusion · 31/03/2013 15:13

our pets are inexpensive the boy has African land snails, large bag of soil lasts ages the odd cattle fish and fruit and Veg we already have. ditto dds fish a tub of food once a month.

float62 · 31/03/2013 15:16

What about lonely people, possibly the elderly or only children and those who may have anxiety problems and get solace and pleasure from their animals? YABU.

Sparklingbrook · 31/03/2013 15:19

But they have to be able to afford to look after them properly float. Some people I have seen on RSPCA type programmes go without food to feed their animals. That's not right.

LaurieFairyCake · 31/03/2013 15:19

Yes, if you get them now (which I wouldn't)

However I have 3 elderly cats and an elderly dog - 2 without insurance as they were too old when I rescued them - they cost over 4000 last year in vet fees (not including the 2k covered by insurance for an illness the dog had)

There will be no holidays until they've all died - they all deserve a good life, it's not their fault that vet fees have risen out of most people's reach in the last 17 years

Fleecyslippers · 31/03/2013 15:20

My monthly pet insurance payment is less than the cost of a packet of cigarettes.
I combine cheap as chips dog food with mid price stuff, i use empty milk cartons etc to make her toys and she's an absolutely integral part of the family. As a lone parent, i feel much safer at night since we've had her - she'd actually lick a burglar to death but she does bark if anyone comes near the front door.

ImTooHecsyForYourParty · 31/03/2013 15:20

I dunno. To me, a 'luxury' is something that you have while you have spare cash but is the first thing to go if times get tight.

I don't think you can treat a pet that way.

Fair enough to not get one if at that time you know you cannot afford one (like kids Grin ) but if at the time you can afford it and you get it based on that fact and then later on your circumstances change, I don't think it's reasonable to see the pet as a luxury item, one that can be given up.

It's more of a responsibility than a luxury, once you actually have it.

Sparklingbrook · 31/03/2013 15:20

The reason I have Sparkling Cat is because her owner couldn't afford to keep her any more. That's why she was at Cats Protection.

LaurieFairyCake · 31/03/2013 15:21

My pet insurance for one cat, one dog is £85 a month.

It has gone up every year and it would not be possible to shop around due to age and existing conditions.

Sparklingbrook · 31/03/2013 15:22

Yy to what Hecs said. Taking on a pet knowing you can't afford it is different to a change in your situation once you have the pet. But Sparkling Cat's owner must have been unable to keep her.

HappyMummyOfOne · 31/03/2013 15:24

Of course pets are luxuries, nobody needs them but they can be nice to have.

Peoples ideas of essentials vary wildly, lts of things i consider luxuries are seen as bare essentials.

Mrsrobertduvall · 31/03/2013 15:24

£85 a month???
Bloody hell.

cazboldy · 31/03/2013 15:26

Laurie Vets fees are ridiculous - my dog cut her leg, thought it needed a stitch or 2, so took her to the vets. Offered to stay and hold her, but they said they couldn't do it straight away and didn't know when they would get round to it Hmm

they decided to put her under anaesthtic incase she snapped - (which they later said she hadn't done when they looked at the cut! and anyway they could have called me to hold her/ muzzled her) anyway, the 3 stitches, plus the anaesthetic (which she didn't need!) cost me £245 - I argued over the blood tests they also did without asking me which would have been a further £62..... she had only had some 3 months previously when she had a different op.

I think insurance has a lot to do with bumping up fees - the first question they ask is are they insured. And that's only so they can charge a lot of money.... which they of course also end up charging non insured customers -Plus it no doubt pushes up the cost of insurance too!

Rant Over Grin

I am sure it prevents some people from doing what is best for their pets Sad

MrsRajeshKoothrappali · 31/03/2013 15:29

Yes, but they do enhance my life!

I spend about £20 a week on cat food and cat litter, when we were skint I just bought cheaper/own brand stuff.

I'd be very sad without them.

float62 · 31/03/2013 15:30

Yes Sparkling I do agree with you, but mostly that would be describing extreme situations I think, where people may have general probs with budgeting their money (for a variety of reasons), too many animals or don't have the right conditions to keep the type of animals they have. I hold my hands up to being an animal lover myself, so I'm biased, but they do bring so many people so much pleasure. Our dog is one of us, we love him and he loves us, priceless.