Everyday Cheapskate

As I write, a big, beautiful, brindled English bulldog is underfoot, sleeping soundly, as bulldogs do. I cannot claim ownership, but Newcastle ("Newkie" to his family) visits often. He's my granddog — and as precious as they come. So even though I don't technically have any pets, you can be sure that I am always on the lookout for tips, tricks and ideas to keep down the cost of the care and feeding of animals:

BLANKET BOUNTY. I donate my used sheets, towels and blankets to the local animal shelter. A towel for a small dog or cat makes a warm, soft place to curl up. My mother is handy with a sewing machine, so we both look for towels and bedding at yard sales. We take large blankets and create soft, warm pads for up to four animals out of them. — Cindy, Iowa

COUPON CARE. I am a devoted coupon clipper. Whenever I see pet food coupons offering free or very cheap cans or bags of food, I purchase these items and donate them to our local animal shelter. I feel good about helping homeless animals without putting a strain on my budget. — Kim H., e-mail

VACCINE BOOST. I buy dog food at the local feed store because I like the product it sells. I recently found out that the store does pet vaccinations more affordably than my vet. The only vaccination it cannot do is the one for rabies. I recommend checking with pet and feed stores the next time you are shopping for a good price on animal vaccinations.

PAPER TRAIL. I use my shredder to shred my junk mail. Then I use it as bedding for my three rabbits. They love tossing it around and nesting their cages with shredded paper. Before I shred, however, I remove colored magazines and glossy fliers, as they don't work well in animal cages. Recycling my paper this way is a great money saver, and it's fun for my rabbits. — Susanna C., New York

FUZZ FIXER. I use a clean dog's brush to remove all the animal hair that attaches to my area rug during the week. It takes just a few seconds. It's easy and cheap because I do not have to buy sticky sheets or disposable products to remove the hair. It's also a lot quicker than taking out the vacuum. You can purchase a dog brush at the dollar store for only $1. — Janice F., e-mail

KEEPING CLEAN. Nontoxic bug and squirrel repellents keep your dogs (or your neighbors' dogs) from doing their business on the part of your yard you'd like to keep clean. Black pepper is nontoxic, so I sprinkle a little of it in certain areas to keep my Rottweiler in the part of the yard reserved for her. — Lois M., Arizona

Would you like to send a tip to Mary? You can e-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. Include your first and last name and state. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com and author of 18 books, including "Debt-Proof Living" and "Tiptionary 2." To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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