Money For Guinea Pigs

[Ineedapiggie]

I was wondering, I really want a guinea pig. But, how could I make money for them? How do you guys save up money to pay for your guinea pigs?

 

[Lady Kelly]

I work 37 hours a week but obviously that's not an option for you. Can you take on a paperround or do some babysitting for some extra pennies

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Working every hour god made to pay for vets bills Also it's worth noting that pigs come in pairs!

Animals are super expensive unfortunately, especially if they become unwell!

 

[Tiamolly123]

By cutting corners everywhere, so far it's been OK

 

[Hath]

If you're not adult and living with parents it's crucial to have their full support. There's no way you could provide for them if anything goes wrong, vet bills are very high. Parents also have to be very understanding and tolerant (for example: the space they need, companionship, correct housing, adverse weather plan B, natural odours etc etc)
Out of my multi-pet household my guineas cost the most. It really isn't just the initial cost and then food and bedding bills.
Unfortunately, if you don't have supportive/understanding parents it's a bit of a risk. You'll get upset if they get ill and parents refuse to take them to the vets due to bills. So, ensure you've sorted this with them before you get any piggies, as well as appropriate housing. Don't settle for "that will do". After all, you're taking on living creatures that fully rely on you.
I wanted many different pets whilst living with parents and had to wait to move into my own house to be able to have them. Strangely, now I could have Anything, yet iam more careful and understand why parents were reasonable and taught me limits. Guess that's the difference between responsible pet owner and hoarder!
I work full time. Only way you could fund it is if you've asked for money for b'days etc and spend all your pocket money on them. But still be aware your parents will be the one expected to pay for vet bills and they might not want/be able to. Guineas are quite fragile creatures and have complex health problems.

 

[Lady Kelly]

By cutting corners everywhere, so far it's been OK

Unfortunately, when you aren't responsible for household costs I don't know where cutting corners would come in for the poster. I teach financial capability though so cover savings on household bills and shopping etc so always happy to see someone actively doing it

 

[Munchandlola]

If you're not adult and living with parents it's crucial to have their full support. There's no way you could provide for them if anything goes wrong, vet bills are very high. Parents also have to be very understanding and tolerant (for example: the space they need, companionship, correct housing, adverse weather plan B, natural odours etc etc)
Out of my multi-pet household my guineas cost the most. It really isn't just the initial cost and then food and bedding bills.
Unfortunately, if you don't have supportive/understanding parents it's a bit of a risk. You'll get upset if they get ill and parents refuse to take them to the vets due to bills. So, ensure you've sorted this with them before you get any piggies, as well as appropriate housing. Don't settle for "that will do". After all, you're taking on living creatures that fully rely on you.
I wanted many different pets whilst living with parents and had to wait to move into my own house to be able to have them. Strangely, now I could have Anything, yet iam more careful and understand why parents were reasonable and taught me limits. Guess that's the difference between responsible pet owner and hoarder!
I work full time. Only way you could fund it is if you've asked for money for b'days etc and spend all your pocket money on them. But still be aware your parents will be the one expected to pay for vet bills and they might not want/be able to. Guineas are quite fragile creatures and have complex health problems.

 

[Munchandlola]

My piggy became ill recently and cost over £150 in vets bills but he didn’t make it. I wasn’t aware until too late, and after visits to 3 different vets, that you MUST find an exotic specialist vets as normal vets really don’t have the knowledge required. These are much more expensive and in my case much further away.

 

[anyar.dris]

Over the past 3 or 4 years, I think we've accumulated about £3000-£5000 for our piggies. That includes just vet bills for operations/treatments and travelling back and forth to the vets (all their food and other stuff are another expense). We are quite lucky that we have the means to afford it. Work work work is all that you can do to afford such amount (unless you are already rich of course).

I believe if your parents aren't prepared to pay such amount then you have to be patient in waiting to get guinea pigs or any other pets of your own. It'll only cause problems not just for you but your parents, and especially the guinea pigs. If you really want to have guinea pigs, your only option at the moment is to volunteer helping guinea pig charities of your free time to help them.

 

[Beans&Toast]

Like the others have said, guinea pigs are expensive. There is this perception of them that they are low maintenance but it's quite the opposite.

I work full time and still can struggle to afford everything, I go between credit cards sometimes if it's an emergency.

They can be very complicated little things when it comes to their health. You'll have to find a vet with specific guinea pig experience. Unfortunately so many vets who may be great with cats and dogs, aren't knowledgeable with guinea pigs.

In the 3 years I've had 3 guinea pigs the total amount I've spent on them is around £8,000. That's bedding, good quality hay, food, vet bills, medication etc.

I've spent hundreds on out of hour emergency vet bills. If they fall ill in the middle of the night or over the weekend they may need to be seen urgently and it can cost around £150 for emergency vets just to see them.

Unless you know for certain that your parents are happy and able to pay that money then it may be best to wait until you could afford it yourself. Better that than getting them and having something happen to them due to not being able to see a vet or having to rehome them further down the line. They really can be a lot of work

 

[SunshinePiggy]

I usually budget my things out and then my Parents buy it for me I can't get the super expensive stuff though so I usually go for the cheaper bedding and go for higher quality food. My bedding cost 3 pounds and it comes in a huge sac. As for Vegetables we go to the Grocery Store every weekend and i'm aloud a Limit of 15 pounds worth of veggies every week. Hay also is bought online for about 20 dollars but it lasts a month. So monthly 60 dollars on Veggies, 6 pounds on Bedding and 20 dollars on Hay. So It's about 96 pounds per month obviously when I get my job in October I plan to care for my own pig so she can get higher quality things but as of now she's healthy and in good condition. I also have about 1000 dollars saved up for a Emergency Vet visit!

 

[Mother Hubbard]

9 pigs cost me £2,000 - £2,500 a year without vet bills. That's just bedding, food, hay as they have different types of food and hay and supplements say if one requiring topping up etc.