Can You Afford Your Dog? Financial Peace of Mind

I recently read a great post on my friend Kimberly Dickerson's blog SAVING MORE THAN ME.  Her post was about what gives people financial peace of mind.  She discussed the need for a financial Emergency Fund as a cushion for life's unexpected blows.  If you are a Suze Orman fan as I am, you know exactly what that means!  When Kim was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2008 she had to abruptly leave her job.  Her emergency fund helped sustain her in the initial months.  Kimberly writes beautifully not only about how she deals with the challenges of MS, but about various Health and Wellness topics, her Pets, Travel, and other interesting topics.

Phoebe sometimes gets chilly at night so I bought her this fleece jacket

After 20+ years in the financial industry, I'm always drawn to topics about money.  While most people are watching American Idol or The Bachelor, I am watching the Suze Orman Show, Mad Money, and American Greed. I'm always touting the importance of having an emergency fund for financial peace of mind, so Kim's post really struck a chord with me.

What does this have to do with dogs, you ask?  This is still a dog blog right??   After reading Kimberly's wonderful post, it got me thinking about the cost of dog ownership and how much I spend on my own dogs.  Phoebe has a wardrobe almost as extensive as mine and Isis probably has more bling than Princess Kate!  The pet industry is a nearly $60 Billion dollar industry, but for many people the cost of pet ownership is daunting and can be a deterrent to adding a Furbaby to their family.  But there is a way they can add a dog to the family and still have peace of mind!

Phoebe sporting her new Winter coat, which I bought for a trip to Sedona