You're Not a Regular Dog Mom, You're a-Fiscally Responsible-Dog Mom

Hi, "pet debt" is very, very real.

- By Christen A. Johnson

Let's make furbaby showers happen you're becoming a pet mom! Your friends who had *human* babies did it, so why shouldn't you make a registry and spoil your new lil one with adorable gifts? Everything's the same, except bones are involved.

Um, so, Americans collectively spend a lot on their animals. Like, more than $123 billion in 2021 alone, and inflation is only making that already bonkers number creep even higher. Which is probably why more than 75 percent of owners say rising pet-related costs are challenging-and that a surprise $1,000 vet visit would send their bank account into shambles, according to a recent Lending Tree poll.

As an aspiring dog mom, this situation is definitely not going to work for me. I want to be able to spoil my new child with cute stuff (on top of, you know, making sure I can cover their basic medical and life needs)-but I also have other financial goals to crush and Beyoncé ticket money to save. So I asked the patron saints of pets, aka some very smart money experts, how to navigate this cuddly but expensive new world.

Pet Insurance Is an Absolute Must