kfeusse Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 like a hamster or reptile...do you make them pay for their food, bedding and other things it needs...or is that part of your family budget? We have 3 hamsters, owned by 3 different kids. They get allowance and I can't decide if buying food and bedding should come out of their allowance or not. A huge brick of bedding which lasts several months is about $7 and a bag of food which should last about 2 months or more (but doesn't always becasue I think they put too much in the cage and then it get's thrown away when the cage gets cleaned) cost about $4. What do you do at your home?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 I buy basic bedding and food. She buys treats, decorations and things of that nature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 My DD has a snake, and she pays $5/month to ongoing costs, which basically pays the snake's food bill and a little towards bedding. She also pays $5 each time the snake goes to the vet. This was what she proposed as part of her original proposal, and it's a sizable chunk of her discretionary money, but not so much that she doesn't have any at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 We paid for everything just like we do for our cats and dogs. She did use her own money to buy toys and sometimes treats, although I bought treats too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runbikeswim Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 No,we buy everything except the occasional treat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 I think that either way is fine, but it should be an upfront deal, spelled out BEFORE the pet is brought home. If we didn't have that agreement, and I wanted my kids to get an idea of how much it cost or prevent them from carelessly wasting stuff, I would consider an increase in allowance meant to cover those costs. I do think it's a good idea for them to see the cost more directly, and if they are careless, it hits their wallet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmrich Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 My son has a lizard. He buys it all. He usually gets a gift card to the pet store for his birthday. That is he is learning to budget. Now, I would step in if I felt it was needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheReader Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 I buy basic bedding and food. She buys treats, decorations and things of that nature. :iagree: This is what we have done when our kids have personal pets. We don't have any just now, but when we had guinea pigs, hamster, and our one son really wanted a cat it was treated this was as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 I think it depends on how much you give your kids for allowances. When our DS had a guinea pig we paid for everything because he was getting only a small allowance, and it was intended to be strictly fun money for him. If we had been giving him a larger allowance we might have done things differently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 (edited) Little bit pays for food, which is very reasonable for her small mammals. I do make a point to give her enough quarter-earning small chores to enable her to do this. The initial investment for setting up the habitat came half from me and half from her savings account (quite a few years of birthday monies ETA - it didn't cost all that money, I just didn't feel bad taking $ out of savings because she went many years without spending birthday $ on anything)). Edited September 20, 2012 by Seasider Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom-ninja. Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 My kids don't get allowance so no they don't pay for their pets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellers Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 My kids all own their own pets. DD16 - Rat Terrier DD15 - Rat Terrier, chickens, miniature goat, and a rabbit DS12 - Yorkie DH and I pay all the expenses for the pets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaffodilDreams Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 We pay for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Lulu* Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 Each of the kids has a guinea pig and we pay for everything they need. If they want something extra they tend to go in together for it. Punk wants a lizard and we have gone round and round about it. (DH and I) we have told him he can get it IF he can pay for all of the set up costs and show that he can afford to purchase its food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runbikeswim Posted September 21, 2012 Share Posted September 21, 2012 Punk wants a lizard and we have gone round and round about it. (DH and I) we have told him he can get it IF he can pay for all of the set up costs and show that he can afford to purchase its food. Lizards are so expensive and difficult to maintain, imo. Don't blame you for being hesitant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonFaerie Posted September 21, 2012 Share Posted September 21, 2012 My kids just recently each got their "own" pet. I pay for food, bedding, etc. If they want toys or any extras, they have to pay for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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