Tips on saving money

[Hermelin]

Hi everyone

I truly need tips on how I can save up money, right now I spend around 100$ every month on my rabbits. So every month I have no money over for myself and I can’t buy leafy greens to them.

I only have 300$, which I get every month. I’m pharmacy student so dosen’t have a lot of money. I still live at home which truly saved a lot of money for me, but I pay everything for my rabbits, the literature for my courses, tickets for the train and some monthly bills and some other costs.

I could solve my economic by getting a job, but I have dyslexia. So I have to spend a lot of time on studying to pass my courses, it dosen’t help when all my literature are in english and the exams are in my own language, truly mess my brain up. Also extremely time consuming, because I have trouble understanding what I read and questions.

So I can’t really get any job, but I will work my whole summer break, as long I pass all my courses until then, so I can save up a new budget.

So overall my budget for the rabbits are 100$ but I don’t have the money to buy their leafy greens. So I need tips on how to cut down on the expenses on my rabbits.

I really need to cut down next month because all my rabbits need to get vaccinated which will cost 200$. So I truly need tips on how to save up the little money I have.

 

[Augustus&HazelGrace]

Buy hay by the bale instead of by the bag. And depending on what kind of pellets you use you may be able to order 50lbs bags of it online it should last 3 months or longer for at least 3 rabbits. If he is litter trained then you can buy the big bags of the wood pellets for litter.

 

[zuppa]

Hi Hermelin, this is a very good topic! I am a student myself and I found that I spent a lot on rabbits and when I do my weekly shopping I see that I buy less for myself and more for them. And they will also have to be fixed it's very expensive I've got local prices already, I've no idea how I am going to deal with it.

It wouldn't be a hundred a month for me just yet, but I live very frugally myself and yes sometimes I buy ready to eat leaves rocket and lettuce for them because they love it and it is fast solution for me, but it is expensive and I've discovered that you can actually get some greens for free if you go to your veg sellers and ask them most of them are happy to give you some carrot tops or cabbage leaves or other greens that they have to bin anyway, just talk to them and they will tell you when to come for it they will keep it for you so you can visit them a couple times a week and have greens for your bunnies for free.

Also I find that pet stores are very expensive and some supermarkets sell animal stuff as well and sometimes it is almost twice cheaper. Rabbit nuggets I buy in supermarket 1,5kg bag cost me 4,55, same nuggets 2kg bag cost 8,50 in pet store.

Wood pellets are also 10,99 per 5,5 kg bag in pet store and they sell 20 kg bag a bit cheaper, but again, in supermarket they sell cat litter (Wood pellets) for 5,49 same amount. I am trying to find where they sell stove pellets it's much cheaper but they only sell in large quantities and I don't have how to collect them I don't drive and where to store them I live in an apartment.

Same with hay/bedding. I've contacted a few local growers they sell small(er) square bales 45 x 55 x 90 cm that I could actually manage to store in my apartment but they only sell in bulk and not interested in delivering at all. This size bale would cost me 3-4 euro and now I have to pay 3,50 for only 1 kg bale in pet store that's the cheapest pressed meadow hay, not the best. and supermarket sells hay bedding which is twice bigger than that for 3,99 and is okay but has lots of dust and actually is short cut. My rabbits eat it there's some long hay inside too, but about 1/3 of bag is short good as bedding and lots of dust there too. So my plan is to visit a horse fair that is once a month and ask people there maybe I can get some hay off them I would only need one small bale in a few months.

Vets. I need to safe money for them as neutering/spaying cost a lot. I've read on this site that there are rescues that do fix rabbits for really cheap because of the risk of unwanted babies but can't actually find where to go with that locally, I still have time as my rabbits are still very young but time flies I need to find out. Spaying cost between 130 and 180 depending on vet clinic.

Also, I am very greedy and collect unused hay and wood pellets as at the beginning I was too generous and used too much so had to remove from the cages, I store it in separate bags under individual names for each rabbits so they don't get frustrated of other rabbits smell.

Over time I am learning to use less pellets just removing wet spots and adding some fresh it saves a lot too.

In summer I grow some herbs and vegs on backyard and dry some for winter, sending to my friends herbal teas for Christmas etc, so planning to have more this year so my rabbits can have them for free like grass, dandelions, thyme, nettle, chamomile and other herbs the pet store sells as food supplements and at a very high price.

So, great topic, let's share knowledge here, I am pretty sure we can reduce costs significantly

 

[Cassy315]

I started growing greens for the buns. We have tons of lettuce plants, celery, carrots, parsley etc. They are super easy and low maintenance. I also started buying the hay bales and the 25kg bags of pellets. I also save our lawn trimmings and feed them the fresh grass. I get about 5kgs of grass a week for them

 

[Hermelin]

Buy hay by the bale instead of by the bag. And depending on what kind of pellets you use you may be able to order 50lbs bags of it online it should last 3 months or longer for at least 3 rabbits. If he is litter trained then you can buy the big bags of the wood pellets for litter.

I give my rabbits beaphar nature pellet, which truly good because it have no soya products and cereal-free, so I can’t bulk them and it make my rabbits to eat there food slowly. Not scarfing down food as if they never seen pellets before.

I’m using recycled paper based pellet right now, what kind of wood pellet are good for rabbits to use?

 

[A & B]

Do you have any farm/tractor stores near you? I use wood pellets for horses. You can also use wood store pellets, but I don't know where you could get those. I get 40 pounds for $6 and that bag will last me a month to a month and a half. I will also get random thing I need from family and friends. Things like blankets, rugs, cat balls, zip ties, food bowls, paper bags, rasins, dog beds, just random things like that. That saves me money for sure.

 

[zuppa]

I’m using recycled paper based pellet right now, what kind of wood pellet are good for rabbits to use?

I've seen recycled paper pellets as well they sell also wood pellets in pet store just ask them, they're about the same price. I've chosen wood pellets because I can put them into my compost bin they are natural. I also don't use any chemicals for cleaning cages, vinegar is fine.
Horse store is great idea they should have it all, hay and wood pellets.

 

[Hermelin]

Hi Hermelin, this is a very good topic! I am a student myself and I found that I spent a lot on rabbits and when I do my weekly shopping I see that I buy less for myself and more for them. And they will also have to be fixed it's very expensive I've got local prices already, I've no idea how I am going to deal with it.

It wouldn't be a hundred a month for me just yet, but I live very frugally myself and yes sometimes I buy ready to eat leaves rocket and lettuce for them because they love it and it is fast solution for me, but it is expensive and I've discovered that you can actually get some greens for free if you go to your veg sellers and ask them most of them are happy to give you some carrot tops or cabbage leaves or other greens that they have to bin anyway, just talk to them and they will tell you when to come for it they will keep it for you so you can visit them a couple times a week and have greens for your bunnies for free.

Also I find that pet stores are very expensive and some supermarkets sell animal stuff as well and sometimes it is almost twice cheaper. Rabbit nuggets I buy in supermarket 1,5kg bag cost me 4,55, same nuggets 2kg bag cost 8,50 in pet store.

Wood pellets are also 10,99 per 5,5 kg bag in pet store and they sell 20 kg bag a bit cheaper, but again, in supermarket they sell cat litter (Wood pellets) for 5,49 same amount. I am trying to find where they sell stove pellets it's much cheaper but they only sell in large quantities and I don't have how to collect them I don't drive and where to store them I live in an apartment.

Same with hay/bedding. I've contacted a few local growers they sell small(er) square bales 45 x 55 x 90 cm that I could actually manage to store in my apartment but they only sell in bulk and not interested in delivering at all. This size bale would cost me 3-4 euro and now I have to pay 3,50 for only 1 kg bale in pet store that's the cheapest pressed meadow hay, not the best. and supermarket sells hay bedding which is twice bigger than that for 3,99 and is okay but has lots of dust and actually is short cut. My rabbits eat it there's some long hay inside too, but about 1/3 of bag is short good as bedding and lots of dust there too. So my plan is to visit a horse fair that is once a month and ask people there maybe I can get some hay off them I would only need one small bale in a few months.

Vets. I need to safe money for them as neutering/spaying cost a lot. I've read on this site that there are rescues that do fix rabbits for really cheap because of the risk of unwanted babies but can't actually find where to go with that locally, I still have time as my rabbits are still very young but time flies I need to find out. Spaying cost between 130 and 180 depending on vet clinic.

Also, I am very greedy and collect unused hay and wood pellets as at the beginning I was too generous and used too much so had to remove from the cages, I store it in separate bags under individual names for each rabbits so they don't get frustrated of other rabbits smell.

Over time I am learning to use less pellets just removing wet spots and adding some fresh it saves a lot too.

In summer I grow some herbs and vegs on backyard and dry some for winter, sending to my friends herbal teas for Christmas etc, so planning to have more this year so my rabbits can have them for free like grass, dandelions, thyme, nettle, chamomile and other herbs the pet store sells as food supplements and at a very high price.

So, great topic, let's share knowledge here, I am pretty sure we can reduce costs significantly

Yeah, it’s really hard getting the economic to go around. I can’t really bulk up with hay because I can store it in a good way even thought I live in a house. Because my dad it’s a bit like a hoarder, so both the garage and the small outhouse are stuff to the roof with useless things. Somewhere in the garage there’s a motorcycle buried among the junk.

I could bulk up hay in my room but I’m allergic to grass, which make me react to hay dust. I also can’t buy cheap hay because one of my rabbits will get really bad stomach then. I’ve tried many different hay types and buying from different stores and farmers. But right now my doe can only eat hay from the local pet shop which get their hay from some local farmers.

I’m going to try find local farmer when the hay season start, the last 2 years have been bad with hay and the prices had risen a lot during the autumn and winter.

I don’t have any local farmers that sell veggies

Vet expenses really eat the money, all my rabbits are neutered/spayed now. But they must have a yearly vaccination because I have both RHDV 1 & 2 and myxomatos in my area. So they need to get the shots before spring starts. Sometimes I wonder why I didn’t get a cat instead, then it would been easier to find experience rabbit vet, I live close to the best rabbit vets in my country and it’s a 30 min drive. But they cost so much to only do normal check ups.

During the summer I walk out to the forest and pick leafy greens, for the rabbits. Don’t have to worry about anything toxic and get my branches from the forest and neighbors.

 

[zuppa]

Yeah, it’s really hard getting the economic to go around. I can’t really bulk up with hay because I can store it in a good way even thought I live in a house. Because my dad it’s a bit like a hoarder, so both the garage and the small outhouse are stuff to the roof with useless things. Somewhere in the garage there’s a motorcycle buried among the junk.

I could bulk up hay in my room but I’m allergic to grass, which make me react to hay dust. I also can’t buy cheap hay because one of my rabbits will get really bad stomach then. I’ve tried many different hay types and buying from different stores and farmers. But right now my doe can only eat hay from the local pet shop which get their hay from some local farmers.

I’m going to try find local farmer when the hay season start, the last 2 years have been bad with hay and the prices had risen a lot during the autumn and winter.

I don’t have any local farmers that sell veggies

Vet expenses really eat the money, all my rabbits are neutered/spayed now. But they must have a yearly vaccination because I have both RHDV 1 & 2 and myxomatos in my area. So they need to get the shots before spring starts. Sometimes I wonder why I didn’t get a cat instead, then it would been easier to find experience rabbit vet, I live close to the best rabbit vets in my country and it’s a 30 min drive. But they cost so much to only do normal check ups.

During the summer I walk out to the forest and pick leafy greens, for the rabbits. Don’t have to worry about anything toxic and get my branches from the forest and neighbors.

It must be different when you live on the countryside and in town, we have on street food markets in some areas there are Saturday food markets where growers can sell their vegs, I've seen this in many countries as people are growing food everywhere I believe. I've only been to Sweden once in Malmo and Stockholm and traveled a bit through the country but didn't have time for shopping so have no idea how your markets manage this but logically carrots don't grow without top greens even supermarkets sometimes selling them with greens and there people are leaving greens in the box because they don't want to take home and bin, same with cabbage leaves and cauliflowers some stores sell them without leaves and some with leaves as they protect florets during transportation. That is great that you live near forest fresh air and all Maybe you can grow some vegs yourself, some are really easy to grow and looking nice. I don't have much space on backyard as I share with other people but I grow some greens for salads all the time like celery, fennel, basil, coriander, nasturtiums, nettle, mint, celery is pretty easy to grow from scraps when you buy celery just put the heart into water or directly into soil and it will regrow, well i don't know it's a matter of test if you like to grow something it cuts costs pretty well

 

[Hermelin]

I've chosen wood pellets because I can put them into my compost bin they are natural. I also don't use any chemicals for cleaning cages, vinegar is fine.
Horse store is great idea they should have it all, hay and wood pellets.

That’s the reason why I bought my recycled paper pellet because I can throw them into the compost. But maybe wood pellets are a bit cheaper than recycled paper pellets, which of them are better for the environment?

I’ll have to check the local pet store for wood pellets. My pet store it’s the only one that sells horse supplies, too bad they don’t have vet specialized on rabbits. They only have vet for horses, dogs and cats at the pet store.

The pet store is both a shop and a veterinarian clinic. I often just go and trim my rabbits claws there because it only cost 5$ per rabbit, so I don’t have to fight with my buns every month.

Hmm, When you plant your own leafy greens. How do you protect your vegetables/leafy greens from hares, roe deer and elks?

I’ve run into quite a few elks in my backyard and we have a lot of roe deer in my area. They often eat up the flowers in the front yard. I have also seen a couple of hares but that was around the church area.

 

[zuppa]

That’s the reason why I bought my recycled paper pellet because I can throw them into the compost. But maybe wood pellets are a bit cheaper than recycled paper pellets, which of them are better for the environment?

I’ll have to check the local pet store for wood pellets. My pet store it’s the only one that sells horse supplies, too bad they don’t have vet specialized on rabbits. They only have vet for horses, dogs and cats at the pet store.

The pet store is both a shop and a veterinarian clinic. I often just go and trim my rabbits claws there because it only cost 5$ per rabbit, so I don’t have to fight with my buns every month.

Hmm, When you plant your own leafy greens. How do you protect your vegetables/leafy greens from hares, roe deer and elks?

I’ve run into quite a few elks in my backyard and we have a lot of roe deer in my area. They often eat up the flowers in the front yard. I have also seen a couple of hares but that was around the church area.

I'd need to travel to the zoo to see elks and deers! I have to protect my blueberries from birds and my strawberries from the neighbours I use green net for that, it works for the birds only
I mostly grow everything in containers and the backyard is fully walled there's solid stone wall around sometimes I can see there a neighbours cat but generally no predators around.

 

[Hermelin]

A bit different, I’ve gotten quite a lot of scare from elks when I walk out to take care of the rabbits outdoors.

I’m not really living on the country side, you can say my town it’s a train town. Everyone take the train or car to their jobs and work in the “big cities” for sweden, so we don’t have local shops that farmers sell in.

My town only have one food shop, a pet shop and a butcher shop. Most people just shop on their way home instead of buying in the town. I live close to the second biggest city, 30 min drive.

I go to the forest to pick blueberries and other berries, just have to watch out for bears which you might happen to run into. Never seen a wild bear but know people that had seen them.

My goal it’s to see beavers, I know they exist in the town.

I will have to figure out a smart way, to grow the leafy greens. Are there some leafy greens that roe deers won’t like or find interest in.

 

[zuppa]

That’s the reason why I bought my recycled paper pellet because I can throw them into the compost. But maybe wood pellets are a bit cheaper than recycled paper pellets, which of them are better for the environment?

I’ll have to check the local pet store for wood pellets. My pet store it’s the only one that sells horse supplies, too bad they don’t have vet specialized on rabbits. They only have vet for horses, dogs and cats at the pet store.

The pet store is both a shop and a veterinarian clinic. I often just go and trim my rabbits claws there because it only cost 5$ per rabbit, so I don’t have to fight with my buns every month.

You're very lucky you have two vets around maybe you'll get wood pellets in horse shop, I am going to find one locally myself I think they might have hay as well. I saw the recycled paper pellets when I came to collect my first rabbit I've asked how they have six bunnies and no smell they showed me everything and recommended, then I went to pet store and saw that wood pellets are a bit cheaper and also I wasn't sure how paper pellets are manufactured maybe they use chemicals or if paper comes from printed production so I just decided on wood pellets and I also found this site then and saw many people recommended them and I am really happy with them. But I saw how the paper pellets were used and think they are also great, there was no toilet tray in the cage just pellets in one corner and the floor was generally not covered, but everything looked very clean and nice. I like the smell of wood pellets they have their natural smell

 

[zuppa]

I think it is much healthier living like in your town much cleaner and low air pollution and closer to nature, life is more natural. Living in a city apartment I need a little rabbit to remind me that there still are other forms of life apart the vehicles )

 

[Hermelin]

I think it is much healthier living like in your town much cleaner and low air pollution and closer to nature, life is more natural. Living in a city apartment I need a little rabbit to remind me that there still are other forms of life apart the vehicles )

Yeah, it’s quite nice. Last year I lived in an apartment because I didn’t get into the university in the city, don’t have the greatest grades and had to study in another city. The rabbits really lived next to you. But I love walking out in the forest and taking my french doe and let her run loose on the meadows around.

The other rabbits must have harness because they are impossible to find if they run away. My doe it’s more calm and secure, really hard to scare and she will always stay close. Couldn’t do it when I lived in an apartment in the city [emoji4]

So they love getting out and have an all you can eat buffet of branches, leafy greens and fresh grass.

 

[zuppa]

Yeah, it’s quite nice. Last year I lived in an apartment because I didn’t get into the university in the city, don’t have the greatest grades and had to study in another city. The rabbits really lived next to you. But I love walking out in the forest and taking my french doe and let her run loose on the meadows around.

The other rabbits must have harness because they are impossible to find if they run away. My doe it’s more calm and secure, really hard to scare and she will always stay close. Couldn’t do it when I lived in an apartment in the city [emoji4]

So they love getting out and have an all you can eat buffet of branches, leafy greens and fresh grass.

Maybe you can talk to your neighbours then if people growing something for themselves maybe they'd be interested to sell to you some tops instead of composting them it'd be cheaper and fresher than from the food store anyway.

One of my lop girls is 9 months now and she's from a small town about one hour drive from me, lived in a wooden hutch close to nature. I don't know if it's just her personality or the lifestyle but she is very relaxed and acts very naturally, eats well and not fussy at all, the other rabbit that was rescued is also from a little town and probably also was an outdoor rabbit, I can't tell for sure, but they both are very undemanding and easy going and you can tell their life was easy and they had no stress at all.

 

[Jenny Durling]

Farmers markets and grocery stores always give me greens they were going to throw out or compost. Just ask! Also, there are tons of edible weeds. I bring things in frim outside all
If the time. As long as you know things aren’t speayed, there are lots of edibles to be found outdoor.

 

[Hermelin]

Thanks for the tips, I’ll maybe ask the new veggies store that are going to open and see what veggies they sell. Maybe can buy veggies that no one wants from them [emoji4]

 

[Jenny Durling]

You won’t have to buy it. Stores change out their produce all of the time and will simply give it to you if you ask. I seriously do this ALL of the time and get way more than I need for two rabbits. The donkeys, goats, chickens and ducks are happy to help!

 

[samoth]

Univerisity is important for your future, so I agree that you should focus on that over working part-time jobs while studying.

My biggest recommendation is to buy in bulk if possible (and if you have space). Although you spend more at one time, the price per unit can be significantly lower and save a lot over time.

I buy wood pellets in large 20kg bags, bedding in 3-pack quantities at "wholesale" price, pellets in 20kg bags, hay in 20kg boxes (largest I can get for what my doe will eat), and stock up on rugs (my rabbits are indoors) during 50% off clearence times.

I know this may be hard or impossible in your scenario (I wouldn't have been able to do it when I was in university), but looking at 'price per unit' instead of just the price for something has saved me a lot of money with rabbits and other stuff in general through the years