Sugar’s Story
“Be still.” Sugar’s philosophy: “When you’ve done all you can do, be still and let the answers flow to you.” In fact, the more responsibilities Sugar takes on, the more intentional she becomes about finding time to be still.
Sugar is busy. Between work, pupcake recipes, building a pupcakery, and a social life, she’s always moving from one thing to the next. So, she blocked out 20 minutes of “Be Still” time on her calendar every day. Because, like most of us, it won’t happen if it it’s not on her calendar.
Today, she decided to use her “Be Still” time to meditate. Meditation was going working too. Well, until Sugar reached for a bottle of water on her coffee table and accidentally knocked it over.
5 Money Leaks Every Dog Mom Should Check For
“Oh, Bark!” Sugar thought. It looks like “Be Still” time is over for today. It was either clean up this water leak or run the risk of it spreading onto her Bluetooth speaker. So, meditating to her “After Bark” playlist was going to have to wait.
Leaks are inconvenient. They can interrupt your whole flow before you even get started. It’s no secret. When I brought Sugar home for the first time, I had no clue that there were so many expenses involved with taking care of a dog. More importantly, I had no clue I had some financial leaks that were draining my budget until I did a dog mom audit.
An audit may sound scary, but they’re necessary. In fact, here are 5 dog mom money leaks I didn’t even know existed until after I did mine.
Overbuying Treats and Chews – Buying new treats every time you see a “better” option can quickly lead to half-used bags and unnecessary spending. Finish one bag before opening another and keep a small treat rotation.
Subscription Services That Go Unused – Dog subscription boxes can quietly charge your account each month even when toys and treats start piling up. Cancel or pause subscriptions unless your dog consistently uses everything.
Replacing Toys Too Frequently – Small toy purchases feel minor but replacing them frequently can add up throughout the year. Rotate toys to make them feel new before buying more.
Paying Premium Prices for Convenience Foods – Pre-made meals, toppers, and specialty snacks often cost far more than simple staple foods. Use convenience foods occasionally while relying on consistent everyday meals.
Skipping Preventative Care – Avoiding routine care like dental cleanings or parasite prevention can lead to much larger veterinary bills later. Budget for preventative care throughout the year to reduce the risk of expensive problems.
Solving the Leaks
Luckily, Sugar cleaned up that leak before it spread to her speaker. The floor was a little wet, but she can just move to another spot to “Be Still” until it dries.
Believe it or not, my biggest leak turned out to be food and treats Sugar refused to eat. Especially, when she was a puppy. Sugar was and still is a picky eater. And since none of my friends had a dog, I couldn’t give the food or treats that she didn’t eat to anyone else. Which turned into a waste of money.
Funny. Before the dog mom audit, I thought my financial leak was going to be Sugar’s unexpected visits to the vet.
As Sugar got older, another big leak became the medicine she refused to take. Do you know how many pills got lost, crumbled, and wasted when I tried to administer Sugar’s meds? I wish I thought of creating some simple pill pockets earlier. I could’ve stopped that leak a lot sooner.
Fun Fact about Sugar
Sugar’s “After Bark” playlist doesn’t include any “soothing sounds” of waterfalls, forest rain, or beach waves. It also doesn’t include any doga guru howling barkfirmations or instructing her to listen to her breath. Sounds like this don’t work. They don’t calm her mind down; they give her more room to think.
So, Sugar has real music on her “After Bark” playlist. Since her “Be Still” time is in the morning, she needs songs that’ll help her set the vibe and intention for the day. Love songs, songs she used to party to in puppy kindergarten, and her favorite inspirational songs are on her list. Barking along to these songs during her “Be Still” time helps her be more intentional about her goals and focus on what she wants to accomplish during that day.
Each day, Sugar makes sure she chooses her songs wisely.
