If you’re in dire straits–and I’m not talking about no longer being able to pay your $100+ cable bill, but just scraping by, living paycheck to paycheck–here’s a quick guide to keep your fur-buddy from becoming a burden.

Despite what the pet industry–and it is an industry–tries to peddle, animals do not need that much to be healthy and happy, but they do need consistency and care. Also, keep in mind that cheaper does not mean easier.

Medical

Photo by Paulo Ordoveza

Medical bills can be the biggest expenditure to break a struggling pet companion’s budget, but serious health problems can be avoided or at least mitigated with regular health maintenance.

Don’t skip vaccinations and check-ups. Not only do shots prevent costly diseases such as leukemia, but regular vet visits can catch other maladies in initial, cheaper-to-treat phases.

Some vaccinations are less necessary than others, though. (For instance, if you live in a geographical area with low risk for Lyme disease, then that shot isn’t a pressing concern for your dog.) Talk with your vet about individualizing a preventive care program for your pet.

Here’s a list of vaccinations and their recommended administration schedules.

Food

Don’t think that buying a 20 pound bag of generic commercial pet food is cutting down on anything but your companion’s life-expectancy. Loaded with fillers and light on substance, these foods essentially starve your pet of nutrition.

How long would you expect to stay healthy if you ate fast food for every meal? Ensuring a balanced diet with proper exercise will keep complications associated with obesity, heart disease, and dental disease at bay.

If premium pet food is too expensive, consider making your own pet food. Some animals’ dietary needs lend themselves to homemade meals (like dogs, who actually don’t mind a bit of fruit in their diet), and oftentimes can be cheaper and more nutrient-rich than processed foods.

Experiment with recipes and ingredients to see what works with your budget, but make sure to consult your vet before switching to homemade.

Signing up for special savings programs on manufacturers’ or retailers’ websites, and scanning for coupons also saves more money than you’d think.

Grooming

Photo by Mark

With the exception of certain breeds, most cats and dogs can be groomed easily at home with a consistent routine—and even the more high-maintenance breeds can be home-groomed with a bit of practice.

Daily to weekly brushings, depending on coat lengths and types, help to spread essential oils, remove detritus, and maintain overall coat health. And if you gently ease your pet into having its paws touched, rewarding it with positive reinforcement, nail trimming doesn’t have to be an epic battle, either.

Constant handling of your pet also allows you to feel for any unusual lumps or bumps that can indicate the early onset of medical problems (in addition to, of course, deepening the bond with your ani-pal).

Here are some general tips for dog and cat grooming.

Free or Discount Services

You’ve tried everything to reduce expenditures, but it’s still down to a choice between your pet and your dinner plate.

Check this site and review this list for comprehensive resources regarding financial aid, discount veterinary services, pet food banks, and other charitable assistance for special needs candidates, including the elderly, the ill, the disabled, and the just plain broke.

Even with all these tips and resources, you might find that you’re no longer able to afford or house your pet. If you have to make that difficult decision to relinquish your animal companion, make sure to surrender them to a no-kill shelter. With most shelters, municipal and not, at full-capacity, there’s not much guarantee that your pet will find the home he or she deserves.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

How are you affected by the recession? Do you have any tips for managing pet-related expenses on a shoestring budget? Share your thoughts below!

Feature photo by Meryl CA. Above photo by Robyn Johnson.

Not just a tattoo motif for 20somethings, sugar skulls play a significant role in Mexico’s holiday of remembrance, Dia de Los Muertos. If you’re looking for a creative and tangible way to honor your departed loved ones, consider making this unqiue effigy.

Note: Drying times/ amount of water needed vary depending on humidity in your area and size of molds—the following directions are for extra large sugar skulls and a Mediterranean climate zone.

Mix

Ingredients: granulated sugar, meringue powder (can be purchased at baking supply shop), and water

-Mix one teaspoon of meringue powder per cup of granulated sugar. You’ll need around 4 cups of sugar for one skull.

-Add at least one teaspoon of water per cup of sugar mixture until it reaches the consistency of wet sand—you should be able to hand mold shapes that retain their definition.

Photo by Robyn Johnson.

Mold

You can buy sugar skull molds at specialty shops or go straight to the source at Mexicansugarskull.com.

-Heap sugar mixture into the mold, making sure to pack tightly. Scrap off any excess to level the back side.

-With flattened fingers, press sugar down to ensure the mold is fully filled and add more if needed.

-Place a piece of cardboard over back of mold, gently flip it right side up, and ease off the mold. Let dry for around 12 hours

Photo by Robyn Johnson.

Make

-Once the two skull pieces feel dry enough to handle, scrap out the insides, leaving an inch thick perimeter—like a brain cavity.

-Let dry for around three more hours

-Using royal icing, glue the two skull hemispheres together, making sure to wipe off any excess icing at the seam. It should dry relatively quickly—maybe an hour or two at the most.

Photo by Robyn Johnson.

Decorate

-Use colored royal icing in pastry bags and use other fun materials like dried flowers, sequins, colored foil, and gems to create your own designs .

-Once you’re finished, place the skull on the grave of your loved one or save it as a memento. Sugar skulls can be kept for several years.

Feature photo by Net_efekt. Above photo by Nick Wheeler.

1. Power Down

Photo by Mike Bitzenhofer.

While Big Government and Big Energy scramble to find viable sources of alternate energy, you can help the environment by doing away with hidden or needless electricity guzzlers.

- Cut down on central heating. As the largest household use of energy, you can save nearly $1100 per year by investing in space heaters or time-honored sweaters.

- Consider using line drying or a rack over an electric dryer. Not only will you get that fresh air scent from actual air and not the bottle, you’ll cut down $133 a year. Washing with cold water saves another $145.

- Use power strips for every outlet and diligently turn them off when not in use. Electronic devices suck up a lot of energy, even when supposedly in off mode. Do you really need the time displayed on your microwave, DVD player, CD player, and alarm clock?

- Your dad, while hopelessly uncool and out of touch, had a point. Turn off the light when you’re not in the room. Speaking of which, switch to compact florescent light bulbs and save an additional $90.

2. Say No Thanks to Big Business

Photo by Grant Neufeld.

Cast off the corporate shackles and join the DIY/ sustainability revolution. Big Business only stays that way by hustling products at the highest possible retail value for the lowest manufacturing costs–usually to the detriment to third world laborers, the environment, and the consumer. Luckily for us, we don’t need half of the junk they sell, and what we do need, we can either buy locally or used, or make ourselves.

- When you can, buy indie and local. You won’t be paying for middleman fees or the cost of shipping and the quality tends to be less shoddy.

- Instead of buying, consider making. Crafting not only allows you take some ownership of your life, you’ll regain that sense of community sadly lacking nowadays. Join a knitting/sewing circle, baking group, mandolin making class, or whatever tickles your fancy. A burgeoning industrial and applied arts culture awaits you.

- Instructables, Readymade, Makezine, and Craftzine all contain inspirational ideas on how to create, not just consume, your world.

3. First Reduce… Then Reuse, and Recycle

Rubber bands help limit excess. Photo by Chilsta.

While providing ease and efficiency, disposable products also habituate you to buying more, continuously. Breaking the Baby Boomer bad habit of “use once-throw away” will save money, limited resources, and space at the dump.

- Swiffer mops, plastic water bottles, IKEA furniture, paper towels and such should go the way of the dinosaur. If it doesn’t last you longer than a year (even better would be a lifetime, but that’s a tad optimistic) then don’t consider buying it.

- Try the library over Amazon.com, thrift stores and reuse centers over designer stores, cloth over paper/plastic.

- If you absolutely must buy new, disposable products, try to avoid ones with unnecessary, gimmicky packaging or obvious planned obsolescence. For the ones you do buy, find a new life for them after initial use. Larger yogurt containers make great pots for plants. Old t-shirts can become a rag rug. Be creative.

Click here for an excellent overview of how production and consumption works, or rather doesn’t.

4. Get Moving

Photo by Mike P. Whelan.

One of the downsides to modern urban development is that commercial and financial centers are far removed from residential ones. Most of us have to commute daily and for relatively long distances (unless you’re lucky enough to telecommute to work).

- Even though it may feel like it, exercise typically won’t kill you. If that mile to the bus stop/ train station/ carpool pick up is what’s keeping you from joining the ranks of public commuters, just think about how much time you’ll save at the gym and money on gas–which will only become more expensive as reserves dwindle.

- More and more cities are offering benefits to those who take public transportation, such as tax-free commuter checks or free bus rides for cyclists. Check your city’s website for more info.

- For the times that you’re not at work, choose to explore your local community instead of schlepping across the city. You’ll discover unique facets of your neighborhood, which only stands to benefit from your patronage and participation.

5. Eat Like the French

Photo by Kate Elliot.

Despite the French’s dairy rich diets, they don’t experience obesity epidemics because they eat whole, they eat fresh, and they eat smaller portions. Avoiding factory farmed and processed foods will save you money and empty calories, not to mention alleviate strain on ecosystems.

– Make farmer’s markets your best friend. The more local the food, the better it is for ecosystems and economies. Like buying other local goods, not only are you avoiding middleman fees and transportation cost (and pollution), but you’re keeping money in the community instead of flushing it into the corporate toilet.

- Most Americans don’t like hearing this, but not only does industrialized meat production cost more than other factory farm products, it takes a heavy toll on the environment. Discover the joys of fish and other protein sources such as legumes and cheese.

- Eat slower and enjoy your food. The more time you allow for proper digestion, the smaller your portions. Having meals with friends and family (and not in front of idiot box) is a great way to make sure you don’t chow down on autopilot.

6. Water Crisis Is the New Oil Crisis

Photo by Patrick Desmet.

We may live on the Blue Planet, but thanks to global warming precipitation has been and will continue to become more erratic. While Mad Max extremities may not be a reality in your region or lifetime, conserving water now will make later droughts less dire. Not to mention easier on your monthly bills.

- Don’t be afraid to drink from the tap, no matter what corporate propaganda tells you about the laurels of Fijian imports. If it hasn’t killed your cat, then it probably won’t kill you either.

- Simple actions such as turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth to low-flow shower heads can reduce consumption 20-60%.

- Also, water can be reused. If it’s not too contaminated, consider reusing water for your garden or cleaning. Don’t just dump it down the drain.

Have more tips? Comment below.