Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Signing up for email lists - Are the savings worth it?

This is a question I get asked a lot. Is it really worth having my inbox flooded with newsletters and various other emails from pet food companies? In my opinion, yes, it is very worth it. Not only are the newsletters often filled with valuable tips, especially for new pet owners, but it is oftentimes how companies release their coupons to the public. Multiple times a month I receive coupons or other special offers in my email, some of them a much higher value than those I would find in the newspaper. Even if you only have one animal it is worth it. I have two cats, and though I will often pick up food for my mother's five (yes, 5!) dogs when I find a good deal, I am not actively purchasing for them. But I do donate a lot (I'm actually in the process of trying to start a pet food distribution day with a local food bank!), and so having those savings available is very worth it to me.

Each person really needs to determine whether it is worth it for THEM as an individual. I personally don't mind deleting multiple emails if I don't feel like reading them - others hate a crowded inbox. One suggestion I will make is to set up an email account separate from your personal email - there are many choices available, such as GMail or Hotmail. That way when I sign up for any newsletters or mailing lists, I can give them my second email address, and keep my main email address for emails that I may need to respond to quickly, such as personal or business emails. It keeps my main email "clutter" free, but still allows me to receive the savings and tips that comes with receiving pet food company newsletters.

Whether or not you choose to sign-up for a company's emails, it is always a great idea to stop by their website from time to time to see if there are any additional savings or deals to take advantage of. That is how I find out about rebates and coupons from new companies, or companies that do not have a mailing list. Here are some great company sites to check out, and while you are there consider signing up for their emails.

Wellness Pet Food: Receive exclusive money-saving coupons in your email.
Halo, Purely for Pets: Sign up for printable coupons and other helpful information.
Holistic Select: Offers new subscribers a coupon for $5 off food!
Nutro: New Canadian subscribers can receive a coupon for $5 CAD off a bag of food!

Sunday, May 3, 2015

Back again

Wow, it has been 2 years since I posted this blog. A lot has happened, but now that my life is looking to enter a normal routine once again, I am looking forward to picking back up posting here at Four Paw Savings, and sharing my pet food deals with you all!

A little about the last 2 years. I made the decision to return to school and finish my Master's Degree in Social Work, which has kept me extremely busy. For you non-MSW people, that means classes, plus a 25-hr. a week internship, in addition to working, writing papers, and trying to maintain a household. Everything else had to take a backseat. But now I am almost done - finishing up my final paper, my last week of my internship, and then walking across the stage at my graduation. I am so excited, and so ready to settle into a regular work/home life without schoolwork always looming over my head.

My husband and I also bought a house, adding a new level to our home life. It is wonderful, and we love being homeowners, but it is still another component added to an already busy life.

My husband also decided to return to school, and is now working towards his Paramedic certification. He has even more reading and schoolwork than I did! He is insanely smart, and dedicated, so I know he will do well. He does this while working full-time to support us and the kitties while I am in school. He is superman.

I'm sure you may be wondering what made me decide to start the blog back up after a 2 year break? Well, it was my kitty Odin. Odin passed over the Rainbow Bridge 2 days ago, and his passing made me realize how much I have missed being a part of this community. Odin was our rescue kitty, our sweet sweet old man. He came to us with everyone expecting him to only live a few months. He was a part of our lives for just shy of 3 years, and we are so grateful that we got to share that time with him. He was at least 15 years old when we got him, though our vet estimates that he was closer to 20 when he passed than 18. FIV+, a former chronic stray, he certainly lived past his expectancy. He stole our hearts with his soft purrs and loving ways, and showed us the ways in which a pet enriches our lives. Anyways, I miss him, and missing him made me realize how much I miss being a part of the pet community, and I am happy to be back again. You can look forward to more frequent posts with deals, savings, product reviews and giveaways, as well as other helpful information for pet-parents out there!

My sweet boy Odin. 

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Save $5 off any $25 purchase at Petco! Valid 3/9 & 3/10 only!



Woohoo! I love this coupon, and get so excited when it comes out because it can mean big savings! Valid March 9th & 10th only, Petco Pals members can save $5 off any $25 in-store purchase! Simply print out the coupon and take it to your nearest Petco store on either Saturday, October 6th or Sunday, October 7th to save! Some stores will even allow you to use this coupon in conjunction with manufacturer's coupons, allowing you save even more!

This coupon is only for Petco Pals members. Not a Pals member yet? Check out my post here on Petco's new Pals Reward program and how to sign-up. It's FREE!

And remember, PetSmart accepts competitor's coupons, so you can use this coupon there as well if you have a Petco nearby!



Monday, December 10, 2012

Cesar Canine Cuisine, as low as $.10 each at Target!

What a great deal when you stack a Target coupon with a manufactor coupon! I know that I will definitely be stopping up at Target this week to pick up a few Cesar Canine Cuisine trays for our local rescue.

Cesar Canine Cuisine 3oz. trays - $.72
use Buy 5, Get 1 Free Target coupon (look under "pets")
use 3 Save $1 on 2 Cesar Canine Cuisine Entrees (will need 2 computers to print 3 coupons)
= $.60 when you buy 6, or $.10 each!

If you cannot print 3 coupons, try this scenerio for a great deal:

Buy 6 Cesar Canine Cuisine 3oz. trays
use Buy 5, Get 1 Free Target coupon (look under "pets")
use 2 save $1 on 2 Cesar Canine Cuisine Entrees
use Buy 3, Get 1 Free (must "Like" them on Facebook)
= $.15 each when you buy 6!

Saturday, December 8, 2012

If I Should Die Before My Dog Review & Giveaway


Book Description:
A Dog Lovers lasting guide.......An beautifully illustrated interactive book that one fills in all of the information about their dogs life in the event they can no longer care for them to help ensure your pets are taken care of.

A thought provoking check list for dog lovers, who unfortunately and with much sadness can no longer take care of their dog.

This book will assist those who want to prepare for their dogs future in an easy to use format that will guide them through the process of telling the "story" of their dogs life, for their pets "Next Guardian".

None of us can predict the future, but in the event situations arise such as death, health impairment or left with no other choice but to give them up, this book will be there to assist your beloved pet with the transition from one home to another.

My own thoughts:
No one really wants to think about the time when we may not be able to care for our loved ones, including our pets. This book helps pet owners to provide another person with all the information needed to help make any transition smoother for their furry loved one. A few years ago my mother and stepfather took in a dog after its owner had passed away suddenly. The owner was a good friend of my stepfather's, but even so he really knew nothing about the dog. A book like this would have been a treasure as they tried to help Christy (the dog) adjust to her new life.

The book may be a bit emotional to complete. There may be tears over the thought of no longer being able to be with or care for your dog, but I honestly enjoyed going through the book. I loved thinking about things such as what my dog's favorite toy is, the funny little routines we have, and all the "bad" habits (more of thinking of how funny it would be to watch another person learn to deal with these habits haha) my dog has. The hardest part for me to think about was the last one, "Special Things from My Human," because it makes us think about what about ourselves we would want our pet to have. Special songs, routines, or even a note to them telling them how much we love them; I get tears in my eyes just thinking about it.

Unfortunately we cannot predict the future, and it is best to be prepared while hoping for the best. The book could also be used for when you are on vacation or your pet is being cared for by another person for a short time, as it contains a lot of information. I would recommend this book for any dog owner.
 
Be sure to check out the website for "If I Should Die Before My Dog." You can also "Like" the book on Facebook and follow on Twitter!
 
   
amazon.co.uk           amazon.com

About the authors:

Author photo.jpg
Authors Joe and Cathy Connolly
Joe and Cathy Connolly have spent a lifetime owning, training and caring for dogs. Cathy grew up with a Collie breeder, dog groomer and dog handler while attending many different dog shows and eventually went on to work with other breeders as she grew older. They live in beautiful Northern Michigan with their 3 furry four legged children, one large dog, one small dog and the entire family is supervised by one bossy calico cat. 








Follow our Book Tour & signed book giveaway! 5 winners!
 
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SIGNED BOOK GIVEAWAY !!

This special giveaway is brought to you by
the authors, Joe and Cathy Connolly 
&
Beck Valley Books  
 
5 lucky winners will each receive their own copy of "If I Should Die Before My Dog," signed the authors.
Open to US/Canada, UK and Europe
The giveaway will end on Tuesday, December 18th, at 11:59pm EST

Enter Below and Good Luck !!



Disclaimer: I received a signed copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.