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7 Ways to Save on Pet Costs

Large dogs run up the biggest upfront tab, but beware the high annual cost of rabbits and guinea pigs.

By Jessica L. Anderson,

1. Compare prices for flea-and-tick preventative and heartworm medications from the vet and from discount sites, such as .

2. Shop around for prescribed meds at pharmacies, big-box retailers and warehouse stores. Costco doesn't require a membership to fill prescriptions, though you will pay a slightly higher price than members do.

3. Have a technician administer vaccines to save on office visits.

4. Contact your local shelter to ask about free or low-cost spaying and neutering services.

5. Buy food in bulk from a warehouse store.

6. Ask your pet store about manufacturer savings. Some offer frequent-buyer programs.

7. Check out daily-deal sites geared to pets, such as and , for toys, treats, supplies and more.

Reprinted with permission. All Contents ©2012 The Kiplinger Washington Editors.

Meet Your Financial Goals

With

Wondering how you'll afford the bathroom renovation or that tropical vacation you've been dreaming of? Wishing you could save more for retirement or pay down your student loans? Now there's a great tool that can help.

is a financial planning tool created by Intuit, makers of TurboTax and QuickBooks, and it is geared to help consumers simplify budgeting tasks and set financial goals. It's quick to sign up and link your accounts, be it checking, savings, retirement, credit cards, loans, or real and personal property. also includes iPhone and Android apps for budgeting on the go.

And the best part: it's free.

doesn't have control of any account, it's only allowed to "read" your transactions, and it's secured with bank-level encryption, so no one else can either. Once your accounts are entered, starts getting interesting. The Overview section provides a snapshot of your current financial life, including net-worth and spending trends. You can also set up alerts such as recurring bills or how much you've spent at restaurants and gas stations.

The goal setting features of are helpful to anyone wanting to budget. You can select financial goals from a list of provided categories or create your own. then suggests ways to manage your monthly expenses so you can meet them. also helps you create a customizable monthly budget based on your spending history.

Credit Card Fraud

How to Avoid Becoming a Victim

According to recent statistics from the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), in 2010 seven percent of U.S. households–or about 8.6 million households–had "at least one member age 12 or older who experienced one or more types of identity theft victimization." The NCVS defines identity theft as "the misuse or attempted misuse of an existing credit card or another existing account or the misuse of personal information to open a new account or for other fraudulent purposes."

The good news is that there are simple steps to take–and not take–so you can avoid becoming a victim yourself.

Do...

• Sign the back of your credit cards and have your photo placed on them if possible. "Photo security" is often free of charge and is a great way to protect you from identity theft and fraudulent usage.

• Regularly check your credit card online statements to make sure that you recognize the charges. If you don't recognize the charges, call your credit card company immediately.

• Be smart about where you use your credit card. For example, try to avoid making online transactions in cafes, parks and other places with unsecured wireless connections. Even if the website you want to make a purchase from has a secure checkout page, your data could be stolen while in transit.

Don't...

• Enter or input your credit card online unless you see the "secure website" icon on the website. According to the FBI's website, "Sometimes a tiny icon of a padlock appears to symbolize a higher level of security to transmit data."

• Give your credit card account number over the phone unless you have initiated the phone call.

• Dispose of your credit cards without shredding them or cutting them up completely so that the account number is unrecognizable.

Being mindful of these tips can help you preserve your personal information and spare you the headache and hassle of having your credit card information stolen.

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