Nosy Q..How did you afford your Macaw/Too/Grey+cage etc

[Eliza]

Originally Posted by loubear

I guess my opinion is if you are going to be a bird or animal owner make sure you can afford everything it needs... ...I have a rule that credit should not be used on living animals unless it is a vet bill...

I am of the same mindset, particularly when you are considering larger and likely more expensive parrots (or pets in general). Veterinary bills are often costly, even for preventative and maintenance care. I'd much rather have a reserve on my credit card for a health emergency than eat that up by bringing home a pricey feathered companion.

An exception to this would be if you are in a situation where you have steady income, a reasonable amount in savings and a credit card that offers you points/rewards that you can pay off in one or two payments.

Look at it this way: let's just say that the cost of a large parrot, cage, food, toys and first well-bird vet visit will average you $2400.00. That might be on the high side but it's always better to budget more. If you can save $200.00 a month, you'll have that in a year's time. Two years' time if $100.00/month is better on your budget. Put that money in some sort of high interest savings (ING) or a CD and you might earn a little while you're waiting, too. It's well worth your time and finances to consider this sort of option.

Please believe me when I say that I don't have a perfect credit history and an not made of money -- I am hardly the most fiscally responsible person out there! It's taken me a long time to realize what is important, what is practical and what needs to wait.

Best of luck!

-e-

ETA:

Originally Posted by r2rusmc

Gave up credit cards about 10 years ago, learned to live within my means and work my butt off to get what I have.

Amen to that. I'm not there yet but hope to be within the next year. Credit card companies are a hassle to deal with, anyway

[BigBird]

I have a full time job for bills and mortgage and have taken on a part time job as well to either pay off credit cards and buy myself treats ie birds. Most of my aviary birds have come from classified ads in my town. I have contact numbers from the avian society and a good friend who is the bird stewart. I ask her for contacts when Im after something in particular. Bird sales are held here 4 times a year, most come from that.

I worked my butt off to save up the money for boogs and Alexis. Fortunately the breeders I found were in my home town and selling for quite a bit less than most so saved about $600 on them. With my pay from the second job i keep one third in a savings account and put the rest on bills. That one third is for me to spend or save for whatever I want.

[xafsmom]

Credit cards are easy. I have one... I use it monthly, I pay it off monthly. Easy.

[macawlover]

Cheyenne- went to a bird fair and paid $340 for her brand new macaw cage. Great price in my opinion! It's fairly big, and has a playtop.

Oscar- Won his cage *brand spankin new!* in a bird raffle for a single $2 ticket! It also has a playtop.

Oliver- His owners gave Ollie, his cage, and quite a few supplies to me for free since they just wanted him to go to a good home. Who was I to resist? LOL. They're amazed at how much his personality has changed by being with me, though. He's turned from a nasty biting bird to the sweetest little thing! His cage is a dometop.

All three of my cages have the poop trays. I don't know what I'd do without them!

[Halo]

That's how I do my two credit cards. I use them, I pay them off the same month. It's when you pay them off in bits that you get in trouble.

[Cece4]

We no longer do credit cards either.We maxed them when my hubby was sick and couldnt work for over 2 mnths with no pay.So now we are paying them off but they are all closed(we are still paying dr. bills too).
I didnt really start this thread because I want a large parrot because I really dont.I do however want a sun conure or another greencheek, next year some time.I have to do the saving thing myself, I will do a rehome or rescue if I can first but if not then I will go to a breeder....If I did have a vet emergency that would cost more then a few hundred we would have to use a credit card.We keep one open but unused for emergencys only.With 5 dogs, 3 cats and 4 birds we've had our share of vet bills although nothing major so far(crossing my fingers hopefully).

[angelicarboreals]

Being that every single one of my birds are rehomes, I received a cage with each of them. All of my birds came from previous loving, bird knowledgeable homes (how I and them got so lucky I do not know)- so many of them came with very large cages, playstands, etc. Some of the birds and their accessories I received very good bargains on, like my GSC@ and her macaw sized playtop cage, travel carrier, playstand, and accesories for $800. That being said, I have purchased new cages for my birds due to wanting them to have bigger cages or the cage being ridiculously hard to clean. I usually save money here and there for when I want something, so I have never had to put anything bird related on a credit card.

[Beastiephile]

I am not particularly well-off, just financially stable and responsible. I got the bird that I wanted, but also the one I knew I could afford. I don't rack up credit card bills and debt. I work hard to save up for what I want, and I never buy something I can't afford off the bat. But also, I have many pets and I make sure that I can provide for them the best I can, just like children. If I could not afford, food, toys, and expensive vet bills I would not have birds. I spent a couple thousand on Martin, with him, his cage, food, and toys, for which I saved up for while and blew a lot of my savings. But my animals come first, and I make a lot of sacrifices to afford these expensive things.

I guess I am just financially responsible because I don't make that much, but I do pretty well with what I have!

[Cece4]

Of my 5 birds, dont know why I said four earlier, 4 are rehomes and none came with a useable cage.In fact Winchester came in a shoebox.The other two tiels came with a cage that was the size of a finch cage covered in rust and poo.The GCC did however come in a med. cage that is okay for one tiel maybe but it is rusty as well so it sits unused....I had to provide caging for everyone.
I hope when I get my sun/gcc if I find a rehome it comes with a good cage I can use.

[sootykitty]

JoJo, my first bird, I adopted from a wonderful rescue. He came with his own cage. The adoption fee (including the cage) was $150 cash.

Lolly, my second bird, was a purchase from a private owner on Craigslist for $200 cash. I immediately took him (while he was still in the carrier) to Petco, and was lucky enough to find a clearance sale on a cage that was marked down from $80 to $20. It was a great find and a wonderful size. 23" wide by 19" deep by 30" high.

Ozzy, my CAG, I paid for on lay-away for a total of $1200 cash. I met him when he was just three weeks old, fell in love with him and made a deposit. Then I just went in every payday and paid a little bit until he was paid in full. It was perfect timing because he had just been weaned so he was ready to come home when I made the final payment. I purchased his used cage for $100 cash.

I have made playstands from manzanita tree branches that I purchased from a dealer in CA through the internet. I make a lot of my own toys, and I go to many of the local bird shows and fairs. You can always find great deals there.

Just be resourceful and don't be afraid to buy used cages. Just check them out for rust, wear, etc. and make sure that you sanitize them (bird safe chemicals of course).

I only buy what I can afford and always use cash, no credit. That way I never have to worry about how I'm going to pay next month for what I bought this month - if you know what I mean.