From the start of the pandemic, pet adoption rates soared. As people found themselves staying at home — many looked for companionship in the form of a furry face. Unfortunately, with stay-at-home orders also came a wave of layoffs and furloughs, leaving many without jobs and most in a financial rut. Even still, 62% of people would give up an expense for their pup. But what if you could have the best of both worlds?

Chances are, you won’t need to take out a payday loan to spoil your pooch, you just need to get creative with some budget-friendly gift ideas for your domestic cutie. Here are our top 6 tips to spoil your pet on a budget:

1. DIY Dog Toys: There are countless blogs that share do-it-yourself tutorials to create toys for your dog. The best part is many of the toys don’t require new purchases and you can use everyday items around the house to make something your pup will spend hours playing with. Oftentimes, they’ll prefer a box a new toy came in over the toy itself. 
2. Find Samples Online: The surge of online shopping for our pets last year drove many retailers to offer samples of their goodies. Sign up for the promotional emails, snag a few freebies, and unsubscribe.  
3. Make a Cozy Oasis: You may have begun your own home renovations last year, but did you include upgrades for your pooch? Create a corner that your pet will love with their dog bed, some of their favorite toys, and a few pillow treats to top it off.
4. Bake Home-Made Treats: Mixing a few simple ingredients like peanut butter, honey, and flour, cutting the dough into small pieces, and baking them can turn into delicious at-home treats.
5. Start a Puppy Play-Date Group: Know a few friends with furry companions? Think of a day once a month, or bimonthly, where everyone can meet in a pet-friendly space. The more room to roam, the better. Let your pups run free for an hour or two with no interruptions.
6. Perform a Turndown Service: Nothing says luxury like coming into a nice hotel at the end of a travel day to turndown service. Give your best canine friend the royal treatment by tucking them in with their favorite fluffy blanket at the end of a long adventure.

Jessica is a Content Marketing Specialist developing high-quality content for diverse industries including tech, finance, travel, and lifestyle. Her work can be seen featured on sites like Better Homes and Gardens and wikiHow. Read more of her posts on Possible Finance.