| How to Keep a Guinea Pig on a Budget Posted: 26 Apr 2018 01:00 AM PDT Owning guinea pigs is something that can really break your bank and cause you financial problems. They require a splash-out of money for their cage, hay and food costing a fortune each month. However, there are a few handy tips to get your financial plan on track. - Avoid adopting more guinea pig's than you can handle. Keeping the minimum of two guinea pigs together will suffice. If you struggle with money or think you will potentially struggle then avoid adopting any more than two cavies. As much as they're irresistible in the pet store, you'll most likely end up having to give them away afterwards due to the financial struggle.
- Compare prices. Avoid just going to the store closest to you. If you want to save on items, discover some other stores in town. By comparing prices and visiting more than one store you can find yourself a great deal on items you buy and save yourself money.
- Find an inexpensive yet suitable cage. Don't buy something that's way too expensive yet unsuitable for your guinea pig. Some pet stores tend to overprice their cages. Online stores or DIY C & C cages are sufficient enough. You can always build your own cage instead of purchasing an expensive commercial cage.
- Buy second-hand which are a lot cheaper (almost half price) than new store cages and are just as good.
- Two guinea pigs will need 7.5 square feet at the minimum.[1]
- You will find that C & C cages come up a lot cheaper than hutches and runs. You can also make your own by purchasing cubic grids and connecting them together. However, these are more suitable for indoor guinea pigs. They will not be practical for an outdoor guinea pig.
- Change your bedding. Bedding can be one of the most expensive parts of keeping guinea pig's with some people spending $20 a week on it! There is no need to spend so much on bedding that doesn't last and costs you a fortune. Switch to something that lasts longer or is cheaper.
- Fleece will last you a lifetime with it only needing to be washed regularly. However, keep an eye on utility and water bills. You will need to wash your fleece at least once a week.
- Switch to a different brand/make of bedding. Line recycled newspaper at the bottom of your cage for extra absorbency and longer lasting bedding. Switch to a cheaper bedding such as wood shavings (but avoid cedar and pine). If you're using hay as bedding you might be spending too much money.
- Don't overuse your bedding. You only need a small amount of bedding to go over the top of your bottom lining. Don't overdo it by packing the bedding up. It's a waste and isn't needed.
- Make your own huts and bridges. In pet stores, hide-outs can be $20-$30 which is a major fortune for the items used to make it! Purchase second-hand or buy from someone who makes their own. You can even make your own huts and bridges with untreated, pet-friendly wood. They're easy and cheap to make.
- Avoid wasting money on useless toys. Guinea pigs don't need toys or chew toys and often don't use them. Pet stores put these colourful toys on display to engage the customers when they often aren't needed and end up being a waste of money.
- If you want to provide toys and chew toys to your guinea pigs, you can always make your own for free. You can provide them with toilet rolls or wooden blocks as chew toys and socks stuffed with hay as a playful toy.
- Guinea pigs don't need chew toys as long as they have hay available to them. Their teeth are kept filed down and healthy when they chew on their hay. They usually don't use chew toys making them completely unnecessary.
- Avoid extra items. Mineral blocks, vitamin supplements and/or vitamin water drops are completely unnecessary and sometimes dangerous. Guinea pigs don't need artificial items to get their nutrients from and definitely avoid adding anything to their water as they might completely stop drinking! These items are another unnecessary waste of money.
- Spot clean daily. Spot cleaning can help your bedding last longer and keep the cage cleaner. Tidy up any patches of wee and poo. Your bedding can last 2 x as long using this method daily.
EditDietary Requirements - Find where you can buy your hay. Guinea pigs require hay available to them 24/7 which can become pricey if you aren't buying it from the right place. Most pet stores over-charge for a bag of hay in order to make profit. Try finding a place that grows their own hay and sells it for a cheap price.
- Some equestrian centres sell bales of hay which are cheaper and you get more for less. Essentially you want to be looking at $5 a bale which should last your guinea pigs months. Another option is to get your hay from a farm stop.
- Make sure the hay you buy is dust extracted to prevent any respiratory problems.
- Find where you can save on vegetable costs. There are a few useful and helpful ways on saving money when it comes to buying vegetables. You can feed leftovers, grow your own, find produce on sale, shop elsewhere, buy in bulk, or purchase vegetables in season. A factor that can effect your vegetable shopping is also your knowledge on vegetables and what you're buying.
- Feed leftover vegetables. You can feed them strawberry tops, carrot peels, cucumber cuttings, lettuce leaves, etc. Your guinea pigs can be your living compost. Before you feed them your leftovers ensure that the vegetables are free from any sauces, salt and pepper. Never feed them iceberg lettuce, tomato stems/leaves, potatoes or avocado.
- Grow your own produce. Having your own veggie patch is becoming increasingly popular in every-day homes as it saves on grocery shopping. If you don't consider yourself a green-thumb or cut out for growing your own vegetables you can always have a small herb garden.
- Shop for bargains and sales. Plenty of vegetables get reduced each day when they're coming up to passing their best before date. You can find bags of salad leaves and spinach for 50 cents or carrots reduced per kilogram. Some produce that have been bruised can also be found at a cheaper price.
- Shop somewhere less costly such as local or at a farmers market. Make sure you are comparing prices to see which place suites your financial needs. Majority of farmer markets tend to sale their produce for a cheaper price than super markets in order to compete for their income.
- Avoid buying vegetables that aren't in season because they will cost a lot more than their original price.
- Buy in bulk. Buying in bulk, or also known as wholesale, can save you a significant amount of money and even get you a discount on what you're buying. This includes hay, food and bedding. Avoid going to pet stores for overpriced items which are packed in small quantity.
- Agriculture and equestrian places usually sell items in bulk whilst in small prices such as hay and animal feed.
- Purchase your vegetables in bulk too. Find vegetables that are in bags or priced per kg. You can find yourself a bargain by shopping for vegetables that are kept in plastic bags such as cabbages and zucchini. You should also look for bags of herbs which can come up very cheap but plentiful for your guinea pig's daily intake.
- Find coupons and offers. Some super markets have weekly offers or coupons if you sign up online. You will find the latest discounts, sales and reduced items online. By collecting coupons, offers and such you can find yourself great deals in store especially on vegetable produce which can be the most expensive to buy for guinea pigs.
EditVeterinary Care - Examine your guinea pig yourself. You can perform a self-examination daily/weekly to spot any early symptoms of illnesses or parasites such as hair loss and/or unusual droppings.
- Keep note that an accurate diagnosis and treatment can only be done by a professional vet.
- Take your guinea pig to a veterinary school. Veterinary schools can offer you a lower cost when it comes to check-ups and treatment. Call up a veterinary school nearby to see if they will perform a reduced cost appointment.
- Go for a reliable veterinary school that you can trust and has supervision. If you feel something is off then go for a professional exotic vet.
- Get help with veterinary costs. You can apply for financial help online. Many organisations are available to help aid with veterinary costs if you're struggling to cover the money for veterinary care. You can find them online and contact them via email or phone.
- Prevent any issues. You can prevent things such as dental and gut issues already by simply providing your guinea pigs with hay and an adequate amount of vegetables. The healthier your guinea pig the less risks you run of having to take your guinea pig to the vet.
- Purchase plain pellets, don't go for any mixtures which can be pricier. Plain pellets have enough nutrients in them for a guinea pig.
- Don't splash out on unnecessary items that your guinea pig won't use.
- Purchase vegetables that are reduced.
- Make your own toys.
- Use any coupons you have.
- Don't feed your guinea pig avocado, iceberg lettuce, tomato stems/leaves, potatoes, dairy, meat or any human foods.
- Ensure your guinea pig is being cared for properly although you're on a budget.
- Whilst looking for the cheapest pricing on food, avoid buying anything that is of low-quality.
- Make sure the hay you buy is dust extracted to prevent any respiratory problems.
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations __
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| How to Give Amazon Prime As a Gift Posted: 25 Apr 2018 05:00 PM PDT Finding the perfect gift for everyone on your list can be difficult, especially if you want to get them something that they'll actually use. Gifting Amazon Prime gives your friends and family access to free 2-day shipping, unlimited streaming, eBooks, and much more. You can purchase Amazon Prime as a gift for your loved one through the Amazon website. EditFinding the Right Prime Membership - Navigate to the Gift of Prime page on Amazon. Go to the link https://www.amazon.com/giftprime/. This will take you directly to the Gift of Prime page, where you'll be able to start the process of purchasing Prime.[1]
- Select a 3-month or 12-month membership. There are currently two Prime membership options available for gifting: 3 Months for $39, or 12 Months for $99. Click on the one that you'd like to give to your loved one, and it will become highlighted with a yellow ring around the box.[2]
- Click the yellow "Add Prime to Cart" button. After you add the membership to your cart, you'll be redirected to a separate page that confirms that the membership has been added to your cart. This page will show your cart subtotal, and you can double check that you selected the right membership.[3]
- If you didn't select the right membership, press the back button in your browser and select the correct membership, add it to your cart, click the "Cart" button, and delete the other membership from your cart.
EditCompleting Your Purchase - Click on the yellow "Proceed to cart" button if you are done shopping. Once you've added all of your items and gifts to your cart, it's time to check out. This will take you to a page that shows you the number of memberships you've selected and your subtotal.[4]
- Enter the recipient's email address, the delivery date, and a personalized message. Under the membership, there will be a box to type in the email address of the person who you are giving Amazon Prime to. Don't worry, they don't have to have an Amazon account registered with that address to be able to get your gift.[5]
- You can also select a specific delivery date from the drop down menu, such as their birthday or a holiday.
- On the right side of the page, there's a box to personalize the email that is sent with the membership gift. You can write whatever you want in the box. Make sure you remember to sign your name!
- After you enter the information, click the yellow "Save gift options" button on the right side of the page to continue to checkout.
- Select your payment method. You can opt to pay with a credit card, debit card, gift card, or directly from your bank account by selecting that option from the menu on the checkout page. If you don't have a payment option saved, you'll have to enter the card or account information.[6]
- Be careful when entering your credit or debit card information, and always make sure you're logged in to a secure internet connection, such as a private WiFi network, so that your information can't be stolen.
- Review your order. Before you place your order, you'll be directed to a page with your item, payment information, and delivery information. Double check that you've selected the correct membership, entered the right email address, and correctly entered your payment method.[7]
- If you notice an error, you can edit that information on this page using one of the blue "edit" buttons near the information that's incorrect.
- Click the yellow "Place your order" button on the right side of the screen. Once you've ensured that everything is correct, you can finalize your order. Your loved one will receive their email notification on the date that you selected for the gift to be delivered.[8]
- You'll receive an email confirmation immediately at the address on your Amazon account. If you have any questions about your order, you can reference this email or contact customer support.
- Right now, you can only send Amazon Prime as a gift on the Amazon website. There is no option for gifting Prime on the Amazon app.
- Sending Prime as a gift is currently only available to Amazon customers in in the U.S.
- Amazon doesn't allow customers to purchase more than one subscription of Prime at a time. If you'd like to send more than one subscription, you can do it in separate transactions.
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Store Ultrasound Photos Posted: 25 Apr 2018 09:00 AM PDT It's natural to want to keep ultrasound photos for as long as possible to commemorate an exciting occasion. However, these photos are often printed on thermal paper, meaning they eventually fade. To ensure you always have photos of an ultrasound, try scanning or taking a picture of the ultrasound using your phone or camera. You can also help preserve the originals by using a heatless laminate or keeping them in an acid-free photo album. EditProtecting Your Photos - Handle the ultrasound photos carefully by only touching the edges. Oils from your hands will cause the photos to deteriorate faster than they would if they went untouched. Pick up your ultrasound pictures by their edges, and avoid touching them as much as possible.
- If you're showing the ultrasound photos to others, consider putting the pictures in a protective plastic sleeve so that they won't be touched by lots of fingers.
- Avoid letting the photos touch one another. If your ultrasound photos are in a stack on top of each other or positioned in a photo album where they touch each other once the album is closed, resituate them so that they're no longer touching to prevent damage.[1]
- If you're putting the photos in an album, make sure there's a blank page opposite the photo.
- Placing regular paper between each photo will help preserve them.
- Keep the photos in the dark to help preserve them. Light will cause the ultrasound pictures to fade over time. To prevent this, store them in a darker spot, such as a drawer or clean box.[2]
- Photo boxes are perfect for storing ultrasound photos and can be found at craft stores, big box stores, or online.
- If you're storing the photos in a drawer or closet, make sure they're well-protected. Either put paper underneath and on top of each photo, or wrap them in flat tissue paper.
EditPreserving the Originals - Laminate the ultrasound photos using a heatless laminate to protect them. If you laminate your photos using heat, the heat will ruin them because the pictures are often printed on thermal paper. Buy a pack of self-laminating pages from an office store, big box store, or online. These are heatless and won't ruin the photos.[3]
- To use the self-adhesive laminating sheets, all you have to do is peel off the backing and position your picture in between both sheets. Make sure you go slowly and press out any air bubbles.
- Start at a corner of the photo when flattening the sheets together to help prevent wrinkles.
- Use scissors to cut out your photo once it's laminated.
- Place the photos in frames to prevent air and oils from touching them. While they may still fade a little due to light exposure, air particles and the oils from your fingers will cause the ultrasound photos to deteriorate faster. Place the photos in a picture frame with the back securely fastened to help preserve them.
- You can purchase picture frames designed specifically for ultrasound photos online. These frames don't protect the pictures any differently from other frames, but they are designed to be the same size as the ultrasound photos and have special wording or illustrations on them.
- Put the photos in an acid-free photo album if you want them in a scrapbook. Archival-type scrapbooks are great for storing ultrasound photos — the high-quality paper helps protect the pictures and you can decorate the pages however you'd like. Just make sure your scrapbook is lignin-free, acid-free, and PVC-free.[4]
- Lignin is a chemical compound found in wood, and PVC is a type of plastic, both of which eventually break down and release acids.
- When you're creating the scrapbook, use photo corner squares to keep the pictures in place and prevent them from being damaged.
EditStoring the Photos Digitally - Use a scanner to create digital replicas of the ultrasound photo. The best way to ensure your ultrasound photos never disappear is to scan them onto your computer. Make sure your computer and printer are connected before starting up your scanning program.[5]
- If you don't have a scanner at home, visit an office supply store or shipping store, like Staples or a FedEx Kinkos, and the employees will help you scan your photos.
- Remember to put the ultrasound photo face down on the printer when scanning.
- Save the scanned copies to your computer or portable storage device. If you're scanning at home, you can save the photos right to your computer. If you scanned the photos somewhere else, make sure you bring a flash drive with you to easily transfer and save the scan.[6]
- Take a picture of the ultrasound photo using your phone for a quick solution. Snap a picture of the ultrasound photo using your phone, lining up the edges of the picture with the screen and making sure the lens is in focus.[7]
- Using a more professional camera will give you even better results.
- You may need to hang your ultrasound photo against a window or in the light when taking the picture to have it come out clearly.
- There are several apps available for your phone that act as scanners, such as Pic Scanner or Shoebox.
- Order or print out extra copies of the photo once you have a digital version. Whether you took a picture of the ultrasound photo using your phone or a camera, or you created a scan, now you can start printing out paper copies, if desired. Use your home printer to create as many copies as you like, or order copies to be printed on photo paper.[8]
- Drug stores and big box stores often allow you to order prints of photos and pick them up once they're finished.
- You can print out copies of the original ultrasound photo to put in a photo book, picture frame, or to send to friends and family.
- Design a book of your ultrasound photos for a nice keepsake. There are several photo companies that will turn your photos into a book, even adding wording and additional artwork. Just visit their website, upload your photos, and design the pages to your liking. Once it's finished and purchased, they'll ship the book right to your house.[9]
- Examples of these companies include Shutterfly, Mixbook, and Snapfish.
- Drug stores like Walgreens or big box stores such as Walmart can also often create photo books for you.
- Never laminate your ultrasound photos using heat, or you'll destroy the pictures.
EditSources and Citations
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