Based on the breakdown you’ll see in our charts below, pets cost around $560–1,764 a year.

Wowzer. That’s a lot. Kind of makes you paws and think. (See what we did there?) So why do people have pets anyway?

Because you can’t put a price tag on love, some would say. Pets are more than animals. They’re pals. Still, you can put a price tag on them, if we’re being literal. (Litter-al?) It’s just that they’re worth every penny.

Maybe you’re thinking about taking the plunge into pet ownership. There’s a lot to think about, and the puggle is real. Or maybe you already have a pet and you’re trying to figure out how to get man’s best friend into the world’s best budget (our app, of course—EveryDollar). Either way, we’re here to help. We’ve got some stats and info to get your mind and budget pet-ready.

So are you ready? Purrfect. (Yeah. The pet puns aren’t going to stop any time soon.)

You and your EveryDollar budget: It’s a love story for the ages. Think about it. You spend time together every day. Side by side always. In sickness and in health. For richer or for poorer. This is a legit, serious, long-term relationship.

Was it love at first sight when you first locked eyes in the app store? Or did it take you three months to warm up to each other?

Love takes shape in a lot of different ways. But no matter how it starts, there are a few things you can count on. For one, love is going to have its ups and downs. It’s going to get rocky. You may yell things you don’t mean like, “I don’t care if there’s no money left in the restaurant budget line, I want to go try the new Marie Antoinette-themed dessert bar called Let Them Eat Cake with my friends.”

But despite the hard times, if you work together, you and your budget are going to last. So carve your name and EveryDollar in a heart on a tree. Post pics together on Instagram—#truelove. And, to keep those rocky times at bay, try out a couple of these tips on how to love your budget forever and always. <3

In general, filing your taxes is about as enjoyable as updating your resume, waiting in line at the DMV, or enduring ad breaks. Most people don’t jump at the chance to do any of these things. Yet despite their boring and even stressful nature, all these things simply must be done.

Our February Challenge won’t help you update your driver’s license or get you job-interview-ready, but it will take away some of the stress of tax season. Why? This month we’re showing you how to file early. That’s right, tax worm, these early birds are coming for you.

Want to join the movement and knock out your taxes early?

February’s the month of love—for sports, dead presidents, helpful tax professionals, seasonal cookies, best pals, significant others, and your EveryDollar app. Wait. That last one is adored every month, right?

Don’t let this month dazzle so brightly you forget your money goals. Overspending isn’t romantic. But a prepared budget—now you’re speaking our love language. So while you’re searching the stores for the best deals on heart-shaped everything, remember these six things in your February budget. 

Step one: Never spend money again. Boom. Done.

Just kidding!

Lucky for you, that’s not the direction of this article. We can show you how to get ahead with your money in just 7 Baby Steps using a plan by money expert Dave Ramsey. So grab an extra pair of socks, friends, because we’re about to knock. Yours. Off.