[Ep. 319] How Much It Really Costs to Have a Pet with Katie Blakeley

This episode of the More Money Podcast is sponsored by The Globe and Mail. Want to invest in yourself and start a new morning ritual of reading The Globe and Mail like I do? The Globe is offering listeners of the More Money Podcast a special digital subscription rate for unrestricted access to everything on globeandmail.com. Visit tgam.ca/Jessica to take advantage of this limited-time offer.

“Making sure you have a financial plan before you’re ever faced with tough decisions is a critical component of pet planning.“
– Katie Blakeley, CEO of PetFirst Pet Insurance

Were you one of the many people who adopted a pet during the pandemic? You wouldn’t be alone because the number of pet adoptions significantly rose during the last couple of years. My husband and I have also been toying with the idea of adopting a pet, which is why I’m so excited about today’s episode. Today’s episode is all about the real cost of owning a pet, including whether it’s worth it or not to get pet insurance. To help me with this topic is Katie Blakeley, Head of Pet Insurance at MetLife.

Prior to joining the MetLife team through acquisition, Katie was the CEO of PetFirst Pet Insurance. She had been with the organization since it was founded in 2004 serving in a variety of roles including Marketing Director and Vice President of Business Development. Prior to joining PetFirst, Katie worked in the thoroughbred racing industry. Katie lives in Louisville, Kentucky with her husband Chris, daughters Maddie and Charlotte, and terrier-mix (Franklin).

In this episode, Katie talks about how much money should you be putting aside for monthly pet costs, why you should consider pet insurance, and how much you could expect to pay for it. I also ask Katie all about why breeds and pre-existing conditions matter when it comes to pet insurance rates. This episode is great if you’re already a pet owner or you’ve been considering getting a furry friend (like me) too.

Things Mentioned in This Episode

Check out MetLife Pet Insurance
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My free resource library, where you can find budget spreadsheets & more!
Apply to enroll in my investing course Wealth Building Blueprint for Canadians
Check out my shop!

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