Perhaps the least frugal idea I have had lately was to buy my daughter a hamster. What sparked the idea was that I saw a cage marked down to $3 while we made our trip to the pet store (aka free “zoo” trip). Since we don’t have any pets this is always exciting for the kids. In my simple little mind I estimated the whole deal costing around $30 for the rodent, food and cage. Wrong!
As of yesterday I am $130 into this and have been on a quest to find more Critter Trail cage extenders and the special order “hamster outhouse” attachment. And we need to go back again today to buy another hamster ball. The pet store recommended the “Chinese Dwarf Hamster” for it’s sociability. I did give in and buy the fancier cage in addition to the $3 plus food and vitamins at $10 a bag. Yes, hamsters need vitamins. That was $75. Then when assembling the first cage we realized it was broken so then the next trip was required. During the next trip I started feeling guilty for not buying my son his own hamster (my older daughter will care for them both) so another hamster which required a larger, more expensive cage ($3 cage budget is blown) and hamster rear-end spray for $8.99. Yes, I spent $8.99 for hamster “freshener” so that the two might get along better. I did finally have to draw the line at the $10 cage cleaner they tried to sell me. And of course got the disapproving look from the sales person. When we asked about the second hamster the sales woman suggested we buy them in groups of threes because that is how they are shipped. I must have been wearing a name badge with sucker on it.
Fast forward, my daughter and I are huddled in the half bath, spraying hamster rears and I discover one really likes to bite. I’m also starting to think these things sure do look a lot like mice. The same “feeder mice” I used to buy at the pet store as a child. Somehow I learned that any pet you call a “feeder” you get 5/$1. That doesn’t work with dogs by the way, lol. I showed my son the hamster bites on my hand and now he is determined to get a hamster bite too. He keeps sticking his finger in the cage then frowning because “Izzy won’t bite me”. Jake is on a banana jag right now and lost his toddler mind at the mere suggestion of sharing his banana with the mice hamsters. The banana stand off wouldn’t have happened if Mom hadn’t cheaped out and refused to buy the hamster treats.
Did you know there is a recipe online for making “Hamster Meatloaf”? No, it is not made out of hampsters, it is for the hampsters. The WWW being what it is, I soon found myself on various strange websites and learned that there are differing views about if you can train your hamster to become a cannibal. Clearly there are people with too much time on their hands and I decide not to make the meatloaf. Have I mentioned I am a week behind on my school work? It took us about three hours to assemble the ultra deluxe two story critter high rise. When I finally finished the thing I glanced at the brochure for accessories and wouldn’t you know there is a three story deluxe critter high rise?
Welcome to our crazy family Coco & Izzy!
Last picture isn’t part of the story. Jake just wanted to show you his trucks.
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