Can You Save Money Driving a Car with Manual Transmission? Is a stick shift more economical?

Conventional Wisdom: You Get Better Gas Mileage With A Stick Shift

Driving a manual transmission vehicle is more economical than driving an automatic transmission vehicle for two reasons.

1. Manual transmission vehicles get better gas mileage.  
2. Since manual transmissions cost less to repair, you will come out ahead in total cost of ownership over the life of the vehicle

Automatic Transmission- 2013 Honda Crosstour
Image Source: Dr. Penny Pincher

Conventional Wisdom is Wrong!

Automatic transmission vehicles are now more economical than manual transmission vehicles.  Automatic transmissions have become much more efficient in recent years, in fact more efficient than a driver with a manual transmission in many cases.  Not only that, but the resale value of a vehicle with automatic transmission is significantly higher than for that of a vehicle with manual transmission.  When did this happen? I thought manual transmission was more economical...

Gas Mileage: Automatic Transmission vs Manual Transmission

Let's check the gas mileage of some modern vehicles, looking at the automatic and manual transmission versions of the same vehicle.  This gas mileage data can be obtained from fueleconomy.gov.

The table below shows that in newer vehicles, the mpg is about the same between manual and automatic transmission versions of the same vehicle model.  

Table of fuel economy (mpg) for manual transmission and automatic transmission vehicles.  Modern vehicles get about the same mpg with manual or automatic transmission.
Source: Dr. Penny Pincher

So automatic and manual transmission vehicles get essentially the same gas mileage.  When did this happen?  Let's look at the combined city/highway gas mileage of the Honda Civic from 1984 to 2012.  Back in the 1980's and 1990's, the fuel economy of the manual transmission was much higher- nearly 10 mpg higher.

Plot of Honda Civic gas mileage from 1984 to 2012 shows that automatic transmission overtakes manual transmission as more fuel efficient.  Source: Dr. Penny Pincher

But the Honda Civic grew larger (heavier) and its automatic transmission grew more efficient.  By 2007, the automatic transmission delivers higher combined gas mileage than the manual transmission.  This is due to improvements in automatic transmission efficiency.

Repair Costs vs Resale Value

Manual transmission in 2002 Honda Civic
Image source: Dr. Penny Pincher

Another argument for selecting a manual transmission over an automatic is that automatic transmissions cost more to repair.  This is still true- automatic transmissions are about 40 pounds heavier, contain more parts, and have more complex functionality than a manual transmission.  However, modern automatic transmissions are more reliable than ever.  Manual transmissions are less expensive to repair, but require more frequent repair and maintenance.

Resale value has become a big factor as well.  Fewer people than ever want to drive a manual transmission vehicle- or even know how.  If you want to sell your used manual transmission vehicle, there is a limited set of buyers that will be interested.  The resale value of a manual transmission vehicle compared to an automatic transmission vehicle may be thousands of dollars lower.

Penny Pinching Tips:

• Newer automatic transmission vehicles have become a better value than manual transmission vehicles.
• Automatic transmission vehicles and manual transmission vehicles now get equivalent gas mileage
• Although repair costs for automatic transmissions are higher, automatic transmissions run longer without repair than manual transmissions.  
• The reduced resale value of a manual transmission vehicle more than offsets the more expensive repair costs for automatic transmissions

Recommended reading:

How to Get Better Gas Mileage Without Getting a New Car

How to check your gas mileage: Step-by-step instructions to calculate miles per gallon (mpg)

Penny Pincher Journal

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Use a Cheap USB Flash Memory Stick to Speed up Windows 7

How To Speed Up Windows 7 Using A Cheap Memory Stick

The other day, my son asked me to help speed up his Windows 7 laptop.  Actually, he asked for a new Windows 7 laptop because his old one is too slow.  Since his old laptop is only about a year and a half old, I decided to help him speed it up.

I came across this article at Tech Republic outlining ways to speed up Windows 7 by disabling unneeded services, defragmenting the hard drive, etc.  You can also use commercial software to speed up your computer automatically.    Good tips.  I worked my way down the list.  At the end it suggests upgrading the hard disc to a solid state drive to improve performance. That would be nice.

But then it mentions you can plug in a flash drive memory stick and use that as a cashe to enhance the hard disc performance.  You can get the benefit of fast random access of the flash memory to augment the hard disc performance.  Disc drives are good at sustained sequential access, but not random access.  Flash drives are better at random access than hard discs.

This feature of Windows is called ReadyBoost, and I had never heard of it.  Could you really just plug in a USB flash memory stick and boost your windows performance?

 16 GB Mini USB flash memory stick for $12.99.  Is it fast enough for ReadyBoost?
Image source: Dr. Penny Pincher

Of course there is a catch.  In order to improve performance, the flash memory has to meet throughput requirements for random reads and writes.  Windows tests the flash memory and will not use it for ReadyBoost if it is not fast enough.

I went to Best Buy to see if any of the USB memory sticks were labeled "ReadyBoost compatible" or anything like that.  None were.  I looked at all of them to see if the throughput performance was mentioned on the package.  It was not.  I decided that for $12.99 I would give the 16 GB SanDisk Cruzer Fit USB Flash Drive it a shot.  I could try to return the memory stick if it wasn't fast enough for ReadyBoost, or just use it for backup file storage.

This tiny USB memory stick is just right for a laptop.  It will not stick out and break off.
Image source: Dr. Penny Pincher

I installed the USB flash memory in the laptop.  Not much of an installation- I just plugged it in.  I used Windows Explorer to navigate to the new drive, now labeled E.  I right clicked and went to the ReadyBoost tab and told Windows to take the whole flash drive for ReadyBoost.

The SanDisk Cruzer Fit installed in Windows 7 laptop
Image source: Dr. Penny Pincher

So does it work?  Yes!  Windows decided to use 4 GB of the space on the USB memory stick for ReadyBoost.  Windows will not use the flash drive for ReadyBoost if it is not fast enough to improve performance, so it must have passed the speed test.  I verified this by running Resource Monitor to check the disc cashe performance- Windows 7 was indeed using the flash memory as a high speed cashe.

ReadyBoost works- even with a cheap USB flash drive
Image source: Dr. Penny Pincher

Success: I was able to speed up Windows 7. My son reports that his computer is now blazing fast.  Not bad for $12.99.  I may try ReadyBoost on my Windows Vista laptop.  If I do, I'll go with a 4 GB flash drive rather than 16 GB and save about $8.  I am surprised that this feature of Windows is not better publicized- it seems like lots of people would benefit from this.  It is certainly much less expensive than getting a new laptop...

Update: ReadyBoost is also available in Windows 8.

Recommended reading:

How to Speed up Windows 7
ReadyBoost Windows 7 and Windows Vista 
Computer Backup Solution: SATA USB Docking Station vs External Hard Drive

Penny Pincher Journal

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What the BlackBerry Digital Pen Could Be: All-Knowing Digital Pen Dream Wish List

New Blackberry: A Sneak Preview...

"The pen basically sees everything that you see using its forward-facing HD video camera, and hears everything that you hear using its integrated microphone.  It records and analyzes the video and audio so that you can search for anything you have ever seen or heard."

Blackberry Cell Phone
Image courtesy of Zuzu CC-BY-SA via WikimediaCommons

It is the eve of the release of the BlackBerry Digital Pen.   I don’t know what the BlackBerry Digital Pen will turn out to be, but I immediately thought of about 20 cool functions for a digital pen that will change the world.  Today, I will write about what the BlackBerry Digital Pen could be.  Tomorrow, we’ll find out what the BlackBerry Pen actually turns out to be…

Security Features

Since it’s a BlackBerry, business users will expect serious security features.  The first is biometric access control.  The pen knows its owner’s fingerprint and has in integrated sensor.   Only the owner or those authorized by the owner can access data on the pen at all.  The data on the pen in encrypted as well to ensure privacy for both business and personal information that may end up on the phone.  You’ll see later why security features are so important.

The owner can send commands to the pen from a web page (via a computer or cell phone).   If the BlackBerry pen does get lost, the owner can send a command to clear the data on the pen remotely.  Naturally, the owner can also command an upload of all data from the pen to secure storage in the cloud before clearing it.

Ink Pen
Image courtesy of kangshutters at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Interfaces

The surface of the pen is a touch-screen LCD wrapped around the pen.  It can display a few lines of text or some graphics to support a user interface.   You can send and receive text messages.  Text-to-speech voice recognition is the main input method for entering your outgoing text message.  The phone can also display relevant information such as time, temperature, and stock quotes on its display.  There would be an interface for at least entering digits- to dial the phone.  Perhaps some sort of keyboard scheme could be accomplished by showing part of the keyboard at one time and scrolling to access the rest of the keys.  There just isn't much real estate to work with on the surface of a pen.

Connectivity

The pen supports Wi-Fi to upload its data to secure storage in the cloud.  For convenience, the pen also has an integrated cell phone transceiver.  Yes, you can also make cell phone voice calls and send/receive text messages with the BlackBerry pen.  Bluetooth is also integrated to allow the pen to share its files conveniently with computers.  For example you can use the pen like a memory stick to haul around large files like PowerPoint presentations or videos and then share selected files with a computer to share with others.  The pen can also send a video stream to TVs via Bluetooth, or you can stream live video to the Internet via Wi-Fi or cellular link.

The pen also has built-in infrared (IR) to allow it to function as a universal TV remote control.  Of course it also has GPS so that it knows its location (and thus your location) at all times.   This is also handy if it gets lost, it can let you know its location.

Pen Features

That’s right, it’s also a pen.  It can write on normal paper.  A good feature for a pen!  It has integrated sensors so that it can 1) reproduce anything you write in a graphical format file and 2) use its on-board OCR to generate a text file of all text that you write.  The sensor is likely a combination of digital video to obtain images of the written page, and motion sensors such as accelerometers built into the pen to determine its writing motion.  Not only does it record what you write- it records what you write on as well.  For example, if you fill out a form, the pen stores both the form and all of the information that you write on the form.  It will also record the date, time, and location where you filled out the form.  You can also retrieve the audio recording from the time when you were filling out the form.

The  pen also has a digital voice recorder with integrated text-to-speech.  Also included are many of the features from Personal Digital Assistants (PDA’s) of the past, such as storing business contact information and keeping your schedule.  The pen’s high resolution camera can be used to scan business cards and business documents.  The pen uses its connectivity to automatically synch with the rest of your life and move its data to secure storage on the cloud as needed.

Sensors

The pen has a forward facing high definition (HD) video camera.  When you place the pen in your shirt pocket, its HD video camera faces forward.  This means you can use the pen as a sort of dashboard video recorder for your life.  The pen can record a video of any meeting you are in.  It can record the scene while you are driving or snowboarding, etc.  Why would you want to record all of the events in your life?  So you can search it later.  The pen uses MIT’s new state-of-the-art FFT algorithm to compress the video files to the point where it can all be stored in the cloud.  Face recognition algorithms and voice-to-speech algorithms automatically create a transcript of events that can be searched.  Who was at the party?  Where was I driving when I saw that cool recumbent bike for sale along the road?

Not only that, but the camera records documents that you view.  When you are looking at your computer screen , the pen is looking at your computer screen.  It uses OCR so that any document you view can be found later.  This works for paper documents as well if you have your pen on so that it can record them.  The pen basically sees everything that you see in HD, and hears everything that you hear.  It records and analyzes the video and audio so that you can search for anything you have ever seen or heard.

If you wish, the pen can automatically Tweet or update your facebook status:   the pen "knows" where you are (GPS) and who you are with (calendar & face recognition).

You can see now why I listed Security Features first…

Recommended reading:
Cell Phone Plans for Existing Cell Phones

How to Sell your Old Cell Phone and Get Cash

Penny Pincher Journal

Copyright © 2013 Dr. Penny Pincher.  All Rights Reserved.  Privacy Policy

How to Get Better Gas Mileage Without Getting a New Car or Truck

How to Get Better Gas Mileage with Your Car or Truck

The easiest way to get better mpg is to get a more fuel efficient car.  When I switched from driving a Ford F-150 pickup truck to a Honda Civic, I doubled my fuel economy overnight!

Keep your gauge on full longer!
Image courtesy of supakitmod at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

But if you want (or need) to keep driving your current vehicle, there are some simple things you can do to get significantly better gas mileage.  By working to improve both the vehicle and the driver, you could see 5 mpg or more improvement.  You can see how much money a 5 mpg improvement in fuel economy would save you each month in fuel savings using the tables at:

How Much Would I Save on Gas with a More Fuel Efficient Car?

Improve the Vehicle to Get Better Gas Milage

Tip 1.  Keep tires properly inflated
Fuel Savings: 3 mpg

Valve stem tire pressure monitors cost under $10
Image source: Dr. Penny Pincher

On the inside of the driver's door is a sticker that will show the recommended tire inflation for your vehicle.  When tires are under inflated, they have more rolling resistance and you will get lower gas mileage.  The air pressure in tires changes as seasonal temperatures change and sometimes due to slow leaks.

I installed valve stem pressure monitors on my tires.  These cost less than $10 at an auto parts shop and are much easier to check than using an air pressure gauge.  A colored indicator shows green when the tire is properly inflated- easy to check when you refuel.
Tip 2. Replace air filter when dirty
Fuel Savings: 3 mpg
A dirty air filter prevents your engine from getting optimal mpg.  Air is routed to the engine for combustion through a path that includes the air filter.  Its job is to make sure dust and debris do not get into the engine, but when it gets dirty, the flow of air to the engine is reduced which reduces your fuel economy.  You can easily check and replace this filter yourself for about $10, or have this done at the shop with your oil change.


Tip 3.  Remove extra weight
Fuel Savings: 2 mpg
I can tell when I have driven with passengers in my car- my mpg drops!  This is due to the extra weight onboard.  You can't do much about driving with passengers sometimes, but there may be extra weight in your car that you don't need.  Do you keep lawn chairs in the trunk year round?  Do you haul library books around for weeks until you remember to return them?  Remove extra weight to boost your mpg.  Avoid using your vehicle as storage space- you are paying to haul that extra stuff around.

Improve the Driver to Get Better Gas Mileage

Idling wastes fuel
Image source: Dr. Penny Pincher

Tip 4. Don't Idle the Vehicle
Fuel Savings: 2 mpg
This adds wear and tear to your engine and doesn't get you anywhere.  Turn your ignition off if you are stopped more than 1 minute or so.  Avoid running your heater or A/C while parked- instead go inside a building and wait.  This is one of the tricks that hybrid cars use to get good gas mileage- they turn off rather than idle.

Tip 5. Slow Down
Fuel Savings: 1 mpg
Driving above 60 mph cuts your mpg significantly.  Speeding doesn't save you that much time: if you drive 10 miles at 70 miles per hour vs. 55 miles per hour, you would save only about 2 minutes.  Choose a reasonable driving speed and set the cruise control to avoid having your speed creep up.  Simply driving at or below the speed limit saves fuel.

Tip 6. Avoid rapid acceleration and deceleration
Fuel Savings: 1 mpg
Accelerate slowly and steadily.  Try to time lights so you don't need to brake rapidly  Keep your car's momentum going, accelerating takes a lot of fuel.  Think of rapid acceleration as guzzling, slow acceleration as sipping.


Tip 7. Use a GPS navigation system
Fuel Savings: A lot if you get lost frequently!
Avoid getting lost- this wastes gas and time.  Also a GPS unit can help you find more efficient routes with less traffic.  City driving results in much lower fuel efficiency than highway driving due to the starts and stops. Most GPS systems have route selection modes where you can avoid traffic- this can help your mileage approach highway driving levels.  You can find GPS systems for your vehicle starting around $100.


Tip 8. Climate Control
Fuel Savings: 1 mpg
Keep windows up at highway speed, use the A/C if needed.  At slower speeds, or if you're stopped, you're better off to put the windows down.  The engine has to work to turn the compressor belt on the A/C.  At slower speeds, it is less work for your engine to deal with the increased drag from having the windows down than with running the compressor.


Recommended reading:
How to check your gas mileage: Step-by-step instructions to calculate miles per gallon (mpg)

How Much Would I Save on Gas with a More Fuel Efficient Car or Truck?

Penny Pincher Journal

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DirecTV vs Dish Network vs Cable: What is the best value?

Cable TV Distribution Box
Image source: Dr. Penny Pincher

TV Service Options

The main options for receiving television programming are satellite TV and cable TV.  The main players in satellite TV are Dish Network and DirecTV.  Local cable companies provide programming in most areas, providing a third option.  Which of these provides the best value?

Confusion Factors

DirecTV satellite dish
Image source: Dr. Penny Pincher

There are so many different packages and discounts that it is difficult to compare offerings between Dish Network, DirecTV, and cable companies.  For example, cable companies offer bundling of services- if you subscribe to phone service, your TV bill is discounted.  If you subscribe to both Internet and phone service, your TV bill is discounted even more.  The satellite companies offer introductory rates for 1 year or some other limited amount of time.  After the introductory rate, the prices go up and the “ every day “rate applies.

Dish Network HD satellite dish
Image source: Dr. Penny Pincher

In order to compare prices that you would pay in the long run, I tried to identify the “every day” price.  This is the price that you would expect to pay after the introductory rate.  This is the price with no bundling, the price you can get with only TV service.

Another issue that makes comparison difficult is that the channels included vary.  The value of a channel package depends on how much you value the channels in the package.  A 140 channel package may be more worthwhile to you than a 290 channel package- it depends on which channels are included and which ones you would watch.

How to compare?

I decided to set a budget and number of receivers, then compare what Dish Network, DirecTV, and the local cable company could offer to meet the budget.  The price points I picked out were :

• $50 per month for one TV set, standard definition
• $75 per month for 2 HD TV sets
• $100 per month for 3 HD TV sets

So how much TV can you get for $50, $75, and $100 per month?

Price Comparison without Bundling or Introductory Rates

Table of TV programming packages available for $50, $75, and $100  per month
Image source: Dr. Penny Pincher

Note that this comparison chart represents my best attempt to sort through the many offers and packages to find the “every day” price with the charges for the receivers included.

These prices get higher if you want to upgrade your receiver to a DVR so that you can record shows.  This may cost an additional $10 for an “advanced receiver service” or similar fee per month FOR EACH DVR.  Also, you may need to pay for the DVR equipment, which costs about $200 per receiver.  This may be an upfront fee, or may be rolled into your monthly bill at some point.   Also note TV service typically requires a 18 to 24 month service contract- if you want to leave early you'll have to pay a cancellation fee which can be substantial.

I was disappointed that $50 per month doesn't get you much.  All I was looking for in this price range was service for 1 standard definition TV set.  Only the cable company delivers in this price range.

At the $75 price point, DirecTV and Dish Network provide options that meets the budget and provides 2 HD receivers.  The local cable company did not have any offerings with 2 HD receivers in this price range.  Moving up to the $100 budget for 3 HD receivers, DirecTV, Dish Network, and the local cable company all have options.

Which to choose?

It is a good thing that there are several choices available.  If you are looking for the lowest cost option, cable TV is the way to go.  The satellite companies do not offer packages in the under $50 price range.  If you have $75 per month to spend and want multiple HD receivers, the satellite companies have the only offerings.

If you have around $100 per month to spend, DirecTV, Dish Network, and cable all have packages with lots of channels for multiple TV sets.  Since the price is similar, I think the decision comes down to which packages have the channels you want the most.  You can find the list of channels on the provider's website.  I would suggest printing out the channel listing, passing it around to your family and having everyone circle the channels you think you would actually watch.  This exercise will help you see which is the best value in terms of channels that you would actually watch.

TV Augmentation Options

If you don’t have $100 per month to spend on TV, or even $50, there are some ways to get some movies and television at a low cost.

Low Cost TV Augmentation Options
Image source: Dr. Penny Pincher

Penny Pinching Tips:

• When selecting TV service, find out the cost after the introductory period.  This is the price you will likely pay for years and provides the best basis for comparison
• Look beyond the number of channels, check for channels in the programming package that you would actually watch
• Watch out for additional equipment and service fees if you add a receiver with DVR
• Cable has the best option for simple, low-cost service
• Cable and Satellite have lots of options, especially at $100 per month and up
• Consider low-cost TV augmentation options, you may be able to cut back on TV service if you use these options

If you don't really want all of the channels that cable or satellite TV offers, you can get free HD TV over the air using an indoor HD TV antenna that costs $50.


Recommended Reading:
Cell Phone Plans for Existing Cell Phones

Penny Pincher Journal

Copyright © 2013 Dr. Penny Pincher.  All Rights Reserved.  Privacy Policy

How to check your gas mileage: Step-by-step instructions to calculate miles per gallon (mpg)

Check you Gas Mileage and Save Money

Gas mileage is measured in mpg:  miles per gallon.  The calculation of miles per gallon is the miles driven divided by the gallons of fuel used to drive those miles.  This article provides step-by-step instructions with pictures to measure miles driven, measure gallons of gas consumed, and calculate gas mileage in miles per gallon.

Checking your miles per gallon is useful to figure out how much it costs to operate your car- this can be an important factor in deciding whether to get a different car.  Also, the mpg performance of your vehicle provides an indicator when maintenance may be needed- if your mpg dips this may indicate low tire pressure or a dirty air filter.  By tracking your mpg, you will be able to notice driving habits that lower your fuel efficiency.

MPG Monitor Mischief- Conspiracy Theory

Some newer cars automatically calculate and display gas mileage instantaneously as you drive on a fuel consumption display.  So if you have a built-in mpg monitor, you never need to check gas mileage yourself- right?  I would check it myself the old fashioned way, using my own measurements of miles driven and gallons of fuel consumed.  Why?  There has been at least one instance of a hybrid vehicle with inflated mpg ratings placed on the window sticker.  A high miles per gallon rating sells a lot of cars.  Carmakers have a huge incentive to display the highest mpg number on the indicator while you’re driving too.  If you test drive a car that displays a high mpg, you’re more likely to buy it.  After you buy it, if you think you’re getting great gas mileage, you’ll probably have higher satisfaction with the vehicle- and be more likely to recommend the vehicle and even buy another one.

Wouldn’t people notice if the mpg number  on the display is a little high all the time?  Unlikely.  How many people with an automatic mpg monitor ever manually check the mileage and compare?   Even if you have an automatic mpg monitor, check it yourself with these steps.

Step-by-step Instructions to Check your Gas Mileage

1. Reset trip counter at your next fill-up.  Fill the gas tank all the way full.
Most odometers have a trip counter.  This is an odometer that can be reset to zero by pushing a button.
Resetting the trip counter will start tracking miles driven on this tank of gas.

What if I don't have a trip counter?  You'll need to record the odometer reading now to use later.

Fill gas tank full and reset the trip counter
Image source: Dr. Penny Pincher

2. At your next fill-up, note how many gallons it takes to fill the tank all the way full.
You can get the gallons from reading the display on the pump, or from your receipt.

Record the gallons needed to fill the tank.  This is available on the pump display, or on your gas receipt.  The reading is 8.949 gallons.
Image source: Dr. Penny Pincher

3. Note how many miles are on your trip counter

The trip counter with miles driven : 330.7 miles
Image source: Dr. Penny Pincher

Tip: write mileage from trip counter on the receipt so you can do the math later

The gas receipt shows gallons used to fill the tank.  You'll also need the miles driven from your trip counter.
Image source: Dr. Penny Pincher

What  if I don't have a trip counter?  Take the current odometer reading and subtract the reading you wrote down in step 1.  This is the number of miles driven on the current tank of gas.


4. Divide miles from trip counter by gallons from receipt or gas pump display.
Most people will want to use a calculator for this step.
For example, if your trip counter reads 330.7 miles and you used 8.949 gallons of gas, the calculation is:
330.7 miles   / 8.949 gallons  = 36.95 miles per gallon (mpg)

Tip: I keep a $1 calculator that my kids gave me in the car.  The calculator on a cell phone or computer will work as well.
Image source: Dr. Penny Pincher

Example calculation:
How to calculate miles per gallon using a calculator:

1. enter 330.7
2. press division key
3. enter 8.949
4. press equals key

The answer shows your gas mileage in miles per gallon, 36.95 in this example.

5.  Important- reset trip counter after you note the miles to start tracking miles for the next tank

You will need to reset the trip counter while you're still at the gas station to record the miles driven on you next tank.

Recommended reading:
How to Buy a Used Pickup Truck
How Much Would I Save on Gas with a More Fuel Efficient Car?

Penny Pincher Journal

Copyright © 2013 Dr. Penny Pincher.  All Rights Reserved.  Privacy Policy

Pet Food: Why is dog food and cat food so expensive? Would it be cheaper to feed my pet meat?

Why is Pet Food so Expensive?

Why does pet food cost so much?  Would it be less expensive to just feed pets meat and vegetables?  Is dog food and cat food a good deal, or could you make your own pet food for less?  We'll check the cost of popular pet food brands per pound vs. the cost of meat and other pet food ingredients per pound.

Pet Food Catastrophe

There was a minor catastrophe last night.  The cats ran out of food.  Cats get annoying when they are really hungry, so a late night trip to the grocery store was in order.  I brought home a bag of Purina One Beyond for the cats and filled their bowls.  However, they seemed unimpressed with my efforts.

The next day, I went to Walmart to see if I could find a larger bag of cat food for a better price.  (Target did not have this brand.)  The bag from the grocery store was $8.48 for 3.5 pounds  I even brought the bag with me so I could match the correct chicken flavor.  The picture below shows the bag from the late night run to the grocery store on the left, and the larger bag on the right.  Can you spot the problem?

Two bags of cat food- can you spot the problem?
Image source: Dr. Penny Pincher

Both bags are Purina One Beyond.  Both are chicken flavor.  Look closely at the picture of the animal in the circle.  The one on the left is DOG food!  No wonder my cats wouldn't eat it...  My dogs seem to like it, even though it's not their usual brand, so no harm done.

At least the larger bag was cheaper- "only" $14.88 for 6 pounds.

Why is Pet Food so Expensive?

Did I really pay $14.88 for 6 pounds of cat food?  Good grief, couldn't I just feed the cats real fish and chicken for this price?

Of course there is a range of pet food quality and price, and Purina One Beyond must be near the top.  The higher quality pet foods use meat and meat products as the main ingredients, the lower quality ones use corn and other grains as the main ingredients.  I decided to see how much more the higher quality foods cost than the cheap stuff.  Since I have both cats and dogs, I checked out cat food and dog food.  I selected various sized bags of pet food of various quality.  The tables below show the price per pound for popular dog food and cat food brands.  The column with Weight indicates the size of the bag.

Table of Cat Food Prices
Image source: Dr. Penny Pincher

Table of Dog Food Prices
Image source: Dr. Penny Pincher

Generic is the price winner for both dog food and cat food.  The more expensive brands are about 3x more expensive than generic per pound in the same size bag.  The size of the bag makes a big difference, the same food costs quite a bit less if you simply buy it in larger bags.    Many of the lower cost "Name Brands" are not much more expensive than generic.  I would bet that the ingredient list is similar as well.

Why Don't I Just Feed My Pets Fish, Chicken, and Beef?

Animal nutrition is a complex topic, I'll look at this from the cost angle here.  I walked around the grocery store looking for food that I could conceivably use in pet food, especially cheaper meats.  Dogs like peanut butter, so I thought peanuts would be a good ingredient.  I hear rice mentioned as a pet food ingredient, so I'll use that as well.  I wanted meat without bones- I wouldn't be willing to put too much work into making pet food.  I wanted ingredients that don't require a lot of work.  My question is: is it cheaper to buy pet food or would it be cheaper to feed them groceries.

My grocery selections for pet food are in the table below, along with cost per pound.  The bottom line of the table is the average for all of the items above.

Table of Pet Food Ingredient Prices
Image source: Dr. Penny Pincher

If you think pet food is expensive, buying groceries for your pets is much more expensive.  Even the most inexpensive meat, like generic bologna, is more expensive than dog food or cat food if you buy larger bags.  The average cost for my pet food formula: $3.85 per pound.  High quality pet food sells for about $1.50 per pound.

Pet Food is a Good Value

High quality pet food is a good deal for the money.  You couldn't make something comparable without spending more than even the most expensive pet food.  Pet food includes vitamins and minerals as well as the basic ingredients.  Seeing that pet food is actually less than buying groceries for the pets makes me feel a little better.

I think of dry pet food as "meat cereal".  Pet food contains most of the things that cereal contains- grains, vitamins  minerals, etc.  If you consider the price of cereal, and then think of adding expensive ingredients like meat, it makes sense to me why pet food costs so much.

You might ask why a penny pincher like me buys the most expensive brand of cat food at the store.  Because my wife makes me.  She thinks it's good for the cats, and she's probably right.  I don't let my kids eat a lot of junk food, so I don't want to feed my pets junk food.  They will be healthier and happier with a quality diet.

Penny Pinching Tips:

• Buy pet food in large bags to save money.  The same food costs much more in smaller bags.
• Rather than buying cheap pet food to save money, feed your pet the right amount of higher quality food.  Many pets are overweight, so save money and improve their health by feeding them less until they reach ideal weight.
• Pet Food is a good deal compared with grocery prices

Recommended Reading:
Dog Sunglasses Buying Guide
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Malshi: Cross of Maltese and Shih-Tzu Dog Breeds

Amazon offer: Raw Dog Food: Make It Easy for You and Your Dog

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