Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Dogs versus Cats: Which makes the Best Pet?

For years a sometimes fierce - but mostly fun - and vocal debate between dog and cat lovers has ensued over which pet is best. Of course, many pet lovers have both animals in their household or at times have owned one or the other, but like many stereotypes there is an element of truth to determining the difference between a ‘cat’ person and a ‘dog’ person.

Dog lovers will say that dogs are interactive and fun whereas cats are passive at best and totally indifferent at worst. ‘What is the fun in stroking a cat that purrs and dribbles on your knee?’ say dog lovers, ‘when you could be out in the great outdoors having fun with your pet.’ ‘You can’t train a cat,’ says the canine lover, ‘so therefore it must possess less intelligence than my clever pooch.’ ‘Felines also don’t love mankind in that way that the loyal and grateful hound does’ is another argument of the ardent dog lovers.

However, those devoted to cats will say that canines are high-maintenance creatures whereas felines are highly independent and therefore require little owner care and attention. A cat will take a cursory glance out of the window when the weather is atrocious and decide to curl up into a ball until it is more pleasant for an outing. No such luck for dog lovers as their faithful hound will always demand a walk, whatever the conditions outside! Additionally, dogs are only loyal and obedient because they know their place in the pack and that love would be easily transferred to another owner or leader of the pack, according to the cat devotee.

The debate rages on and many points could be considered moot by both sides. Most are made only in jest and the most important consideration as to which pet is best would actually be determined by the personality and lifestyle of the owner. People who are rarely at home would have problems keeping a dog happy, whereas they could easily care for cats. On the other hand those at home alone may love to have a dog to keep them company and also be in a position to be able to adequately look after their pet.

However, one thing on which responsible dog and cat lovers both agree is that they are passionate about the care of pets. Many will obtain a pet insurance quote when taking a puppy or kitten into their household and subsequently take out a pet protection policy. They know that their ‘little baby’ will immediately become one of the family and therefore want the same access to healthcare for their pet as they would expect for their children.

The cat versus dog debate will continue forever, but not open to debate is to treat a pet with care and love, whether they are moggie or pooch!

Isla Campbell writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Home Organization Ideas To Save You Money

In these tough economic times, trying to get your house organized is probably one of the last things on your mind. But getting your house organized can actually help your budget and save you money.

Here is how home organization ideas can save you money:

1. You will never buy another duplicate of something that you already have. How many times have you come home from the store with something only to realize either days or months later that you already had the exact same thing? When you are organized, you know exactly what you have at all times so you never waste your money buying something you already own.

2. No more late payments on any of your bills. When you get organized, you have a system for going through your mail and paying bills. These home organization ideas mean that you will never have a late payment on a bill because you lost it or didn’t know when it was due. Late payment fees can add large and unnecessary expenses to your budget.

A suggested mail/bill organization system: Get a desktop file organizer and create different folders for the mail that you get in. Make one of those folders “Bills” or “Action.” Make sure that all bills go in that folder and that you go through it at least once a week and pay what needs to be paid.

3. Saving money on eating out. When you get meal-time at your house organized, it means that you will not have to eat out because you forgot to go to the store or are too tired to think of what to cook for dinner. Getting your meals organized means that you will know what you are cooking for dinner every night before you even step foot in the door. It also means that you have organized your grocery shopping trips so you know exactly what you are getting before you ever get to the store. An added bonus of having a list when you go grocery shopping is that it tends to cut down on impulse buying of things you don’t need so yet another way that being organized can save you money. These are great home organization ideas that not only save you money but time as well.

A suggested meal/grocery organizing system: Have a weekly meal planner. On it write down every meal you are going to make that week and all of the items needed to make it. Then go through your cupboards and cross off the items you already have. Then write down what is left on your grocery list. A little grocery shopping tip: Write down the items on your list in the order that they are in the store. That saves you time in the store.

All of these home organization ideas involve putting a few simple systems in place to not only get you organized but to also help your budget. And who couldn’t use some help with your budget right now? For more free home organization help, go to http://www.YourHomeIsOrganized.com

Related Articles - home, organization, ideas,