No Strings to Hold us Down | Takami Keigo
(spoilers for chapter 299 ahead!)
requested by @waffleareniceandfluffy: can I request a hawks x reader where yk how ehe in the car with best jeanist faked his death all that yeah and he says he’s free of his shackles can you do where they’re both free and they discuss his backstory (reader is childhood friend she knows about his abuse) and can you include any other thing chapter 299 with him as like can u make it hella angsty but with a little fluff and definitely a fluff ending.
part two
pairing: takami keigo x fem!reader
w.c: 4.269
warnings: spoilers for ch. 299, some amount of angst (with happy ending), mentions of neglectful parents
a.n: so this took me a hot minute and i’m so sorry you had to wait for so long! it’s also like 4 k words and i don’t know how or when that happened i-... i hope it’s angsty enough and i hope you like it! please enjoy :) <3
The silence hung thickly in the air of the freshly washed car, weighing heavily on you. A glance to the side told you that Keigo was still asleep, head propped up against the window.
He’d fallen asleep as soon as you’d taken off from the hospital, the only sign he was still alive was the even lifting and lowering of his chest.
You knew he was fine, Keigo was the most stubborn person you knew and as long as he hadn’t given up yet, there was nothing that could keep him from going on. Still, there was this little voice at the back of your head, barely an itch, that urged you to make sure just once more, if he was still alive, still breathing, still going.
He’d taken a lot of damage during his battle with Dabi. The villain hadn’t held back, hadn’t even hesitated when he’d burned his wings off, almost ruining the cells in his shoulder blades they were sprouting from beyond fixing, before he had moved on to his face and neck, leaving nasty burn marks behind wherever his hands had reached.
You remembered when you had stormed into his room, ignoring everyone who told you to take care of your own injured first, to take it slow, saying Keigo needed rest now, and you had first laid eyes on his battered form. The bandages covering his body, the absence of his wings, the peaceful look on his burned face as he was still sleeping soundly.
For a moment, a never ending moment, you had thought he was dead. You wouldn’t have known what to do then, when Keigo had actually left you behind, all alone in a big cold world, a world even colder without his silly jokes and genuine smiles. It had been awful, that feeling of dread, heavy and suffocating, that had taken a grip on your throat and squeezed.
Then the beeping of the vital signs monitor had reached your eyes, barely audible through the ringing of your ears and the loud beating of your eyes and you’d been able to breathe again.
Since then you hadn’t left Keigo’s side, even denied Best Jeanists help when he’d suggested to accompany the two of you. He’d wanted to drive, since you were still heavily injured, but you’d denied.
It felt too personal, visiting the house of Keigo’s mother, a woman you’d only met once before but had heard too many stories about, to not be by Keigo’s side when he had to face her after years of separation.
Luckily, Best Jeanist had realized this and instead agreed to meet you back at the hospital later, leaving Keigo and you alone on your ride to your destination.
Out of the corner of your eyes you saw your friend’s body stirring, straightening out of his hunched over position, his eyes blinking open tiredly before he seemed to recognize where he was.
“I’m sorry. I fell asleep,” the robotic voice of the translation app he was using, chimed through the car.
Another reminder of how close Dabi had gotten to him, you thought.
You glanced at him, your eyes falling on the muzzle he was wearing that prevented him from using his voice.
You smiled at him, hands tightening their grip on the steering wheel as you stopped at a red light.
“It’s okay. I’m glad you’re alright.”
You seemed to repeat yourself around him a lot since he’d woken up. “It’s okay.”, “I’m glad you’re alright.”, “How are you feeling?”. At this point you felt like a broken record. If he noticed, Keigo didn’t mention it.
“I’m glad that everything with Best Jeanist went smooth,” the voice chimed back.
You remembered when Keigo told you about it. The plan involved Best Jeanist. Before he’d even asked the man himself about it. He probably hadn’t been allowed, the commission usually forbade any exchange of important information between the two of you, but Keigo never cared.
He had always told you anything, it’s been like that since forever.
The rest of the 40 minute ride was endured in silence. Keigo was looking out of the window, eyes unfocused, and you tried to focus your attention back on the street. The concerned voice was pushed to the back again.
You arrived soon after, parking the car in an empty spot and exiting the vehicle together with Keigo. The mansion at the end of the street caught your eyes immediately and you were once again impressed how much money the commission was willing to spend to keep their little pet obedient.
“Is that it?” you asked, covering your eyes against the blinding winter sun.
“Inside that house,” Keigo assured, passing you without giving you a second glance.
You let out a sigh, sensing his nervousness, maybe even fear to see his mother again. Locking the car, you followed after him, stomach churning with something you could only identify as dread.
When you arrived at the door Keigo rummaged around in his pockets before he pulled out a key card. He hesitated, grip tight around the little piece of plastic, before turning to you and typing a few words into his translation app.
“Before I fully recover and show my face again...you know there is something I need to be sure of.”
Maybe he felt like he had to explain himself, as if you didn’t already know exactly why he came all the way here to see his mom again after he hadn’t even bothered to keep in touch with her the last few years. His eyes were searching your face, hand on the handle and you gave him a soft nod.
“I know,” you replied quietly.
He opened the door wide and you entered the house.
It looked just as spacey and clean as the outside let suspect. The interior was beautifully put together, the furniture was expensive looking and excessive. It looked all very tidy and you knew that the way everything was decorated has probably been the work of interior designers.
Something about the fact that the place reminded you strangely of where Keigo was living stuck with you. His apartment was just as clean, just as nicely decorated by the hands of strangers, just as well put together.
How ironic.
The similarity of it. Mother and son both separated and still connected through the hands of the commission, the organisation the woman sold her son to.
It made you feel sick, no matter how much Keigo acted like it didn’t bother him, it just seemed to anger you twice as much.
How these people working for the Hero Public Safety Commission managed to make it appear all nice and clean from the outside, sweeping all the unpleasant details under the rug. They made Keigo the perfect hero, paid off his mother and ensured their comfort, ensured your comfort to him. Only to have the man in their debt.
The commission loved how close you and Keigo were, if only to use your friendship against you and use it to their advantage. Although it had only been him they had taken in, fixed up and trained for years, you were just as much controlled by them as he was. Due to your friendship.
They didn’t think of you as talented or as perfect as him. Hawks was charming, impressive, loved by the public, the number two hero! You weren’t even in the Top Twenty, your quirk wasn’t as flashy as most of Japan’s Top Heroes’ and you weren’t as loved by the public either.
You were only useful to them when it came to the dirty work, keeping Keigo in line that was (and you hated it hated it hated it), being the one responsible when he had to get punished after a mistake he made because it was on you when you didn’t pay enough attention, wasn’t it?
And only because the two of you had been childhood friends. Because you knew Keigo better than anybody else in this world, even himself. Keigo did have no issue sacrificing himself, burning himself out in the process if that meant he did a good job. You were the one who had to ensure he was at peak performance at all times.
Of course, being the commission, they had also used their sources (you didn’t believe it was Keigo who had told them, he would have never done as much) to uncover your awful past and find out about your family home just to use those things against you. As leverage. As if Keigo’s safety and wellbeing wasn’t motivation enough.
Your past was filled with pain and regrets.
Your mom, who’d left you with your dad after you were born and your dad who’d turned to alcohol and drugs to numb the pain.
The man had neglected everything. His health, his job, his life...you. So it had been your responsibility to keep the both of you afloat. You had started shoplifting when you were merely old enough to tell the difference between left and right. Everything you’d stolen, you’d taken to keep your dad and you alive.
The commission knew about this and liked to use it against you. It didn’t matter that you’d only been a child, old enough to know better for sure but too young to see any other possibilities for your hopeless situation.
You had met Keigo back then, too, when you’d been 7 and he’d been 8, after you had stolen from a small shop and accidentally caused havoc when you were caught and ran away, causing two cars to crash into each other when you’d crossed the street without looking, which forced one of them to swerve the other way so it wouldn’t hit you.
Keigo had found you hiding behind a group of trash cans in an alleyway crying, saying his feathers had tingled and that’s how he knew something had happened in the city. He had wanted you to return what you’ve stolen but when you had told him in tears about your situation and begged him not to tell anyone he had taken pity on you. Making a promise to not snitch on you if you were being more careful.
That’s how you’d become friends.
Although he’d gotten in trouble for leaving his house, beaten and screamed at by his paranoid piece of garbage of a father, who believed he’d tried to rat him out or something...That didn’t stop Keigo from seeing you again.
You would both sneak out in the middle of the night to see each other, meeting in forests and on playgrounds all around the town. He’d share food with you or bring you little things he’d managed to sneak from his dad’s newest gig.
Since that day in the dirty alleyway, Keigo had never stopped taking care of you. The both of you felt connected through your abusive fathers and (in Keigo's case emotionally) absent mothers. You both had scars you'd rather hide with everyone but never each other and you both felt lost, unable to be yourself in a home you didn't belong in.
You had realized, even at your young age, that you could never let him leave because you’d never find a person like him ever again.
So when the commission got involved, when they took him away, isolated him from his old environment, which involved you as well, your heart broke.
Although Keigo, sweet caring Keigo (who now had to go by Hawks. Commission’s orders.) still never entirely left you. He’d asked the commission for one more favor beside taking care of his mother and him. They had to ensure your safety, get you away from your father and into a better household.
You were the very first person he’s saved and although he tried to downplay it you knew he was proud of the fact that it held him together on days he didn’t feel much like a hero.
These days, it was rather often...
The house remained silent, the calls of the robotic voice for Keigo’s mother echoing through the big room.
No answer followed.
You looked around the room, noticing that what you had called clean before was really just the absence of everything that was supposed to tell someone that this mansion was inhabited. No dirty dishes, no books or newspapers lying around, not even a glass of water on the sink.
“Do you think she left overnight?” you asked, strolling around.
Keigo didn’t answer your question so you turned around to see him standing with his back to you, something clutched into his hand. Curious of what he had found you stepped up from behind him to look over his shoulder, catching a glimpse of what looked like a letter addressed to Keigo.
From his mother.
“Did Dabi use people for this...? How did he even get this far...?”
You hummed softly, reaching up to grasp his shoulder tightly. Keigo had already suspected that it must have been his mother to tell Dabi or people Dabi sent about his real name and family background. Still you knew there was a little part of him that had hoped this not to be true.
Now, though, with the letter that his mom left behind in her abandoned home, there was no doubt about it.
His shoulders sacked and his body hunched over as he let out a deep sigh, barely audible through the muzzle.
“Guess it really was my mother that leaked it then,” for some reason even the robotic voice sounded heartbroken about the fact.
You reached up to card your fingers through the hair at the back of his head, or rather the part that wasn’t covered by bandages.
“I’m sorry, Kei,” you mumbled lowly.
He leaned into your touch and let out another deep sigh, the tiredness that had been edged into his features ever since he had woken up in the hospital bed seemed even more prominent now under the cold lights of the living room.
“When the name “Takami” had been taken from me, the relationship between my mother and i had finally disappeared. I had always thought i was fine with that,” he explained, the robotic voice breaking the silence again.
“What i thought of as being saved was just me turning my back on everything. Even on you, y/n.”
You looked up in surprise at his words, staring at the back of his bandaged head with furrowed brows.
“You’ve never turned your back on me, Keigo,” you assured him, giving his shoulder another squeeze.
How he could even think that he’d ever done as much was beyond confusing to you.
Keigo reached to put his hand on your hand, the skin warm against yours and the touch comforting. He tightened his grip ever so slightly.
“Yes I did,” the speech assistant continued, “After we’ve met again a few years back, I’ve run from you, kept my distance, because you represented what i wanted to be but couldn’t.”
After we met again a few years back.
You’d seen him in the news one day, when you were still training in hero school, and recognized him immediately as your childhood friend, even after all the years you’d been separated.
The huge red wings were a distinct tell.
You had run out of the Starbucks, leaving behind your freshly ordered drink to where you’d heard the incident had occurred. Out of breath and disheveled from all the running you’d gotten there just in time to reunite with Keigo for the first time in years.
Since then you’d never left him out of your sight again, too scared you’d end up losing him again.
Hearing Keigo say that he’d tried the complete opposite, keeping a distance to you because of what you’d represented, something he wanted to be but couldn’t...what did that even mean?
“A guy who helps people...”
Your hand felt cold when Keigo dropped his own again, letting it hang off to his side.
“That’s the only thing that’s returned. Actually it’s refreshing,” he continued.
The air around you felt heavy, suffocating, just like earlier in the car, just like when you’d stepped into his hospital room. Although now the reason for it was a completely different one.
“What do you mean?” you asked quietly, your voice barely a whisper.
“The commission is currently at a stand still, y/n, in total dysfunction.”
You swallowed thickly at the reminder. The commission, the one thing haunting the both of you whenever you were with each other, the organization holding Keigo in an iron clasp and ensuring his obedience with your help...since the Jaku Hospital Raid, since Dabi exposed Endeavor and Hawks, the number 1 and number 2 heroes of Japan, they’d been silent.
Scarily so.
“There is no one to give me orders anymore. And they won’t be able to control you anymore either. I won’t let them.”
You took a step back away from the man when you noticed how violently he smashed the screen, his shoulders tense and the recovering wings under his jacket bulking.
“Keigo...” you tried weakly.
“They won’t get to abuse your kindness anymore, have you chained to me..”
You didn’t have to see the look in his face to know what emotion was displayed on it, neither did you have to hear his voice.
Your heart dropped at the words, at the bitterness he so desperately wanted to put into them but couldn’t because of his injured throat.
“Keigo,” you repeated, this time with more insistence.
“I know why you did it. You wanted to return the favor. I saved you, you save me,” the electronic voice sounded awfully smug all out of the sudden.
Your stomach twisted, a horrible hot sensation built in your chest and you had to clench your jaw to stop yourself from saying the first thing to come to mind.
Which would have been an insult.
You clenched your fists, pinned them to your side as you stared at Keigo’s back, your face twisted into an ugly expression.
“No, fuck that,” you spit, “how dare you?”
His face came into view when he turned half to look at you over his shoulder, eyebrows lifted in surprise at your outbreak.
You snarled, unable to contain the hurt as tears started to build behind your eyes.
You’d always been an emotional crier and you really hated it.
“It’s not about a favor. Don’t say shit like that.”
Hawks cocked his head, eyeing you for a moment before he fully turned towards you. His posture was more relaxed than before but there was a question behind his eyes.
He lowered his glance only to type in the next words...
“What? You care about me so much, sweetheart?”
You scoffed, wiping at your eyes in frustration.
“You know i do, stupid bird brain,” you said, still angry.
How could he even believe for a second that you endured the commission’s whining and yammering out of guilt. How could he not know how much you cared for him after all the years you’d been by his side now, after all the times you’d been there for him.
Keigo grasped your wrist, stopping your frantic wiping to push them away and make place for his own hands, thumbs softly brushing the wetness from your cheeks.
He found your eyes, his own wrinkling at the edges.
“No chains left,” the phone chimed.
You watched in anticipation as Keigo reached behind him, hands moving to his neck, and removed loosened the clasp, pulling the muzzle off.
Now you could see the smile, too.
“To shackle us down,” he told you with a hoarse voice.
“Kei,” you scolded him, looking down at the muzzle between his fingers.
You took a step towards him, closing the distance between you. Then you reached forward to gently run your fingers down his throat. The fabric of the bandages was rough against your fingers.
Hopefully he hadn’t started talking too soon.
“Y/n.”
You looked up at him and caught his eyes that were staring down at you with a determination you’d seen directed at you so often before, but couldn’t deny they had still the same effect on you as if it were the first time. Making your head all dizzy, that was.
“When we’re driven into corners, we find liberation. That’s when a true person’s nature rears its head. That’s why Bubaigawara was such a great guy,” he explained, gripping your wandering fingers into his hand, holding them close.
“At heart, he was desperate to be a help to others. I also want to be like that.”
You smiled up at him, squeezing his skin between yours.
“You’re already like that, Kei. You’ve always taken care of me, haven’t you?” you teased, hoping to ease the tension between the two of you a little.
“I think it was more the other way around, y/n.”
“I don’t-“
“Without you...i would have never known what it is like to have someone care for you. To have someone by your side no matter what. To understand...i think i would have never understood what it meant to love.”
You froze, staring up at Keigo with wide eyes. He tightened his grip around your hand, feeling that you wanted to draw back, instead keeping you close, thumb softly stroking the back of your hand as a way of calming you down.
“I think i love my mother, but that’s more out of obligation than anything,” he explained, searching your eyes but you couldn’t tell what he was looking for, “I never feel like i have to be anything than me when i’m with you. Nothing about being with you feels forced, or like it’s an obligation. It’s just...us.”
The room was spinning suddenly as you felt something cold wash over you. Your chest tightened, your heart daring jump out with every harsh beat against your ribcage.
He couldn’t be saying what he was saying...right?
He didn’t mean that. He couldn’t mean that.
“Keigo...are you saying you love me? As in...in love with me?” you wanted to laugh, just a little, to lighten the mood, but it got stuck in your throat on its way out.
Unlike you the man in front of you looked calm, not at all deterred by your panicked state.
“Yeah, I do. I think I have for a while now, but i didn’t fully realize until recently.”
Still gripping your hand in his left one he raised the other to your face, gently cupping your cheek. You leaned into the touch instinctively.
A faint smile tugged at his lips at your action.
“It’s alright if you don’t return my feelings, but I think you do.”
You frowned in thought.
You’ve never thought of the man in front of you as anything else than just Keigo, the kind hearted boy whom you met in a dirty alleyway, the one that brought a little girl food and presents every now and then. The teenager who wrote letters once in a while to keep you up-to-date. The man who you spend your free days with, eating chicken and watching movies.
You meant it when you’d said you wouldn’t leave his side, not if you had any say in the matter. Now, you weren’t entirely sure what you meant with that.
Stay with him? Forever?
Maybe Keigo was right.
He was always able to read you better than anybody else, just like you were the one to know him best as well. That’s also why he noticed your inner turmoil just by looking at your screwed up face.
“May i kiss you?”
Your breath hitched, warmth spreading through your chest as your heart fluttered in your ribcage.
“Yeah.”
His lips were warm against yours, the touch soft and delicate. Like he was testing the waters, giving you the opportunity to pull away if you wanted to.
The feeling was foreign to you. You had kissed other people before, quick pecks, sloppy kisses, passionate making out...But this, this felt different to all of them.
He kissed you gently, carefully, holding you with a delicacy you weren’t used to.
Your heart pounded in your chest as your knees suddenly grew weak, hand reaching out to curl around the back of Keigo’s head, urging him even closer.
He pulled you in, accepting the closeness happily as he deepened the kiss. The taste of toothpaste invaded your mouth.
Your mind went blank, the only coherent thought you were able to grasp was that you were making out with Keigo...in his mom’s house.
How ironic.
Your lips tingled when the two of you parted again, the aftertaste of peppermint lingering on your tongue. The warmth in your chest had spread to your face and you weren’t sure if you were blushing out of embarrassment or glowing because wow...that was something.
Keigo was staring down at you with an undefinable look in his eyes, but he looked happy, content like this and it made something in your chest flutter softly.
You did that.
“I-“ you started but the wide grin spreading on your face against your will, growing despite your attempts to suppress it with a bite to your tongue, made your voice die with a squeak.
The man chuckled, the outline of his wings moving under the fabric of his jacket and the thought of Keigo ruffling his wings joyfully in response to your obvious happiness...you wanted to kiss him silly.
“I think i love you, too, Keigo.”
He might have been the happiest bird man in the whole entire world when you said those words and for a moment...just one small moment, you really felt like the two of you could be free.
Taglist: @crystal-lilac
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BUDGETING
dont know if everyone will still want to know on budgeting lol
I don't want to sound like a bitch yk
BUT
I think the most important thing for me was learning to give yourself the freedom to enjoy things like little by little
I used to do this thing where I was uptight for a super long time and then I wpukd splurge huge amounts and for nothing.
I'm not religious either but I truly believe that setting out a little each month/week for charity is great bc it's always comes back in a form that's greater you know.
Pay rise, new job opportunities, idk good things.
Ik it sounds cringe and gross but I think it's worth it !
THE STEPS LMAO
Okay so I always but in 40%-45% like in the bag already savings I mean (this can obvs be adjusted to fit your own needs but if say keeping over 30% is key!)
And work around everything else in the steps below !!!
If I was brave enough I would send pictures of my last year budgeting plan and how I managed to save !! But I'm not 😭😭😭
the first step for me would be to list your monthly income !
Monthly is way easier to work with and easier to adjust in the long run !
Second would be list out things that have to be paid always. So fixed expenses.
I.e rent, MOT, bills, food ( for this I would highly recommend just having a monthly shopping of like say £20-25 - seems un do able but isnt !!! Frozen veggies are your best friend:)) gym membership, spotify, prime all of that.
Third which is super important for me at least would be to set out a like reward bonus for yourself.
( in cash preferably- like so once it's gone it's gone you know- like monthly rewards for yourself - sometimes you use it and sometimes you dont!! )
Fourth - ALWAYS SET AN EXTRA LIL FUND FOR THE UNEXPECTED THINGS!!! ( car crashes, dentist, medicine if your toaster breaks if your fridge breaks !! all of that lovely stuffs 😃)
So when you look at all that infront you- really just scrutinise it.
Like -
How much of that do you really need to spend?
Is there anything you can cut out on ?
This is super important at least to me bc then I see that yh shit - that is crazy I'm spending useless money )
I think that also keeping student loans separate is SUUUUPER SUUUUPER bc it just. Idk if anyone else is like this but seeing how much they expected from me to be able to learn always depressed me so I made a separate folder for that- made it pretty so it didnt look sooo bad lmao ) but I think the biggest part was getting to grips that I had all that to pay back!!!
Then like random things :
Concerts, events, holidays.
Like make sure you have them planned in advance and make separate funds for all of them.
To cater to what they need! Like for a concert- hotel and food money and merch buying and army bomb and a NEW OUTFITTTT lmao)
And yh - I think setting up a teeny amount for charity or to help ppl is always great aswell bc well idk you feel good and it does always come to find you- doesnt have to be a large amount. Maybe even a food box every month or smn cute and sweet like that !!
This is how I did it : ( kind of irrelevant and just abt silly me lmao but maybe itll help(?))
So i used to work night shifts at this horrible packing place ( it was freezing too but the pay was so good! It was £15-18 an hr ( sometimes even more )and I used to work from 11pm-4am 7 days a week like I didnt take a day off until I quit and i did it for 2 years ! That was like 50k but I had a lot of things to pay off and my parents wanted nearly all of it back off of me 😃)
This is also the NOT the job I wanted yk? Like I used to work with a bunch of stinky ass men and it sucked but I had to do it bc well my parents kicked me out bc I was non religious looool.
I was never enough and I just got kicked out yk? ( oh no not my sob story but just to put it into perspective sort of like I was fucking depressed my money was going like wildfire )
So I had to kind of take everything/every opportunity. They expected a lot back from me too in that way like alot of my learning was going to them :/)
From 5-7
I worked at a bakery ! Cooking and baking and having fun! That was the best job I had the pay wasnt all that but it was something and I needed everything I could get ! It wasnt everyday either but so and so.
I also am bilingual so that way I was able to get a job as a teacher in a daytime school teaching which I did voluntarily! For the first year !
( I had this routine for 2 years!!)
So like I was getting an okay amount from these jobs but god heavens I was spending so unnecessary.
Like a high price for a shit apartment where I would have to pay for things to get fixed to and that was really expensive.
My parents also took alot first year earnings and that's when I was like well shit I have nothing I really need to like get my shit together yk?
There was student loan (- I dont want to like envoke sympathy bc of all this I just wanna like say that my money was kind of slipping away yk I feel like I'm being annoying 😭😭😭 ) - and just a whole lot of wasting on food ( my biggest expenditure- at the time I was struggling with binge eating and bulimia so 🙃🙃 yh )
Dumb shit off amazon, and like just crap you know
Also car petrol and mot and car stuff. and bus and train fares just money can go so easily.
It was just super super tiring to have juggle all these balls at once but when I got the hang of it like doing all those steps I felt more free and more aware of myself and I was able to enjoy while still getting yk the most out of what I do.
I work as a translater/teacher now so the pay is good and like using these steps is how I got the most out of myself
Uh idk If this even makes sense anymore and I'm sorry if come off as bitch too
I don't mean to or come with a sob story
I just think its important to like realise that no matter what and who in your life demands things from you - you always have to choose to look after yourself first- how you choose too look after yourself is ultimately how you choose to look after others too ! Take good care of yourself - give yourself a clearer mind and you'll be able to see a bigger picture- outside of the one built for you !!
If your struggling with other issues - mental health too it can help bring clarity to that too ! Bc it's some sort of semblance.
Gosh I feel gross what if you have to read all of this 😭😭😭
I hope it helps you ♡♡
Budgeting is really important bc we need to buy houses!!
Need property!!!
Start our own businesses !!
Become our own bosses !
It's just super important to know your expenses you can know yourself better too !
And you can be more mature and more self aware
💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
Gosh I really ate your ear off with this one
for everyone wondering about our bestie w 50k savings: this is her story !!
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15 Money-Saving Tips For Dog Owners YK Tumblr
According to CNBC, American dog owners spend upwards of $2,000 per year on routine care and maintenance for each of their pups. If there is a medical emergency, that figure can easily sore above $10,000.
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A single bag of treats made from high-quality, domestically-sourced ingredients can cost upwards of $20! Making your own not only allows you to control exactly what your furry friend eats, chances are you already have many of the ingredients in your kitchen. It’s a win-win!
-DIY Pill Pockets
Does your pooch require daily medication? Is she too smart to fall for the old pill-in-cheese trick? Squishy, delicious Pill Pockets are a wonderful way to ensure your dog swallows her meds, but they can be quite expensive. This simple, no-bake DIY recipe requires just three ingredients: milk, crunchy peanut butter and the flour of your choice – try almond, pups love it!
2. Take Advantage Of “Frequent Buyer” Promos
Whether it’s a rewards card to a pet supply store or a frequent buyer program direct from the manufacturer, you can save on the essential products you purchase regularly.
Big box stores like PetSmart offer “Pet Perks” for members such as in-store discounts, members-only online coupons, and customized email alerts to let you know when your favorite products go on sale.
Many of the major pet food manufacturers also offer benefits to their loyal customers like Buy-10-Get-One-Free programs or customer appreciation coupons.
3. “Clip” Coupons
With websites like Coupons.com and Groupon, you don’t have to steal your neighbor’s newspaper to cash in on money-saving offers! In addition, several websites have emerged with the sole purpose of selling discounted pet products.
Doggyloot and Coupaw offer their members up to 75% off retail savings and free shipping on dog treats, chews, toys, food and accessories.
Dog.com posts frequent “doorbusters” and promo codes such as 20 – 30% off your entire purchase – just remember to take shipping into account.
Wag.com was recently purchased by Amazon, allowing you to acquire many of their deeply-discounted pet products with free Prime shipping. Even non-Prime members get free shipping on purchases of $49 or more.
4. Score Free Products
If you are willing to invest a small amount of your time writing reviews, websites like PINCHme will reward you with free goodies! You simply fill out a profile, select the products you’d like to try, and the company will send you a monthly package of samples to try out and review completely free – including shipping!
SnagShout is another way to score free loot. Joining the group gives you access to free or deeply discounted products from Amazon in exchange for your honest review. They offer a wide range of categories – including pet supplies.
5. Buy Food In Bulk & Store It Properly
Lugging around gigantic bags of dog food may be a pain, but the savings are worth it! The cost per pound of kibble tends to go down as the weight goes up. Check the expiration date and store it properly in your home to ensure it stays fresh.
6. Make Your Own Pet-Safe Household Cleanser
Pet-safe household cleaners can be costly, but you probably already have the ingredients to make your own. The combination of baking soda and vinegar is a tried-and-true method for cleaning and deodorizing almost any pet mess.
7. Use Gloves & A Squeegee For Hair Removal
Do you find yourself constantly lint-rolling your sofa to remove pet hair? Rubber dish gloves and squeegees effectively extract shed hair from carpets and furniture – plus, you only need to purchase them once.
8. Extend The Life Of Your Pet Shampoo
Did you know that almost all dog shampoos/conditioners are intended to be diluted? That means you are washing money down the drain if you use it as-is. Instead, dispense a small amount into a plastic pitcher, mix with warm water, pour over your pup, and lather!
9. Wipe Those Paws
You can preserve your flooring and furniture while saving money on household cleaning products by wiping your dog’s paws before she enters the house. High-quality grooming wipes can also remove allergens, prevent excess yeast build-up, and keep your dog smelling fresh between baths.
10. Trim Nails At Home
Having your dog’s nails professionally trimmed is not a major expense – typically between $10 and $20 – but these fees add up over time. If you are comfortable and have someone to help you, consider trimming your dog’s nails at home. You can also try a few methods to extend the time between trims.
11. See The Vet Regularly
The old adage, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is the absolute truth. Dogs are extremely stoic, and waiting until they “seem sick” to see your vet may cost you big bucks – and precious time with your pooch. The money you spend on regular head-to-toe checkups could end up saving you thousands of dollars in veterinary bills, not to mention a lifetime of regret.
12. Prioritize Dental Health
Caring for your dog’s teeth is one of the most important aspects of care you can provide. Not only will maintaining a healthy mouth save you money on expensive dental procedures, oral health also impacts your dog’s heart, liver, kidneys and overall wellbeing. You can even use coconut oilinstead of buying specialty doggy toothpaste.
Additional Tip: Should your dog need a dental cleaning, many veterinarians offer discounted procedures during National Pet Dental Health Month each February.
13. Watch The Waistline
Obesity in dogs can lead to expensive and life-threatening health problems like diabetes, arthritis, and cancer. In addition, over-feeding your pup will add up exponentially in extra food over the years. Instead, make healthy diet and exercise choices on behalf of your pup – his health and your wallet will thank you!
14. Invest In Pet Insurance Or Open A Savings Account
No matter what your opinion is on pet insurance, preparing for an emergency makes good financial sense. Some pet insurance policies only cover unexpected accidents and illnesses, while others offer discounts on routine care as well. If you decide to purchase insurance for your dog, do so as soon as possible since premiums tend to increase with age.
You may also want to add your dog to your car insurance. Many companies, such as Progressive, have programs that will cover your dog’s vet bills in the event of an accident.
If you prefer to avoid the risk/reward gamble of paying into pet insurance, consider opening an interest-accruing savings account for your dog’s veterinary care. If your dog remains healthy, you are not out money for insurance premiums; but if there is an emergency, you will be financially prepared.
15. Adopt Don’t Shop
If you are planning to add a new dog to your family, consider adopting from a shelter or rescue group rather than buying from a pet store or a breeder. Adoption fees vary widely, but tend to cover much of the costly care a puppy needs in his or her first year including vaccines, spay/neuter, microchip and veterinary exams.
In addition, many shelter dogs have already undergone training which will save you money on professional trainers, potty training pads, etc.
If you have your heart set on a specific breed, keep in mind that 25% of shelter dogs are purebreds. Sites like PetFinder allow you to search for adoptable dogs all over the country by age, breed, gender and geographic location so you can find your perfect pooch-match!
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