About Me: New guinea owner here!

[akstrohm]

Human nail clippers work fine. Using other kinds of clippers will not prevent you from clipping too much off. It just takes practice. It's up to you which kind you prefer.

Any kind of scale for weighing something up to 5 pounds will work. Places like Target carry them and they're not too expensive.

I don't think Michael's carries coroplast, but I could be wrong. You'll probably have to get it at a sign store. It comes in 4x8 foot sheets, which is enough for a 2x6 cage, so you shouldn't have any problem making a 2x4.

[Kipsie]

The whole skipping-lunch for money thing is debatable. It's not a bad idea in regards to the money saving. I used to always skip lunch and still do to save money. A few times, I even brought my own lunch, and at my old school, we were allowed to leave campus in a friend's or our own cars to eat lunch as long as we got back within the hour. Some teachers even bought us Mc Donalds, or anything we wanted. Eh, my school was a private school, however, and public schools are more odd when it comes to leaving campus and teachers becoming friends with students. It was a K3-12th grade school. My point is, if you skip lunch, you can still do it as long as you bring your own or eat something. Just something. Bringing your own lunch isn't 'uncool' anymore. If someone thinks it is, then bring a Mc Donalds next day and compare it to their horrible cafeteria junk or their 'vitamin water and 5-dollar slice of pizza' meal.

If you get tempted and want to actually buy something, don't go for the expensive sodas and blow off all of your spending/piggy money. The sodas in the machines are usually cheaper than the ones sold in the caferteria, or just get a lemonade or something. Vitamin waters are usually the most expensive, and probably don't have vitamins anyway (there was a recent study on that).

You can try calling up doctors and ask if they do exotic pets. They'll probably say 'no, only cats and dogs', so you may have to call up a few.

Now you have the piggy supplies covered, how about the medical bills? We must figure that out. If at age to get a job and only if you're interested, you can work at numerous department stores, grocery stores, small offices or buisnesses, a restaurant that doesn't sell alcholic beverages (for legal reasons), or at a local flower shop if you're not allergic. You try for a job at a local farmers market and get discounts on veggies for your pig!

Other options include saving holiday money, selling old clothes/items, keeping a penny/coin jar, doing chores if your rents are willing to pay you for that, and helping neighbors (i.e. babysitting if you're at the age and responsibility level).

Remember, you'd probably have to ask your parents to pay the remaining portion of the vet bill(s).

If you ever need bedding or cubes or towels for the fleece bedding, tell your parents about Freecycle. Google it if you don't know it. I'm not sure if it's in Canada, Its mainly a United States thing.


We can make a list of important piggy supplies if you want.

Good luck convincing your parents, I know, it's so hard. I still live with mine. Argh.

[Kipsie]

Sorry for the double post, but if you're afraid of nail-clipping, you can have a small-animal rescue or a veterinarian show you. Just ask them. They'll do it for you first and charge a little. It should be a little, not like 40 US Dollars. Just do an online search of your area for 'sign store'. You can check your local phone book. Those stores sell Coroplast. Sometimes you have to say 'Corrugated plastic' for them to understand.


PS Vicky2 is very good at the guinea-pig care quiz making. She did that for another user on here. She posted in this thread on the first page. You cam pm (personal message, click on her name) her if you want to see if she'll do it.

[PopcorningLove]

Yeah, I was afraid that Michael's wouldn't carry any but I did see a couple of people suggest it at the 'Find Materials At...'.

Thanks so much for the money saving tips! I have big breakfasts so it's really not a problem and I always pack an apple or two whenever I feel like it. Eating isn't a problem away from home. My parents practically force-feed me with meals. Haha! :P

Oh no, that's fine. I've done my reasearch and found a great begginers guide to cavies in the library. I go to cavy spirit & guinea pig cages for others though.

Thanks for all the help, guys! I'm praying that this month will be the month that I finally get that dream pig I've been desperate for. <33

[Bamysmum]

Make sure your parents are wiling to help out if you get ill or need to go away. I have 3 girls and I'm 26 but there's no way I could take care of these girls on my own without my partner as he's the back-up guy, drives me to the vets, makes me dinner whilst I clean them every night (yep - they poop so much I have to clean nightly) and is all round hero and supporter.

When I lived with my parents and had guineas my dad was my back up and gave the boys cuddles when I was ill and drove miles for the right hay. Don't underestimate the work, they are HIGH maitenance and it takes months to earn their trust but well worth it if you can give them the care because they give that love right back