More Millennials Are Going Into Debt for Their Pets

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By Chris Lange Updated Published
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More Millennials Are Going Into Debt for Their Pets

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Pets make up an incredibly important part of many consumers’ lives. In fact, many pet owners spend a substantial amount of money on their “fur babies” reflecting this. Millennials make up a large portion of pet owners, and a recent study from LendingTree suggests that more millennials are going into debt for their pets.

Back in May, TD Ameritrade explored millennial spending habits in relation to their pets.

In a survey of 760 pet owners during the first three days of July 2019, a LendingTree study showed that 42% of millennial pet owners have been in pet-related debt, and nearly one in 10 are currently paying it off. Across all age groups, more than one-third (36%) have been in debt for a pet.

Of those surveyed, 62% factored their pet into a monthly budget, while 26% did not. And 13% of respondents said they don’t have a monthly budget at all.

About 59% of pet owners worry about animal-related expenses, and cat owners (66%) are slightly more likely to stress than dog owners (60%).

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If a $1,000 pet-related emergency expense were to come up tomorrow, 37% would turn to a credit card, while 28% would use cash, 18% would pay with savings and 13% would take out a personal loan.

Three-quarters of pet owners lack pet insurance, and 39% have regretted not having a policy for their furry friend. As a group, millennials are more likely to have pet insurance: 34% of millennials have it, versus 18% of Gen Xers and 9% of baby boomers.

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Photo of Chris Lange
About the Author Chris Lange →

Chris Lange is a writer for 24/7 Wall St., based in Houston. He has covered financial markets over the past decade with an emphasis on healthcare, tech, and IPOs. During this time, he has published thousands of articles with insightful analysis across these complex fields. Currently, Lange's focus is on military and geopolitical topics.

Lange's work has been quoted or mentioned in Forbes, The New York Times, Business Insider, USA Today, MSN, Yahoo, The Verge, Vice, The Intelligencer, Quartz, Nasdaq, The Motley Fool, Fox Business, International Business Times, The Street, Seeking Alpha, Barron’s, Benzinga, and many other major publications.

A graduate of Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, Lange majored in business with a particular focus on investments. He has previous experience in the banking industry and startups.

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