Hello!
Well, I moved to France and although I really tried to find insurance for them, none of the insurance companies I found would take them on after they're 8 years old... :-( So it's not an option, unless someone knows of an insurance company that will cover them.
I do try to save, but it's more like a general savings account that's normally empty because quite frequently I'm just living month-to-month. I finally have some money in there, but being self-employed, I usually expect the IRS (or soon, the French government) to take everything I manage to save throughout the year, and I am usually starting over (or in the red) in April. I'm trying to earn more so I can save more, but at this point I earn so little (well, I'm earning more, finally, but I'm putting a lot of it towards my debt to get rid of that) that it's hard to split up savings into IRS/buying a home/pet emergency accounts. The home-buying goal is a big one, since I do not want to have a mortgage, so I'm very frustrated that I have so little saved towards that! lol. I mean, I don't even know how much I have saved towards that until after the IRS takes their share of my income. What's left is my home savings. I'm trying my best to juggle everything and move forward, but after her weird health scare, I'm really nervous that she or the cat could suddenly cause me to lose any progress I make in the next few years. Although I could also have health problems, myself, I'm only 33 (younger than my pets! lol), and the French healthcare system is pretty good. Plus, I've never had any medical problems up until this point (except for some recent cavities). I think I've got a little time before worrying about what my health might do to my savings. Unless I get hit by a bus. But I've never even broken a bone, I'm pretty careful. So I'm hoping I'll at least own a home before my health is a concern.
I had another thought... I don't plan on staying in France for longer than maybe 3 years... wherever I decide I want to buy a home will be a more tropical place, with a lower cost of living... is anyone familiar with countries close to the equator that might have affordable pet care? I would think that if houses, rent, food, etc, cost less in places like Thailand or Bali, maybe veterinary care would be less as well? Would anybody know? |