A CEO in the pet products industry has revealed he is buying discounted food and less meat to cope with the cost of living crisis.
Tyson Butter, married, 39, and father of two, runs Pet Parking, a company that sells wall-mounted dog leash holders.
But ironically, the Melbourne renter can’t afford to have a dog.
‘Unfortunately we are among dogs. “I don’t have a new one yet because, yeah, the cost and time involved in looking after two young children,” she told Daily Mail Australia.
While veterinarians continue to purchase their product, outdoor dining cafes have been cutting back on expenses, which means less revenue for their business.
“Many companies would probably love to be able to help make their businesses more pet-friendly, however, when you’re in survival mode, this may be far from your priority,” she said.
The businessman said lackluster trading, a result of the Reserve Bank’s 13 interest rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, had also squeezed his household budget as he raised two children, aged three and six, with his wife Rachel.
“The way we shop for food has definitely changed,” Butter said.
A general manager in the pet products industry has revealed he is buying discounted food and less meat to cope with the cost of living crisis (Tyson Butter is pictured with his wife Rachel).
“We’ve had to be a little more cost-conscious and plan meals ahead of time.”
This has meant buying more specialty foods and cutting back on more expensive meats like steak.
“Food-wise, less packaged snacks, more fruit, less meat, more slow-roasted lamb,” he said.
He described the pre-cooked chickens as a “reward from heaven” and has now relied on Flybuys to save money.
“They are economical, taste great and save us time cooking,” he said.
“Take advantage of special offers, which is easy to do with Flybuys as you receive an alert when previous items you purchased are on sale.”
The economic slowdown caused Butter, a former insurance industry manager with an MBA, to work only 15 to 20 hours a week.
While they can pay rent and electricity, the family now goes to only one or two AFL games a year.
Tyson Butter, a 39-year-old married father of two who lives in Melbourne, runs Pet Parking, a company that makes dog leash wall mounts that sell for $39.95.
Leah Mano, founder of job listings site TYFU, said private sector employers in particular were struggling with the 4.2 percent unemployment rate, the highest level since early 2022.
‘Certainly not finals. Before, about a dozen attended,” he said.
It has also reduced the number of streaming services to just one.
“Disney+ is the only asset we currently have, before we would have several at the same time,” he stated.
Leah Mano, founder of job listings site TYFU, said private sector employers in particular were struggling, with the unemployment rate at 4.2 percent, the highest level since early 2022.
“Looking ahead, the economic outlook is likely to continue to see restructuring and possible layoffs across several sectors as businesses face high interest rates and lower demand,” he told Daily Mail Australia.
“While government spending is helping, the private sector appears to be experiencing a slowdown, with fewer jobs created outside of government-funded roles.”
This has meant reduced working hours, or even people working multiple part-time jobs to pay the bills.
“There are many workers making ends meet however they can, either by taking part-time jobs because that’s all their employer can offer, or by juggling odd jobs and multiple jobs at once,” Mano said.
But Butter hopes rate cuts in 2025 will spur demand for its product.
“We would also expect the rate of pet ownership to accelerate, as some may have been putting off adding a furry friend to their family in recent years due to the cost of owning a pet,” he said.
“This should lead to increased demand from our core segment of veterinarians, groomers, etc.”
If economic activity improves, she hopes to adopt a dog for her children.
“With an increase in disposable income, adopting a dog from a shelter would be one of our first priorities,” Mr Butter said.
“I know the joy they can bring to all of us, especially now that the children are growing up.”