Problem: Article: You can always buy food to eat, but if you are trying to save money, make sure that you can find free sources of food. You can forage for food in both urban and wild environments.  Research your local region to find out what types of edible greens, nuts, flowers, berries, mushrooms, and fruits grow there. Dandelions, watercress, cattails, strawberries, blackberries, morel mushrooms, and acorns are common wild foods in the US. If you are in a town, you might ask a grocery store or restaurant about taking foods that they would otherwise throw out. Usually these foods are too old to sell, but they are still good to eat. You can always visit a food bank, soup kitchen, or a welfare agency for assistance. Carry a bottle or two of fresh water everywhere. You can get water from rivers, lakes, or streams. You can also collect rainwater in jugs or buckets. If you are near populated areas, you can get water from a water fountain, public restroom, or restaurant.  Reuse plastic water or soda bottles. These are a much cheaper option than buying a fancy bottle. Make sure to purify any water if it came from a natural source. The easiest way to do this is to boil the water first. You can also use a water pump or treat it with iodine. Good hygiene is important, even if you are living outside. A bath or shower can help keep you clean and healthy. It will also reduce the risk of infection.  You can buy a one-day gym pass to use the bathrooms at a gym. You might also be able to pay for a shower at a truck stop. Homeless shelters and public pools often have showers that you can use for free. Natural sources of water, such as rivers, streams, and lakes, can be used for baths. Just make sure that you are not in a populated area where nudity is not allowed. If you want to clean your clothes, go to the closest laundromat. You can also wash them in a clean lake or stream. If you are living outdoors, you may still want access to technology, electricity, and other aspects of modern life. You can always rely on public spaces to get these without having to live indoors.  If you need to charge your phone, you may be able to find a café, library, or bus stop that will let you use their outlets. If you want to use a computer, go to a public library. If you own a laptop, cafes, bookstores, malls, and libraries often have free public wifi. Homeless shelters can give you a roof over your head during storms or if you just need a break from the outdoors.
Summary: Identify sources of food. Carry fresh water at all times. Locate places where you can bathe. Make use of public facilities.

Problem: Article: Before you start your dog on a diet, check with the vet. Many clinics run a dog weight loss program where your pet is weighed and you can get specific instructions about how much to feed your dog. These regular weigh-ins, firm target, and moral support can make you more likely to succeed in putting your dog on an effective diet. Your vet may recommend one of the following diets:  High Fiber/Low-Fat Diet: These contain fiber which expand in your dog's stomach, making him feel full. The package instructions should clearly state how much to feed your dog based on a target (goal) weight. Metabolic diets: These are more high tech and feed the genes that improve your dog's metabolism. Increasing metabolism can make your dog burn more calories, causing him to lose weight. Pay attention to how much you're currently feeding your dog. If your dog is fed twice a day, weigh out the total amount so you know how much he's eating. However, if your dog has food constantly available, it's harder to determine how much he's eating. This makes it more difficult to know how much to cut down. If this is the case, look at the food package and see how much it advises feeding a dog at your dog's target rate. For most dogs, the package will advise a weight range. For example, 300 to 350 grams of food a day. You'd want to choose the lower amount of 300 grams. Once you've determined how much your dog needs to eat a day, reduce the amount by 5 to 10%. For example, if you are feeding 300g of kibble a day, 10% of this is 30g, so the new amount is 270g. Feed this reduced amount for one or two weeks and weigh your dog. Hopefully, he loses weight, but if he hasn't, deduct another 5 to 10% from his daily food amount. Weigh your dog again after feeding the reduced amount for another week or two. Don't be upset or worried if the portion size looks small or your dog pesters you for food. This is a normal concern when putting a dog on a diet. If you're really unsettled, you may want to feed a prescription weight loss diet instead. Since you'll be cutting back on your dog's food and increasing exercise, you'll need to offer positive encourage every so often. While you can praise your dog, you can also give him the rare treat. Just be sure to offer something healthy that will also make him feel full and satisfied. Some good options include:  Bran or grated vegetable mixed with his food French or runner beans, raw Apples (in moderation) Bananas (in moderation) Get your dog involved in earning his food, rather than just set it out in front of him. Buy a puzzle or activity feeder that you can fill with food. Your dog then moves shapes around or rolls balls around to get the food inside to fall out. This can make your dog more active and mentally engaged. Try to prevent boredom while your dog's on a diet. Keeping his mind occupied will prevent him from thinking about food. Training is also a great way to keep a dog active and prevent boredom. Of course training depends heavily on rewards, so take some of his dinner kibble and set it aside for rewards or give him lots of praising. Weigh your dog once every week or two so you can track any weight loss. This will also indicate whether your diet and routine are working. If he isn't losing, then you can reevaluate what you're doing. Make sure your goals are reasonable and that you're consistent with the regimen. Don't expect sudden drops in weight. Instead, look for slow and steady weight loss which is more sustainable. Smaller dogs should aim to lose no more than four ounces a week while larger dogs can aim for one pound per week. If you have a large dog or do not have access to scales, use a tape measure. Chose a point on the dog such as his girth or his waist and measure around it. Make a note of any landmarks the tape passes over, such as a particular pattern or spot, so you place the tape in the same place each time.
Summary:
Consult with a veterinarian. Determine how much food your dog eats a day. Reduce the amount of food you feed. Offer healthy treats occasionally. Make your dog work for food. Monitor your dog's weight loss.