MONEY matters

Our expert Rebecca Gamble helps make your cash go further

READER QUESTION

Q My family wants a dog but I’m concerned about damage to my lovely home. How bad can it be? A Moneysupermarket found the average cost of damage caused by dogs each year in the UK is £147 per pet. Labradoodles cause the most damage (costing £192 in repairs), followed by Golden Retrievers (£165) and German Shepherds (£163). The most damaged items are carpets (22%), sofas and rugs (19%) and chairs (16%). Moneysupermarket’s Dave Merrick says, ‘Check your home-insurance policy to ensure you’re covered for any accidental damage caused by your pets.’