<prompt> Human: Hi there! As the title says, Im 20 but going on 21. Im still at University, but dont plan on getting a dog until mid-2019 if at all!!Ive reached the final interview stage for a few different organisations for graduate roles, and I hope although obviously it is not guaranteed! Ill be offered a position at one of these organisations, to commence in early 2019. The average annual wage I would be receiving is around AUD 60,000.I also plan on purchasing a small, 1 bedroom apartment next year. Im very lucky in that my parents will contribute half towards the deposit, and I will be out of pocket for around AUD 20,000. I have almost AUD 10,000 in savings right now. Ive approached big bank lenders here in Australia, and Ive been told as long as the job I get is a full-time contract with no end-date, I will be able to secure a loan relatively easily. Also, my girlfriend will be moving in with me. We are in a committed and very stable relationship, weve been living together full time for almost 2 years now - so hopefully that wont be changing anytime soon! Her parents will pay for half of the utility bills and groceries, because she is a Medical student and wont be able to financially contribute for a while!I want a dog not just because they are cute even though lets be real, hell yeah they are!. Also because Ive grown up with dogs my whole life, and having a dog around to hug and love is a major form of anxiety relief for me I have pretty severe anxiety due to my Type 1 Diabetes!. For my girlfriend, she has a dog right now at home and loves him so much, and I want her not to be stressed either whilst studying. Bringing her dog with us is not an option. However, of course, dogs can be extremely expensive if they become unwell, so Im unsure.So back to the question, is getting a dog financially stupid?Thanks :  <response>: Kids and pets are always financially stupid decisions. Source: father of two. Pet owner. Note: they also happen to be the source of a ridiculous amount of joy. 