I agree pets can be expensive and come with unexpected costs. I've seen it with friends who have to take their animals in for emergency care and yikes those bills can be a lot (I am not sure how much pet health insurance helps the situation or not). Small animals I think come with their own challenges since not all vets specialize in their care, but I wonder if they could be cheaper and lower maintenance? Like a hamster perhaps? How Much Does a Hamster Cost? | PetMD

Edit to add: Once I feel a little safer with Covid I might volunteer at an animal shelter or foster so that I can help out animals without committing to owning one myself.