Ever tried house-sitting? One of the highest travelling costs is accommodation, but you can save money travelling by house sitting.
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How House Sitting Works
There are many sites on the internet that promote house sitting, but I recommend TrustedHousesitters. I have used them in New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom, and they have house sits around the world for you to try.
Most of the time, all you have to do is look after a pet as well as the home and garden, and it’s a win-win for both parties.
The sits can be anything from a day or two to weeks or even months. From the inner city to acreage in a rural setting, all you have to do is apply and cross your fingers that you get chosen.
You pay an annual fee of around AUD100, more or less, and this then opens up a world of possibilities of where to travel.
As you save money travelling by house sitting, you can spend more money on the important things like attractions in your destination.
By spending more time at a destination and living as the locals do, you will learn so much more about an area than if you visited as a tourist.
Most homeowners will leave a welcome package that not only has information about the home, garden and pets, but also what to do in the area and how to get around on public transport.
My Experiences House Sitting
I have looked after cats, dogs, chickens and goats, gardens and homes in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom for the past four years by house-sitting. As you save money travelling by house sitting means you can see and do so much more.
My first sit was with a cat in Melbourne and I had the bus stop right outside the house to go into the city. It’s little things like public transport close by that make house-sitting worthwhile.
Once again in Edinburgh, I had a bus stop nearly right outside the house. I was there for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the homeowner had left their CitySmart card, which I could just top up, as I frequently went into the city centre, which was only 20 minutes on a bus.
Once again it’s the little things that make travelling so much easier. Not only do you have the convenience of having a home to yourself, and public transport at your door, but also the thoughtfulness of homeowners leaving you their passes and what to explore in the area. Some even leave their car for you to use.
Save Money by House Sitting & Looking After Pets
As I have said, I have only looked after cats and dogs, chickens and goats, but you can also do birds, reptiles, fish and farm animals. Anywhere there is a house, there may be a need for a sitter.
It’s so nice to curl up on the couch watching T.V. with new friends.
Taking the dogs for a walk every day, as well as playing catch out the back, also keeps you fit and healthy in mind and body. Also, most homeowners have Wi-Fi, TV subscriptions and other appliances to make you stay comfortable. It’s as though you’ve never left home.
Not only do make new friends with the pets, but lifelong friendships with the homeowners.
You too can save money travelling by house sitting. I am affiliated with TrustedHousesitters, which is a worldwide site. You can either join up as a sitter or have your house sat while you’re travelling, or both.
Conclusion
Whether you’re travelling for a long or short stay, house-sitting is a viable option for anyone.
Not only do you save money by house sitting, you make new friends, feel like a local and get to know a destination instead of flying through at breakneck speed.
House sitting has nothing but advantages for the traveller and hopefully, you come to that conclusion too and give it a try. You’ll have nothing to lose, but gain the ability to save money travelling by house sitting.
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Links
If you’d like to read more of my blogs on Australia, you can find them on the following links; Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Camping and Silo Art, or if you’re after New Zealand, the United Kingdom or Photography, you can click on their links.
Travel Resources
- Flights, Accommodation & Car Hire – You can search for the cheapest flights and accommodation using Booking.com, Skyscanner, Hopper and WayAway, which has 5% cashback.
- Car Hire – Take to the open road with great deals from EconomyBookings.com, RentalCars.com and DiscoverCars.
- Train & Bus Tickets UK & Europe – Use Trainline to plan and book your rail and train travel in the UK and Europe.
- Travel Insurance – is your number one thing to pack when you’re travelling. Cover-More Australia, Cover-More New Zealand, EKTA, Travel Insurance Master and Insubuy are invaluable in keeping you insured during your travels.
- Attractions – buy before you leave home with these great sites, Big Bus Tour, Get Your Guide, GoCity and Viator.
- House Sitting – is a great way to save on accommodation and Trusted Housesitters has house sits all around the world for you to try.
- Photo Editing – is a great way to bring your photos to life and you can try Luminar Neo, which I use.
- Visa Applications – apply online for your visa requirements with iVisa.
- Sim cards – Try Airalo is the world’s first eSIM store that solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving travellers access to eSIMs (digital SIM cards).
If you want more, try my Travel Links and Resource page.
If you ever want to come to Canada, I would take you up on dog sitting while we travel. The worst part of travelling is finding someone kind who loves pets who you can trust to stay in your home and care for them.
Thanks, Renee, you never know when I may be there. Check out Trusted Housesitters and see if you can find someone through that. Everyone has reviews and ID checks. The link is on my blog.
I love house sitting! The animals are wonderful and you get to discover a wonderful new place every time you do it.
Couldn’t agree more, Heather.
I have not done this yet but I have certainly thought about it….especially now that we really love to stay long term in places. Thanks for this great post, I will explore it more.
Thanks, Laureen. This is certainly the way to travel if you are staying somewhere long term. Good luck. Check out the links in my post for more information.
We constantly use Aussie Housesitters but really struggled finding people the last 12 months.(We have been in a unique situation). Maybe we can use you another time?
Send me an email, and you never know I may be available. You’ll find my email on the sidebar, under contact me on my blog.
This is such a great idea! I know when I travel I worry about my dogs so I’d love to be able to help someone not worry about their pets while they travel. Very cool!
Yes, Jessy, it is great. Click on the links in my blog to find more information.
Wow, I’ve always dreamed of looking after for other people’s pets! I work from home so I should really create a TrustedHousesitters account 🙂
Just click on the links in my blog, Daniela, for more information. It really is the best way to travel, and they’re great company.
I haven’t tried housesitting yet as a way for travel accommodations yet but I’ve always been curious — it seems like such a great way to save money + explore (+ I dogsit my friends’ dogs currently since I don’t have one of my own 😀 )! Good to know that they have ID checks. Will definitely be keeping this in mind!
You can find information on them by clicking on the links on my blog, Farrah.
Thanks for sharing your house sitting experience. I’d love to get involved!
Thanks, Lisa. I hope you get as much out of it as I do.
Would love to housesit when we travel but haven’t done so yet, so this article is an inspiration to us. We have done some housesitting before though in our own country, so maybe we will try out all the various platforms you have suggested. Thanks Kim.
Thanks, Alma. It is a great way to save on accommodation, especially in expensive countries.
I’m very tempted to try housesitting. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it.
Thanks, Hazel. I hope that you do it one day. It’s a great way to travel and save on expenses.
As an animal lover, and a travel fanatic, what a great way to combine both!
And you get to save money, Leila. It’s win, win, win all round.
This is interesting. I have never even considered this. Is it still worth signing up if you have never had a pet before?
I can’t recommend house-sitting enough, Gabby. I didn’t have any experience, just a love of animals. While travelling, I’ve cared for cats, dogs, goats and chickens. The owners give instructions on feeding and walking and leave you ideas on what to see and do in the area. Some even leave their car for you to use. If you’re lucky, you can find a home with just house-sitting, no pets.
Very useful guide! I’ve always been inclined but haven’t been sure especially if there are pets involved (since I’ve never taken care of someone’s pets haha). This will come in handy 🙂
I was the same, Queenie. Sometimes you’re lucky and get a property with no pets, but I started with cats and dogs as they’re the easiest to care for.
I always wanted to try house sitting to help defray travel expenses but I’m too afraid I’ll break the house or pet!
I’m sure you would be fine, Denise. Everyone I have sat for is welcoming and wants to make you feel like you’re at home. I even stayed friends with some and have re-sat for others.
This is a great idea! Are there many opportunities to choose from on the sites? It sounds so perfect that it must be a needle in a haystack to me haha
There are so many homes to choose from, Jill. Where to stay depends on where you want to go or what animals you will care for. Sometimes you’re lucky to find homes without pets, just a garden to water when needed. It is a great way to get around as you may go somewhere you would never have considered staying.