Today’s contribution comes from experienced, trusted house sitters who saved more than $5,000 through house sitting. They also offer a course for anyone interested: How to Become A House Sitter. Enjoy!
We’re Brittnay and Jayden, full-time travellers from Australia and New Zealand. In this article we explain how we saved over $5,000 in three months while living in one of the most expensive cities in Europe.
We met in the Australian Alps and quickly discovered a shared passion for travel. South America was on the horizon, but one snowy Sunday we found flights to London for $300 AUD ($220 USD). Before long we were booked and applying for UK work visas.
Two exciting years in London followed. During that time we visited more than 21 countries across Europe and Africa. When our visas neared expiration we weren’t ready to go home. Spain was an early idea, then a friend suggested Dublin: close by, easy for work visas and with a climate similar to the UK.
When we looked into renting in Dublin we were stunned — rooms started around $1,450 per month for shared houses. That reminded us of a previous house sit, so we researched house sitting opportunities and began applying. After several applications we landed our first housesit via Skype.
Four months later we had completed four house sits and saved over $5,000. Below we share some of our favourite sits, break down how we saved that money, and offer top tips for anyone interested in becoming a house sitter. House sitting offers unique adventures, knowledge and friendships — we’d love for others to discover it too.
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How We Saved Over $5,000 by House Sitting
House sitting allowed us to reduce major living costs including rent, transport, bills, household items and food. Some savings were expected, but others were pleasant surprises that boosted our bank balance.
Rent
Rent accounted for the largest portion of our savings. Over three months we avoided at least $1,450 per month in rent while working full time, allowing us to save most of our wages. These savings are being set aside for a campervan purchase next summer.
We also had the unexpected benefit of living in houses we couldn’t otherwise afford: three luxurious homes in upscale Dublin neighbourhoods. Over three months we estimate rent savings of roughly $4,350.
Transportation
On one sits the owners added us to their car insurance and left a bright yellow Mini for our use. Driving together saved time and money: public transport would have cost about $6 per person per day and required an hour each way. A tank of petrol lasted two weeks and cost about $40, and Jay could park for free at work.
Public transport in Dublin is among the most expensive in Europe, so access to a car reduced our weekly transport spend dramatically. Previously our transport costs were about $144 per week; with fuel at roughly $20 per week we saved about $124 per week — around $496 for a month.
Having a car also let us explore parts of Dublin and the surrounding countryside that public transport doesn’t reach, such as the coastal town of Wicklow and the scenic Glendalough valley.
Bills
With house sits we avoided monthly bills like electricity, heating, phone and internet. The average bills at our rental property would have been about $85 per month, so over three months we saved approximately $255.
Household Goods
Small household items add up. During sits we didn’t need to buy laundry detergent, cleaning products or paper goods. Most homeowners encouraged us to help ourselves to perishable items and sundries, and many houses had well-equipped kitchens. That reduced our eating-out costs and grocery bills.
We estimate household goods would have cost about $35 per month, saving us roughly $105 over three months.
Our Favourite House Sitting Jobs
Apartment Overlooking Finsbury Park
Our first sit wasn’t far from home — about 5 km from London. We spent Christmas and New Year looking after a kitten named Arya in an open-plan apartment overlooking Finsbury Park. The space was modern and spacious with views from the bedroom, living room and kitchen. After a slow start Arya warmed to us once we learned to pronounce her name correctly. After two weeks the owners returned and we were already searching for the next sit.
Country Cottage in Enfield
An hour outside the city we enjoyed a quiet cottage built by a Dutch couple. The place had a Scandinavian aesthetic: sleek and cosy. We cared for two Siamese cats, two Scottish terriers and two chickens. The dogs were affectionate, and the cats loved playing fetch with a toy rat. The week passed quickly and we returned to the city for the next adventure.
House near Bullock Harbour
This sit was in one of Dublin’s most affluent suburbs. We spoke to an expat couple by Skype while they prepared to travel to the south of France; they needed someone to care for their eight-bedroom estate and their Labrador, Roxy. Daily walks took us to a beautiful harbour full of wooden boats and seals. Dalkey is known for beaches, harbours and castles — and is home to notable residents. Before our week ended we secured another month-long sit nearby.
Killiney Home
One of our most luxurious sits was in Killiney, in a house that had won a “most beautiful home” award. We looked after several small dogs — two long-haired chihuahuas, a Chinese Crested and an elderly whippet. The owner put us on her insurance so we could use her yellow Mini, and the beach was only five minutes away. This remains our favourite sit and we’ve kept in close contact with the homeowner.
Inner-City Cats
After living near harbours and countryside we moved into a contrasting inner-city area bordering both a leafy suburb and a tougher neighbourhood. The house was small but cosy. We cared for two relaxed cats: Bobby, who had early-stage Parkinson’s and behaved like a dog, and Luc, who waited patiently for meals. Despite the change in setting we adjusted quickly and enjoyed being a short walk from Dublin’s centre.
After five sits we learned to minimise our possessions and value experiences over “things.” Frequent moves taught us we were happy without a lot of material belongings.
How You Can Become a House Sitter
Sign Up For House Sitting Sites
Many platforms connect homeowners and house sitters. We mainly used two paid services because these are popular with homeowners and provide a more secure environment when both parties have financial commitment. The subscription cost often pays for itself after one night of house sitting in an expensive city.
- Trusted House Sitters
- Nomador
Getting Started
Like applying for a job, homeowners want positive references. Getting a first sit can be tricky without references; however holiday periods often present more opportunities as demand shifts and homeowners are more likely to hire without previous sitter references. Use these opportunities to build your track record.
Get Accredited
Attend a pet first aid course to be prepared for emergencies. These are usually one-day courses and cost around $50. A first aid certificate gives you an advantage when competing for popular sits.
Police Checks
Keep a current, clean police record available to reassure homeowners and move your application higher in the selection process.
Apply, Apply, Apply!
Once registered, apply promptly and personalise each application. Avoid generic copy-and-paste messages. Read the homeowner’s listing carefully and show you understand their needs. Some listings receive hundreds of applications — a thoughtful, specific message helps you stand out.
We checked listings multiple times a day at first. It can become addictive, but persistence pays off.
Details, Details, Details
Ask homeowners for comprehensive information about the pets and the house, even details they might consider minor: post arrivals, neighbours’ names and contact numbers, and any quirky behaviours. Owners often take certain behaviours for granted; knowing them in advance prevents surprises. For example, one cat tended to vomit at night — the owner mentioned it only during handover, and knowing saved us a lot of stress.
Learn as much as you can about house sitting before you start, since it can be competitive. Guides and resources can help you get started and might lead to sits in diverse locations from beachfront villas to mountain cottages.
Recommended reading: 11 Travel Jobs That Come With Free Housing
Our Takeaway
House sitting has introduced us to generous homeowners, kind neighbours and places we wouldn’t otherwise see. It’s given us community and meaningful friendships. We recommend house sitting to anyone seeking adventure, savings or simply a pet to cuddle in the evenings.
Where to Next?
After six moves around Dublin we signed a rental agreement, but plans changed quickly: Jay’s sister is getting married in New Zealand, so we booked flights home. We’ll spend December and January in Thailand, then pick up a campervan in New Zealand to explore both islands. We have a three-week house sit in the Bay of Islands in March, then a trip to Australia for another wedding near the Great Barrier Reef. Later we’ll return to Europe to explore Croatia, Greece and Turkey — alternating two weeks of travel with two weeks of house sitting each month. Follow our adventures at The Travelling House Sitters or on Instagram.
Author bio: Brittnay is one half of The Travelling House Sitters. She lived in London for two years before moving to Dublin and has visited over 21 countries across Europe and Africa. Her house sitting and travel stories are shared on The Travelling House Sitters.
Learn more at How To Become a House Sitter.
Are you interested in becoming a professional and trusted house sitter? What do you think of house sitting?