Australians looking to fast-track their savings goals, with a view to getting on the property ladder, are saving thousands each month by simply not paying rent.
While house sitting isn’t new per se, it’s now become more lucrative than ever, with some saving nearly half of their home deposit in just under a year.
Sydney-based Nita Paterson, 35, ditched her lease on her Erskinville apartment in February this year to become a professional house and pet sitter – and to save for a deposit for her own home .
She told FEMAIL her weekly rent in the verdant inner city suburb was costing her on average $350 per week plus bills. Now she saves that, plus more, each week.
Nita Paterson (pictured) is a full time house and pet sitter and has so far saved $20,000 of her $40,000 savings goal
‘I made a plan I was going to initially only going to do house-sitting this year because I wanted to save money towards a deposit.
‘My goal was to save $20,000 which I have done.
‘But now I want to save a little bit more and have realised that it would be better to do it for another year. My goal is to save $40,000 towards my first home.
Since deciding to end her lease on her Erskenville apartment this year, Nita said she’s been booked pretty solidly
Though Nita revealed she had been a house sitter on a casual basis for years prior, this year’s decision was backed by her selling off most of her possessions and putting what was left into storage.
Since taking the leap, the sales rep has been booked fairly solidly, but there have been gaps, here and there, which has meant a few nights at her mum’s house in Croydon.
Most of her jobs are around Sydney’s inner west or more central; it’s an area she’s familiar with which makes life easier.
She said she aims to take jobs that are roughly around a month, but said this can vary – depending on the time of year.
Christmas is naturally her busiest, but this tapers off after February.
The 35-year-old also said it helps that she’s an avid animal lover as most of her jobs involve taking care of other people’s pets
Though her life is packed down, Nita will show up armed with one big suitcase containing her clothes, a separate bag with shoes and her own food.
While life as a full time house sitter offers plenty of flexibility, it requires plenty of moving.
I really enjoy having a dog and walking with a dog, especially around some of the areas around the inner west
Nita explained that she will look after people’s pets who are going away on holiday and who don’t necessarily want to board their animals.
‘We say house sitting but basically it’s pet sitting,’ she said.
It saves the owner money, but there’s the added security advantage of having someone in the house as well, she said.
Though she’s mainly looked after dogs and cats, she’s also taken care of rabbits and the occasional flock of ducks.
Nita has cared for all sorts of animals including rabbits and on occasion a flock of ducks
‘I really enjoy having a dog and walking with a dog, especially around some of the areas around the inner west. It’s really nice to walk the dogs to the park.
‘That’s really enjoyable and definitely a big part of why I do this as well,’ she said.
She’s signed up to Mindahome.com.au along with other platforms Aussiehousesitters and Petcloud.
Mindahome founder Sue Coobs said house and pet sitting was a great way for people to make extra money, or save on accommodation if they were travelling.
Pet owners and pet sitters can now connect through a new service that’s like Airbnb for
‘House and pet sitting is a win-win situation where house and pet sitters stay for free and home and pet owners save on high boarding facility charges and also receive personalised pet care for their much loved pets.
‘Our members save thousands of dollars each year by house and pet sitting and living rent free in homes across the country. More people are realising that house and pet sitting is a viable way to save on rent and travel.’
With holidays on the horizon, planning pet care, if you can’t travel with your furry friends, is no doubt a priority.
Sitter Guide’s website allows pet owner to book a range of services from boarding and house sitting to drop-in visits
For those wanting a little more flexibility, a new service has been created connecting pet owners with pet sitters through Sitter Guide.
The concept was developed by Daevid Richards, who likens the service as similar to Airbnb for pets.
Pet owners can search the site, and find reliable, trusted sitters to care for their animals all of whom have been vetted and security checked.
According to Sitter Guide’s website pet owners can book a range of services from boarding and house sitting to drop-in visits.
Sitter Guide also offers the option for those to meet those who may be potentially caring for their pets.
Nita believes that while house sitting might not be for everyone, it’s a can be worked as a full time situation for some
Nita also makes sure she meets those ahead of her house and pet sitting jobs, to make sure there’s a fit.
‘I always go and meet the people and animals prior and at the meeting we run through everything.’
Though house sitting might not be for everyone, the sales rep believes it can be worked as a full-time situation.
‘If you have a car, and are open to the areas you live in and if you like animals – it’s definitely something you can do consistently,’ she concluded.