Every time I tell someone how I live my life, I always get the same question. “Wait, can you actually do that?”
I started house sitting in 2023 as a way to save money while traveling. A year and a half ago, I decided to make New York my home. I spend about 85% of my time here, but since I’m away all year round, I’ve never paid rent to live in the city.
As of 2026, I have spent about $4,000 on transportation (planes, trains, buses, subways, Ubers, etc.) and accommodations during my time away from home. I pay $19 a month for my cell phone and spend about $75 a week on groceries. If you don’t have bills like rent, electricity, Wi-Fi, etc., these are basically your only consistent expenses. I spend about 800 yen every month.
House sitting has completely changed my life. I may not have my own place and the structure of my calendar is not normal. However, my life is rich with travel and all the wonderful people and animals I have met. To me, that’s a pretty good deal.
An unexpected path to becoming a house sitter
Four years ago, I was about to turn 30, and my life changed dramatically. I worked 9-5 as a project manager in a real estate office in the San Francisco Bay Area. When the pandemic hit, my stable routine was completely turned upside down.
At first I felt free, but after a while I felt like I was losing time. In 2022, ready for a change, I did something that many people would probably disagree with. I quit my job and bought a one-way ticket to Italy.
My plan was to live off my savings for as long as possible. I spent two years traveling through Europe, Southeast Asia, and Central America. During that time, I spent about 500,000 yen. I knew I would eventually run out of savings, so I started looking for more economical ways to travel. House sitting seemed like a realistic possibility.
When I first house-sat in San Francisco, I moved back to the Bay Area and temporarily lived with family. I found it through TrustedHousesitters. Many reservations can still be found there. It lasted 3 days over a long weekend and I took care of one dog. I did 5 house sittings locally before I started traveling for them.
I am truly happy to be able to be a person who trusts the creatures that people value most.
Photo: Alana Parrish
I quickly realized that I really loved taking care of people’s homes, especially their pets. Traveling has been a big passion for me for a long time. So I was very happy to think that I was helping others enjoy their travels.
If you want to become a house sitter, we recommend starting locally. It helped me gain experience and reference in a familiar environment before jumping into a place where I had to learn to do everything on the fly.
“I sometimes move up to eight times a month.”
My typical stay is 2-30 days, but the average is about a week. During short periods of sitting, you may move as many as eight times a month. The majority of my sitting time (about 80%) is unpaid and in exchange for housing.
If you do charge, the rates are typically $50 to $100 per day. The bigger expense occurs when reservations are not fully reflected on the calendar. I estimate it’s happened about 10-12 times in the past year. If there is a gap, you have several options. If it’s just for one night, I usually stay at a friend’s house. For a few nights, you might book a hotel or Airbnb. When we have a long gap, we often use it as an opportunity to travel elsewhere.
I feel really lucky to be able to experience so many new places.
I’m definitely a budget traveler, so I always look for the best deal possible. But I’m generally not willing to sacrifice too much convenience to save money. You don’t fly at a terrible time or book a two- or three-stop itinerary just to save $50. I still want to enjoy traveling.
Expenses not reflected in bank account
Even if your overhead costs are low, there are definitely costs that won’t show up in your bank account. I love the freedom this lifestyle gives me, but it’s not for everyone. The biggest trade-off is uncertainty and the need for flexibility.
I’m always planning where I’m going to live next and how I’m going to get there. Moving from home to home means constantly getting used to new spaces, neighborhoods, gym routines, pet care, trash pickup days, and more.
Example of a calendar for a specific month.
Photo: Alana Parrish
Sometimes reservations are made months in advance. I also sometimes figure things out a few days before house sitting starts. We also had to deal with last-minute cancellations and unexpected changes. I spend a lot of time figuring out my day. I spend many hours planning and executing the administrative tasks necessary to prepare for my next house-sitter, making sure that reservations line up as smoothly as possible.
Space is also not something I take for granted. I live out of a suitcase, so I have to be very selective about what I buy and what I keep.
One of my few travel staples, my old trusty suitcase, is being investigated by my new cat roommate.
Photo: Alana Parrish
You can live like a local anywhere in the world
I’ve been traveling full time for years, so I’m used to thinking about where I’m going next, how I’m going to get there, and where I’m going to stay. The difference is that now, instead of paying for accommodation, a home is usually waiting for you.
I often stay in these homes for weeks at a time, so I can explore the neighborhood, develop a routine, and experience a place more like a local than a passing tourist. It can be lonely at times, so you have to be proactive in building community. To expand my network, I try to meet friends of friends and put myself in social situations and just say “yes.”
To date, I have done close to 100 house sittings in 22 different cities around the world. This year I house-sat in Edinburgh, Los Angeles, Montreal, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and of course New York.
I know I can’t do this forever and I’d love to have my own place someday, but there’s no deadline at this point. In the future, I would like to live in two or three cities throughout the year.
I’m in travel mode. There is no other way.
Photo: Alana Parrish.
Meanwhile, last year I decided to work remotely as a patient support specialist for a telemedicine company. You can work from anywhere, so you’re not tied to one city. Keep remote work from becoming monotonous by changing the scenery regularly.
I love giving people peace of mind while on vacation or in another part of the world that their home is taken care of and their animals are safe, happy and cared for. It’s incredible to me that what started as a way to save money while traveling has become a lifestyle and a career. It may sound unconventional, but it’s true. But I really love it.
Alana Parrish is a writer and digital nomad who has turned house sitting and pet sitting into a way to travel and experience new places like a local. She has sat in over 20 cities and visited over 40 countries.
