Sensible flexibility is key when you’re retired. I’m currently spending a bunch of money on life bucket list item #6 (write a book). Cover designers and editors and such. I’m spending this money freely and happily, of course. You should spend money on your hobbies.
But it’s still an unusually excessive amount for me and I am still acutely aware of my charts and how much I’m “allowed” to spend.
Donnie posing for a selfie with me. She’s super friendly.
I could have offset these book costs and hung out in a cheap country for a bit, somewhere in South America or Southeast Asia. You can rent a nice apartment for a few hundred dollars a month in certain parts of the world. I couldn’t get excited about that idea though and found myself yearning for a bit of stability. While sulking in Qatar, I made a list of a bunch of cities where I could see myself staying for the spring and summer. Here’s my list if you’re curious.
Possible new places to call home
- New York
- Washington D.C.
- Boston
- Miami
- Montreal
- Chicago
- Denver
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- Los Angeles
- Portland
- Vancouver
- London
- Sydney
Then I joined a house-sitting website and applied to any long-term house-sit (at least three weeks) that popped up in any of those cities. The first city where I had a confirmed house sit would be my homebase for a bit. Denver won. Excellent choice, Universe. Denver is great!
Tala has had enough running around on the patio and would like to come back inside now, please.
I landed a gig for eleven weeks in an awesome neighborhood in northwest Denver, biking distance from a lot of things and easy public transportation to everything else. The retired couple I sat for had two dogs, three chickens, a bunch of indoor fish and a koi pond. They visited Europe and I lived their life in Denver. I walked the dogs, ate the eggs the chickens laid and tested the ph levels in the koi pond. I checked the mail and watered the plants and made myself at home.
This arrangement is a mutually beneficial arrangement, a symbiotic relationship. The homeowners get peace of mind that their babies are being taking care of while they’re gone. They enjoy their vacation without worry and with regular updates. I get a place to stay and a chance to get to know some animals. Dogs are excellent cuddlers. Gathering fresh eggs each day is a special type of joy. The fish are…I don’t really get the appeal of fish, to be honest.
The koi fish coming out of hibernation. Did you know fish hibernate?
I joined a couple of other housesitting websites upon arriving in Denver and spent a few seconds every day scanning the new listings. Whenever I saw one in Denver, I applied, with the offer to meet for a drink beforehand so they could see I wasn’t a psycho. And it worked. Better than I could have imagined, it worked.
For five months in Denver, my only housing expenses will be the membership fees for the housesitting websites (about $200 total). For comparison’s sake, I looked at furnished sublets on Craigslist and if I had rented an apartment during that time instead, it easily would have cost me $7500 for worse places.
I also get to try on different neighborhoods to see which one looks best on me. Because this is Colorado, everyone has a bike I can use too. Some people will even leave cars for you.
And! I get to hang out with several cats, a few more dogs, two snakes and a chinchilla. I completely understand why people befriend and live with animals. A home feels a lot less empty with another soul inside it. Cuddles! Touch! Someone to talk at so you’re not a crazy person mumbling to herself!
Julio helping me edit my book.
I’m incredibly excited about all of this if you can’t tell.
Dedicated house sitting websites aren’t the only way to do this. I initiated Operation Enjoy the Crap Out of Denver and met so many souls while out interacting with the world. When people learned about my situation, quite often they would exclaim that they were also going on vacation soon and had pets and was I available?
Existing friends are a good resource too. I’ve pet-sat for friends in New York many times.
My friend Z, who I’ve mentioned before, put up ads on Craigslist offering her pet-sitting services in Maui so she could easily visit her sister when she popped out a nephew. And it worked. Think outside the box.
Housesitting websites
This one is only $30/year for house-sitters and free for homeowners listing their sit.
This one is $50/year.
There are more too. Lots more websites. There’s even one that will pay you to pet-sit. I haven’t tried that one because I love the mutually beneficial nature of the three I listed above. A situation where both parties feel like they’re getting the better end of the deal is the best type of situation.
A lot of people have pets. These people travel and need you to take care of their babies while they do. If you’re not super picky about where you housesit, you could, theoretically, never pay rent again.
*Affiliate link. Maybe. I’m not confident I set it up right.
I really enjoyed reading this post. We travel 3-6 months a year and we have used Housecarers.com for about 4 years. We live an hour out of Seattle on 4 acres of waterfront with pets and plants that we can’t bare to leave alone. I’ve been very happy with the arrangements we’ve made. I’ve written an extensive housesitting manual, we pay to keep the house functioning and our housesitter only has the expense of food. Though we’ve used several people, we do keep going back to one woman we like and she has become a good friend. I love the money free economy where people simply help out each other.
I think this idea is an undiscovered gem. That you discovered four years ago. 🙂
I love it! Very resourceful. Thanks for sharing this with us:))
I have to admit that I was hesitant because I don’t like the idea of more competition. But then my less selfish asshole side won over.
What a cool post. Tala and Julio are good spokescritters! I’ve thought about getting a house sitter , but I’d have to clean up my mess. Plus it would freak my cat. I like the idea of being a house sitter even better. Thanks for the links!
My new favorite word today: spokescritters!
Hi, it’s the first time I’m writing to you, although I’ve been reading your blog for some time now. I feel a little bit of a connection with you because 1, I’m leaving in the Blue Mountains and 2, I try to be very thrifty, work part time and enjoy life on a very low income without feeling poor at all ! 🙂
And with this post, I even feel more connection as I have just discovered this house sitting “thing”. My parents were here from overseas around Easter and we had planned a week-long road trip away. My 2 dogs were being taken care of by friends, all was well until the friends made other plans and were not able to help me any more. After being discouraged by the prices asked by professional pet sitters, I found Aussiehousesitters.com.au, published an add and ta-daa ! found the perfect sitters within 24 hours. This is definitely the kind of “miracle” that make my life a true good one, if you ask me. Going from being all stressed out at the thought of missing on a good week of hols with my parents to leaving the house with a light and happy heart knowing that my babies and my “castle” were in good hand is priceless. I will definitely use this solution again and even maybe go on holidays for free in the near futur…
Aussiehousesitters.com.au was one of the ones that I stumbled acrossed that looked great as well. Thanks for letting us know it’s worthwhile! Excellent story of its value. 🙂
Hey thriftygal, Boulder is just down the road: have you met up with Mister Money Mustache yet?
I actually had lunch with Pete yesterday! Pete and Z (the chick I mentioned in my post). I took a picture, but I can’t upload pictures to comments apparently.
Sooo…the nitty gritty…did you give up your place in Chicago? How much stuff do you travel with? Inquiring and enthusiastic minds want to know!
I haven’t had a place in Chicago since December 2013. I moved to Sydney in January 2014 and then got rid of most of my stuff when I retired in October 2015. I travel with one suitcase and a backpack. 🙂
Oh wow! I didn’t realize you had been on the road for that long.
hi Anita, i love animals of all kinds and enjoy spending time with them too! but if depth is where the gold is buried, will having a zoo be enough gold for you? settling has both a physical and emotional connotation. they both don’t have to be negative connotations. unfortunately depth takes time which is partly what makes it special, no? despite our electronic age where one can communicate w/just about anyone anywhere at anytime, i believe one of the precursors of digging for the deepest gold, is to begin digging in one spot, with someone else digging for the same gold right beside you.
That’s what I’m trying to do!
Ah I was just in Denver, I would have loved to meet you! I’m glad you found a city with nice weather, easy amenities, and friendly people to settle down in for a little bit. Colorado really is a remarkable place in that (a) everyone there seems to be friendly – in more than a “Hi, how are you?” way; Coloradans (?) will stop and have a conversation with you! Which is all the better since (b) the state is chock full of people who live wonderfully interesting lives, including all kinds of outdoor activities in their current daily lives and all kinds of adventurous stories from their past lives!
I’ve been reading your blog for a while now, but I’ll make a note to comment more often so that if we ever cross in the same city again, it won’t be *too* creepy for me to reach out to you!
Thanks and I totally agree with you regarding Colorado. It’s an easy place to like. 🙂
Wow, this is a great idea! .Looking forward to your next post! 🙂
Thanks!
I moved to Denver 9 years ago and love it here! Glad you’re enjoying your time here!
I’m surprised by how much I love it here. I think it’s the sun.
If it is not a thrifty gal (trademark) trade secret, what are you doing about library services?
‘Home’ library via the web, local libraries extending temporary privileges, other?
Your site continues to amaze & delight.
Local libraries extending temporary privileges. Libraries want you to use them. They love patrons.
If trapped on a rainy afternoon:
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/69
How do you deal with health insurance with your moves? Thanks!
Hope I don’t get hurt. 🙂 There really isn’t a good answer to this question. But I figure I could go bankrupt from an illness even if I was still employed and had normal health insurance.
I mean, do you buy it, and change with every move, or just go uncovered? Agreed, but much less likely.
I have health insurance through the state on my driver’s license. I don’t think it’s possible to buy it every time I change locations.
Hey Thriftygal!
Thanks for the post! My husband and I travel alot, and we usually use AirBnB because it’s thrifty-er than hotels, and you usually get more space and a better location in a city, but this sounds like a great option! Especially when we retire and can go on longer trips!
The longer I do it, the more I like it!
I signed up for trusted housesitters but couldn’t get any sits because it would be my first house sit and it seems everyone else had previous reviews. It seems a better option also for couples who want to chill in the countryside and rent a car together rather than for single pringles like me
I’m a single pringle too and never had trouble! The website suggests applying first for the smaller cities where there is less competition. I think it’s a numbers game. I applied for a bunch when I first got on there. Like most things in life, it’s about persistence.
Sounds about right. I’ve been applying in europe in peak summer season so that might be the problem!
Keep applying. Eventually, something will land. I’m sure of it.
Yes, my sister sits for Trusted Housesitters and she aimed for local sits first, because that is desirable to folks who would like repeat sitters they know. Also, get some good domestic reviews and it will become easier to get those international gigs, like Europe in high season. 🙂 Good luck and keep trying! You’ll get it!
Have not heard of house sitting in India….may be it is there but not popular….
Yeah, I haven’t seen many house sitting opportunities in India.
But you don’t long for a house of your own??? You must be having very little stuff since you are travelling…..how do you manage that? I need to learn….have too much stuff at home….
I do miss having a home base, but I miss that more because I miss having close friends. I don’t miss the stuff at all!
I am taking you as an inspiration to reduce stuff…..Nov 10th 2017….start date….will report to you on Feb 10th 2018, how much I have achieved…. 🙂
I recommend reading The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up as a book to help guide you on your journey. 🙂 Good luck!
Oh man, I just read the chapter titles on that book and it’s not what I want to hear at all! I’ve got to do a tidy-ing marathon, not a bit at a time? ACK!
Yeah, I think it’s kind of like a band-aid. Just rip it off and get it over with. And then you can live in tidy bliss!
My Mom has a different problem, she needs someone to water the plants when she comes to my place…..she has a maid but she does not take care of plants properly…we don’t have this house sitting arrangement in India…
Great post. Newbie to your blog here. I am curious if I may ask, while you were house sitting did you have another place you were keeping and paying rent on? Thank you.. New fan
Welcome to the blog! I did not have another place I kept rent on. I just have one suitcase that I travel with. 🙂
I’m so inspired by you Anita. A few days ago I asked my boss if I could take a leave of 10-12 weeks and go downunder. And he said yes. Awesome. Planning to go in January 2019 and start off in NZ, then Tasmania and finish off in Australia. I love to travel but have never been away for that long. My youngest has turned 18, and I have to pay rent while I’m away. But I’m in good health and ready for adventure. So I’m now in planning mode 🙂
Yay! That makes me so happy and I’m so excited for you. Have you thought about airbnbing your place while you’re gone?