A couple have managed to save up for a house deposit while travelling the world by housesitting and dog sitting.
Molly and Garth describe their cost-of-living-busting lifestyle as "the best thing they have ever done", visiting different countries while saving a large sum of cash.
The pair, from Donegal, North West Ireland, have stayed for free in 17 strangers' houses over the last 10 months, in places such as New York, Amsterdam and Barcelona.
Molly, 25, and Garth, 30, have been together for three years and do not have a permanent home, so hop around Ireland and abroad every few weeks.
The couple have saved "more than they ever thought they would" and have enough to put down a deposit on a house, but have "no plans to settle down for a while".
"The houses we stay in are absolutely beautiful, and often really big modern spaces, and not having to have a landlord or worry about the housing crisis is such a privilege," Molly said.
Molly and Garth met during the pandemic, and as soon as the pair could legally travel, they explored Ireland, Portugal and Germany and even lived in Barcelona for a few months.
After arriving home from travelling in May 2022, Molly was scrolling on TikTok and saw a creator talking about their house-sitting experience through the app Trusted House Sitters, and she decided to give it a go.
She said: "I decided to take a risk and pay for the annual membership, thinking to myself that it would be worth it if we even got one or two housesits in the year, and 17 housesits later, and almost fully booked for the next few months too, it's the best thing we have ever done."
The pair began looking after strangers' homes and pets, without having to pay for any accommodation or utilities.
Molly explained: "It took us two or three weeks to get our very first house sit because it's all based on reviews, and at the start, we obviously had none, so we are forever grateful to the very first people who had us sit."
In June 2022, the couple house sat for the first time in Dublin and looked after the owners' golden retriever.
She said: "Lexi, the dog, was gorgeous, and we've been back a few times since and are going back there to sit again soon.
"We had so much fun and couldn't have asked for a better first experience with the app – the homeowners were so chilled out too."
Since then, Molly and Garth have been house-sitting full-time.
Molly said: "Already we have saved a deposit for a house, though we have no plans to settle down for a while, as well as enough to go on multiple big holidays every year since we don't pay rent or utilities."
The couple say the cost of living has played a part in their decision to house-sit, explaining: "In Dublin, there is an awful housing crisis at the moment that we think the government is doing absolutely nothing to amend.
"Rents are higher than ever, and there aren't enough properties to meet the demand either. Most of our friends have emigrated, which is what we were going to do before we discovered pet sitting."
Molly's work involves travelling around Ireland for shoots, and Garth's job is fully remote – so the pair often house hop around Ireland.
She said: "Most of the house sits that we do are in Ireland because it's the most convenient for my work.
"At the moment, we are doing a month-long stay in a beautiful apartment on the coast in South Dublin with two beautiful pups."
One of their favourite stays was in New York in September 2022, explaining: "We looked after a beautiful little Havanese called Oscar.
"We stayed in a stunning home on the upper west side, just a few minutes walk from Central Park and Riverside Park.
"That was our first international sit, and we couldn't believe we were chosen – we had the time of our lives."
The pair have not had any disasters since house and pet sitting, but they had a scare when, in New York, the dog got sick during their first few days there.
Molly said: "Looking after someone's pet or pets is so much responsibility, and it's not always easy."
To anyone considering house-sitting, Molly advised: "Start local - that way, it's easier to build up your reviews and get pet-sits at first when you don't have many reviews yet - and always take more poop bags than you think you need when you're out for walks!
"Also, go where the sits take you, go to some places you've never been, and enjoy the adventure."
Update: TrustedHousesitters has faced criticism due to reports that the house-sitting arrangement could flout visa rules and some users claiming they have been detained or deported as a result.
The company has acknowledged there have been a "very small handful of cases" where users have faced entry issues but users are supported with legal letters and encouraged to check the immigration rules of any country they are visiting.
Do you have an unusual way of saving money? Get in touch. Email nia.dalton@reachplc.com.
