Getting the most out of pet sitting for the year ahead

setting goals

 

House and pet sitting can be a great way to travel, live close to work, explore new suburbs before settling down, and much, much more. Here are ways to make the most of a house and pet sitting lifestyle to achieve your goals in life.

Travel 

Carpe Diem – seize the day! We’ve heard it before, but this year could be your year to take action to live life and enjoy every moment. Travel can broaden your life experience, expand social networks, and simply allow you to enjoy new experiences.

Of course, travel can be costly, so house and pet sitting presents a unique opportunity to not only save money on accommodation, but also embrace a different type of holiday. Staying for free at homes across the country as a pet sitter lets you save money, which can then be put towards attractions or experiences you’ve longed to enjoy.

There’s also the benefit of having all the conveniences of home on a house sit, such as a full kitchen, living spaces and, in some cases, the use of a car and utilities. With careful planning, house and pet sitting can save thousands of dollars on accommodation, food and transport.

Living close to school or work or remote

Cutting down transport time between home and work or school offers significant lifestyle benefits. If you’re spending less time commuting, you can reallocate your time to spending quality moments with friends and family.

As workplaces navigate ways to reimagine the way people work and a report revealing most managers believe that workers can be equally productive at home or in the office, house and pet sitting can offer the flexibility to support any work style.

Whether it’s in the suburbs, city or the remote countryside, there are house and pet sitting positions dotted across Australia that often include the use of internet to make working from home fuss free, or a short commute possible.

Increase your savings

Avoiding the seemingly endless rent pit, many Aussies are turning to house and pet sitting to save money. Mindahome house and pet sitters are using the money they save on rent to build up a deposit to buy a home or for other little luxuries.

Mindahome house and pet sitters have reported saving upwards of $10,000 per year by avoiding paying rent. It’s a significant saving to help build a nest egg, while enjoying unique living experiences.

Enjoying the companionship of pets

On the Mindahome house and pet sitting platform, 98% of positions involve the care of a pet. As an animal loving community, there’s no doubt that the unconditional love of a fur-friend is second to none.

Unfortunately, some rental agreements don’t allow pets, leaving a big paw shaped hole in the hearts of many fur-pal devotees. That’s where house and pet sitting can come into play to provide a dose of four-legged friendliness, even for a short time, to get back the pawsome spring in your step.

Live like a local

With Australians facing significant competition in the property purchase and rental markets, making an informed decision about the place you’re considering settling down could save you years of regret down the track.

House and pet sit in suburbs you might like to rent or buy in to experience closeness to shops, cafes, restaurants, recreational facilities and more. By living like a local, you’ll discover how the suburb or city suits the way you live, and you can make an informed decision about whether it could suit a long term stay for you.

Enjoying ‘me time’

With data revealing that young people are staying at home with their parents for longer, house and pet sitting could be the short term, rent free break you need to have some time for yourself when the, at times, chaos of parents of siblings under the one roof gets too much. Use house and pet sitting for short term or longer breaks for time to study or space to stretch out when the family home feels crowded.

House and pet sitting can be a way to travel, save money, or time for self-care. Sign up as a house and pet sitter and make the most of the lifestyle and new experiences.

Where to find the best Spring blooms in Australia

An Australian Spring brings a richness of colour, fresh fragrance and some of the best visually attractive landscapes that one could ever witness. Here are just some of the places to visit for a spring-time extravaganza.

Wildflowers in Western Australia

Being home to over 12,000 species of floral varieties, Western Australia can truly be considered wildflower country. In fact, 60% of the flowering species in Western Australia cannot be found anywhere else on the planet! From city parks, through to bushland and coastal regions, wildflowers bloom throughout the seasons to ensure consistent floral sensations.

Yellow fields in NSW’s Riverina region

As you wind your way through the charming towns of the NSW Riverina region, you’ll be taken back by how the lush green paddocks turn to striking seas of yellow thanks to new growth of Canola. Take in the sights, tastes and sun kissed colours as you meander through shires of Coolamon, Junee and Temora on the Canola Trail and enjoy the scenic wonder with the contrasts of green and yellow landscapes

Country charm and colour in from the cities through to regional towns

One of the most visually, vibrant spectacles of spring is that of the beautiful purplish blooms of the Jacaranda trees that drown streetscapes throughout the season. Visitors flock to the streets of regional towns such as Grafton in NSW to see these majestic trees lining the streets with opulent colour. Sydney has its own Jacaranda Trail where you can seek out pops of purple from the city to the suburbs.

Lush gardens and blooming buds in Victoria

Head to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne to see the stunning cherry blossoms bloom in Spring, or take a drive out of town to the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden where you’ll be immersed in lush greenery and foliage as well as spectacular colour as Spring brings new growth.

These are some of the places to witness the beauty of Spring in Australia. For a budget friendly holiday option, house and pet sitting positions are regularly listed in MelbournePerthSydney, and regional NSW to provide the perfect base to explore the rest of the region during Spring.

Moving with Pets – Tips and tricks for a stress-free move

Moving house with petsAustralians are among the most mobile people in the world, with 40.7% changing their address in the five years prior to 2021. Couple that with the fact that we’re among the world’s top animal-loving nations, and you have a few things to consider for the next major move.

To ease the stress and anxiety for the people and pets involved in the move, here are some tips to ensure the transition runs smoothly. Continue reading “Moving with Pets – Tips and tricks for a stress-free move”

The places Aussies will be heading to this summer

Australian travelFrom the seaside to the mountain tops – these are just some of the places that will be drawing Australians to visit, stay and have pet-friendly fun this summer. Whether it’s cooling off at the beach, reserve or in the high mountainous altitudes, there’s always an abundance of choices when it comes to touring Australia. The best part? With pets being a member of the family in a majority of Australian households, our four-legged friends are also welcome to sightsee, frolic and enjoy our country’s natural wonders.

Beaches

With pristine sands as far as the eye can see, azure waters lapping at your feet and sunshine that warms the skin, it’s no wonder why many of us will be heading to the beachside this summer.

Renowned worldwide as a nation of pet lovers, it is also unsurprising that Australians of the four-legged variety also have ample opportunities to experience the sand and surf. Palm Beach Dog Beach on the Gold Coast is a popular hangout for pups and peeps alike, as is Noosa Spit on the Sunshine Coast and St Kilda Beach in Melbourne.

Bays, Coves and Lakes

There are a range of hidden gems to uncover that provide calmer waters and secluded spots to roam on your own or stroll along with your doggo. Dogs can run free off-leash, enjoying a splash in the water at Sirius Cove Reserve in Mosman NSW and Rose Bay Park and Reserve in NSW. There’s also dog-friendly swimming at the ACT’s Barrenjoey Peninsula, Lake Burley Griffin and Colmslie Recreation Reserve, Morningside and Nudgee Beach Reserve in QLD are also dog-friendly havens.

Mountains

Fresh air, the sounds of wildlife and nothing but nature to tantalise your senses, a trip to the mountains helps forget about the stresses of the everyday. The Blue Mountains in NSW offer an array of walks to do and scenic spots to take in the majesty of the natural surroundings. There are also dog-friendly walks to take your pooch. South Australia’s Flinders Ranges offer sensational walks and hikes, and if you’re staying in Adelaide and need to help your pooch expend some energy, the South East dog walking trail is sure to meet your needs.

House and pet sitting positions available in QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC, TAS, SA, NT, WA.

Find your ideal pet sitter across Australia.

Free Things To Do Around Australia

Travel and House Sit

There are loads of things to do in Australia’s major cities and they don’t have to cost you a fortune. So pack up your things and head out to your favourite place to experience more of what our beautiful country has to offer. To make your holiday budget go even further, register as a pet sitter and stay in homes across Australia for free!

Melbourne, VIC

Melbourne draws you in with its amazing sense of culture and lively eclectic atmosphere. If you’re looking to get a sense of Melbourne’s heart, head to Federation Square and sit and take in the people and the buildings, and even watch the big screens for some down-time. Flinders Street Station is nearby, so be sure to stop by, especially when the sun is setting to watch how the light dances across this iconic Melbourne structure. If you’re into art, head to the National Gallery of Victoria and ACMI (The Australian Centre for the Moving Image) for some awesome exhibits. Or if wildlife is more your interest, the St Kilda penguins are a must see and they return to their burrows along the St Kilda break wall every evening of the year just after sunset. Visit Melbourne’s array of markets and take advantage of the free tram zone around the city. Be sure to check out the many pet sitting positions available around Victoria, so you can stay for free and get to live like a local.

Hobart, TAS

Walk through Salamanca Markets, visit the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery or head up to the top of Mt Wellington to get a bird’s eye view of Hobart. A house and pet sit in Tasmania will help you appreciate the natural beauties of the state. Continue reading “Free Things To Do Around Australia”

Travel Solo as a Sitter

Solo Traveller, pet sittingIf you thrive on following the road less travelled and you enjoy making new friends, then house and pet sitting could be your calling.

For many who choose to travel on their own, pet sitting is a great way to save money and to try life in someone else’s shoes for a while.

In Australia, house and pet sitting is more attractive than ever, with close to 40% of sitters choosing to explore the country while staying free in other people’s homes and caring for pets. Continue reading “Travel Solo as a Sitter”

Money Saving Hack #12 – Choose a Pet Sitter’s Life!

Travel Light pet sitter mindahome

We’ve all heard the old adage ‘less is more’, but if we truly put this into action, it can actually reap some very sizable rewards.

Travel Light

The life of a house and pet sitter can be rather nomadic; always on the move from one position to the next. It’s not for everyone, but for those who embrace the adventure, house and pet sitting can save them loads of cash.

Aside from living rent free and saving every dollar you earn, rather than handing it over to a landlord in rent, the trick to being a successful house and pet sitter is travelling light. Continue reading “Money Saving Hack #12 – Choose a Pet Sitter’s Life!”

Money Saving Hack #54 – Meal Planning

Money Saving Travel

Planning for your meals while on house and pet sits will help you save money. Sounds simple, right? While most of us can appreciate that meal planning is a great way to ensure we don’t waste the food we buy, few of us go that extra step to physically writing down our meal plans – and stick to them!

Meal planning is particularly useful when you have back to back house and pet sits. It will help you manage the fresh food you need for a particular period and, as time goes by, you will get better at estimating how much you will need for any meal for any period.

Fresh fruit such as bananas, can ripen very quickly, so only buy enough to last you for your house and pet sit period. Continue reading “Money Saving Hack #54 – Meal Planning”

5 Packing Essentials for Roving House and Pet Sitters

Travel Light pet sitting AustraliaThe house and pet sitting lifestyle is an adventure. There are new experiences to be had, different places to visit and, with back to back house and pet sits, you must be ready to pack up and go quickly and easily.

Seasoned house and pet sitters are sure to have their packing list and routine sorted, but if you’re new to this wonderfully nomadic lifestyle, here are our tips for the five essential items you need for an organised and simple move to your next position.

  1. Zip Lock Bags

Zip lock bags of all sizes will become your best friend on your travels. Keep your more delicate items of clothing in these to avoid stains from other items in your suitcase.  If you thought scented drawer liners and potpourri were only reserved for your granny, then think again. A small amount of potpourri in a zip lock bag is a great way to keep your clothes smelling fresh no matter how long you’re travelling. Continue reading “5 Packing Essentials for Roving House and Pet Sitters”

Enjoy Your Independence as a House and Pet Sitter

Housing affordability in Australia continues to be a hot topic, especially for young Aussies looking to live independently of family.

Moving out of home is a rite of passage for every young person. There comes a time when you want to make your own choices, live life the way you want and, most importantly, have your own space.

But what if you wanted to live in or close to the bustling, cosmopolitan centres of one of Australia’s metropolitan cites? What if the savings you built up from part-time work doesn’t quite set you up to dive into the world of home ownership? What if you don’t want to settle down in a place until you’re sure that it’s right for you? Continue reading “Enjoy Your Independence as a House and Pet Sitter”