Latest news with #rentfree
The Sun
31-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
We save £2.2k a month on rent in one of the most expensive cities thanks to a hack & put it towards a house deposit
A COUPLE have revealed how they don't pay a penny of rent living in London thanks to a clever hack. The savvy pair behind the @couch2castle account said their trick allows them to save £2,200 each month, which they are putting towards a house deposit. 3 3 The couple are able to save money on rent by house sitting and looking after people's pets while owners are away. This means they can live rent-free and bills-free in London, which is notoriously expensive. In a video which has racked up over 1,000 likes, they wrote: 'If we rented a 1 bed flat in London we'd easily spend £1,800 rent, £400 bills (council tax, energy, WiFi, water). 'What we actually paid to live in London this month: £0. 'So where did that £££ go instead?' House sitting enables them to save the £2,200 from their jobs, and put £1,400 towards their house saving fund. They then save £400 for travel, £200 for driving lessons, £100 for Christmas and gifts, and £100 in their Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP). And instead of just seeing it as a money-saving chore, they love the process and get to look after a number of cute pets, including dogs and cats. They also get to stay in a range of homes, from flats to houses. The couple added: 'This is how we are building our future, one Housesit at a time. 'House sitting means we can save thousands while living in lovely places and looking after cute pets.' They shared how they typically make bookings though Trusted Housesitters - a company that has listings all over the world - and they didn't need any experience to start. Now that they have built up some good reviews, they have booked out their stays for the rest of the year. They shared: 'We plan pretty far in advance - we've had our schedule locked until the end of 2025 since like March. 3 'We plan ahead for gaps to go on a trip or stay with friends and in a pinch we book a hotel! 'We go back to lots of the same sits regularly and it's as lovely for us as it is the pets. 'You can housesit for people who don't have pets - but for us pets are our fave part.' They said they keep the majority of their belongings in a small storage unit, but don't have many material items and have downsized since they started their nomadic lifestyle. The couple added: 'It's a bit mad but it's working for us.' Another added: "How cool."
News.com.au
01-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Young couple reveal how they lived rent-free in Australia for three months
A young couple recently revealed their secret to living rent-free for three months while travelling across Australia, and their little-known hack is going viral on TikTok. In the video, the woman, Esmae Lewis, explained how she and her boyfriend managed to avoid paying rent, bills, and even Wi-Fi and air conditioning costs during their travels. 'We didn't spend a single dollar,' she claimed. The pair said knew they wanted to live in Australia, as it's such a 'beautiful country with great weather'. However, she quickly realised it also has a high cost of living, pricey food, drinks, gyms, and hostels, which aren't always ideal for couples. So, they found a platform called Trusted Housesitters, where people can look after homeowners' pets and properties in exchange for free accommodation. 'We landed every sit we applied for,' she said, before sharing tips to help others succeed on the platform. These included creating a detailed profile that showcases personality and experience, asking friends and family for initial reviews, personalising each application by referencing the pets and their quirks, and focusing on care and connection with the pets rather than the location perks. Ms Lewis also recommended offering video calls or meetups to build trust with homeowners. The concept of house sitting is not a new one. Sitters care for pets, maintain gardens, keep homes clean and safe, and sometimes handle mail or deliveries, all in exchange for rent-free living. This benefits both parties as homeowners get peace of mind while away, and sitters enjoy free accommodation. Commenters loved the idea, with one saying, 'Love love loveeee this! I've had my eye on signing up and starting this'. 'This is such a cool idea!' and 'Love house-sitting!!! Such solid tips,' read other comments. 'I want to do this!' admitted a fourth. 'This is so useful,' said a fifth, as someone else mentioned they live in Australia already but are keen to give this a go. 'This is goals,' another TikToker declared. House-sitting platforms like Trusted Housesitters and Aussie House Sitters have grown in popularity in recent years, offering thousands of opportunities across Australia. These services often require a membership fee but provide a trusted community and support to ensure both sitters and homeowners feel secure in the arrangement. Ms Lewis said she made the annual membership fee back in a couple of days just by not having to pay any rent.
