Donna and Frank have been able to get ‘a really nice holiday every year’ thanks to their retirement side hustle
Donna and Frank, a British couple, have found a unique way to travel and earn money during their retirement. They’ve been traversing the UK, taking care of strangers’ homes and pets while they’re away on holiday.
The duo has had a range of experiences during their housesitting adventures, from caring for axolotls to maintaining five-storey mansions in Kensington. All this without disrupting their personal lives, as they continue to care for their elderly parents and spend quality time with their grandchildren.
Donna’s parents were house sitters for 15 years, always regaling her with tales of their escapades and the properties they stayed in. So, when Donna and Frank reached retirement age, they joined a housesitting agency for retirees.
In a chat with Money Wellness, Donna shared: “We signed up with an agency called Homesitters. It’s a bit like a dating site; they match what we’re willing to do with what clients are looking for. It’s important we’re happy with the house and pets, and they’re happy with us. On average, we do 8-10 jobs a year. Some last a weekend, others a few weeks.”
Donna disclosed that the industry is so sought-after that they’ve had to turn down “a lot of jobs”. If clients are keen to hire them again, they’re advised to book early. The couple aren’t aiming to make a full-time income from it, but rather use their earnings to fund luxuries like annual holidays.
Clients cover Donna and Frank’s travel expenses and food allowance, with the agency also paying them around £200 per week, depending on the number of animals they’re caring for. When asked if it could be a full-time wage, Frank responded: “Maybe, if you didn’t have a home of your own and just moved from job to job. But there’s no guarantee of back-to-back bookings.”
However, for the couple, it’s the animals that make the work worthwhile. Donna said: “We’ve looked after chickens, ducks, tropical fish, sheep, even axolotls! The animals make the job, really.”
She did confess that one of her favourite assignments was staying in a five-storey mansion in Kensington where they were tasked with looking after Labradors, Chihuahuas and bald cats. However, not every assignment is as straightforward as it might appear.
One job required the pair to walk four Labradors three times a day, while other clients can be incredibly specific about how their animals are cared for. Donna explained: “Say a dog owner wants you to wipe down each paw, his bottom and his undercarriage with wet wipes after every walk. I mean, some people would laugh, but if that’s what they want for their dog, that’s what you do.
“You’ve got to do exactly what they want and what the animals are used to. That’s what they’re paying for.”
As for what type of person it takes to be a good house sitter, Donna believes it’s all in the organisation: “I keep folders and lists. There’s so much info to remember – feeding times, medications, routines.”
Frank, on the other hand, says your heart has to be in the right place in order to look after someone’s most personal space and beloved pets. He said: “You’ve also got to love animals and be happy to do things the way the owners want. It’s all about trust and care.”