Tierra St. Claire, a 69-year-old British woman, has not had a fixed address for two decades, spending most of her time visiting countries in Europe and beyond. Her unique approach allows her to travel the world on a modest 400 USD monthly pension, supplementing her income by pet-sitting and house-sitting wherever she goes.
Claire explains her journey began when a friend in Hawaii, where she had lived for 15 years, asked her to pet-sit. She then continued this work, enabling her constant movement. She has visited New York, Florida, London, Madrid, and various regions of Spain, combining work with travel. Claire travels lightly, with her belongings fitting into a single handbag.
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Claire has traveled the world for 20 years with a 400 USD monthly pension. *Photo: DM*
Following her divorce in 2005, she also embarked on an 860 km walking pilgrimage across Spain. According to Claire, traveling solo "can be very lonely," but pet-sitting, such as stroking a cat, helps fill that void. To excel at pet-sitting, she must understand various types of animals, having cared for four guinea pigs and a snake. "I like snakes," Claire states.
Lamia Walker, founder of the house-sitting service HouseSit Match, notes a significant increase in older couples choosing house-sitting to save money on holidays and living expenses. Walker adds that many then grow to love this slower travel style. Retirees today often struggle to afford vacations due to the cost of living crisis. House-sitting offers a viable alternative, allowing them to explore new places while staying in a comfortable home. House-sitters can even save on utility costs, as homeowners typically cover all household utility bills.
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Claire poses for a souvenir photo during a hiking trip in retirement. *Photo: DM*
Tierra is not the first to use house-sitting or pet-sitting as a way to travel more affordably. German travelers Silvi Drebenstedt, 29, and Lucas Roth, 33, recently adopted Claire's method, quitting their jobs for a year to travel globally. Instead of staying in expensive hotels, they house-sit or pet-sit for absent owners. This led them to care for a herd of camels in Hawaii, play with a macaw in Australia, and assist fishermen in Indonesia, all without significant expenses.
*Anh Minh (Via DM)*
