Barbara and Lawrence Blackwood, aged 72 and 75, first started home-sitting in 2017 to stay active in their retirement
One retired couple has revealed how they earn money and see more of the UK by home-sitting.
Barbara and Lawrence Blackwood, aged 72 and 75, first started home-sitting in 2017 to stay active in their retirement.
Home-sitting involves looking after someone’s home while they are away and sometimes looking after their pets as well.
Barbara, a retired administrative secretary, and Lawrence, a former police officer, now complete around one home sit per month, which means they are away from home for nearly half the year.
Barbara said: “After retiring, we didn’t want to sit around. Home-sitting really fit the bill.”
Home-sitters earn a minimum of £333.06 for a two week assignment without pets, while caring for two dogs and a cat pays £367.92 for the same period.
The role involves around one hour 45 minutes of duties a day and includes a daily food allowance. Travel expenses are reimbursed too, covering both the initial meeting and journeys to and from assignments.
Home-sitting has also helped the couple – who live in Perthshire, Scotland – save money on their utility bills, particularly in the cold, winter months.
Barbara estimates that on a winter assignment of approximately three to four weeks, they save around £47 a month. Over the period September to April, they save an average of £31 a month.
Barbara added: “Obviously, the savings aren’t as large in the summer months and in Scotland in the winter we can’t turn the heating off completely.
”Travel expenses to and from the assignment are also covered, which we often put aside for holidays, and there’s also a daily food allowance. We also get paid a small amount for the assignments and depending on the duties involved, such as the number of pets, there may be a small additional payment.
”We also tend to spend less while on assignment; apart from the occasional coffee out, we don’t really go out much. However, our main motivation is caring for the pets.”
The couple have travelled extensively throughout Scotland, visiting many locations they may never otherwise have explored.
Lawrence said: “We’ve been all over Scotland and loved every place we’ve been to. We’ve looked after a wide variety of animals and enjoyed every sit. The flexibility and variety are what make it so special.”
He added: “It’s like a mini break—a self-catering holiday. There are responsibilities involved, but it’s all rewarding and satisfying.
“We really enjoy knowing that we’re enabling someone to go on a well-deserved holiday without worrying about their pets.”
Barbara adds that their priority is always the well-being of the animals in their care. She said: “We see our role as making sure pets feel safe, secure, and comfortable in their own routine.”
After nearly a decade of home-sitting, they now carry out many repeat assignments, with one family continuing to welcome them back regularly since they first began in 2017.
Barbara said: “We’ve never looked back. It’s given us a lifestyle we truly love.”
