Heads up! This post may contain compensated links which means I get a small tip for telling you about awesome stuff I love!🤘
”EASY and ENJOYABLE way to make money while traveling, Christine?” Really? WTF is this going to be, a MLM???”’ Ha!😂
I know that’s what *I* would be thinking if a marketer sent me a headline like this, but rest assured this REALLY IS a legit EASY + ENJOYABLE money idea for ya! 🪄💸
If 2025 has been a jerk to you money-wise and you’re feeling more MEH than HO-HO-HO, let me share a GREAT side-hustle idea for you to both bring in some cash over Christmas.
OR, let me show you a potential way for you to take a vacation away from home FOR FREE.
Something you could either do yourself, OR that you could pitch to any driving-age kids you might have as a way for them to earn some extra cash over their school holidays.
I’m going to spill some of my personal secrets and tell you about the opportunities around PETSITTING today. 🐾
And although I’ve written about pet-sitting before, I’m going to share some entirely new money-making ideas and opportunities around it when it comes to the HOLIDAY angle that you may not have heard before.
Because it’s a massively in-demand service. Especially over the holidays than at any other time of year.
And, you could be missing out on a really FUN way to either earn some extra cash or take a free vacay stay! 🚗💫
Now is the time to look into opportunities before it’s too late (”NOW” being November for those finding this episode at a later date.
Continue reading, OR if you prefer listening as an escape from a rush hour traffic jam, click below for the podcast version.🪄 🎧💫
Prefer to watch instead of read? Watch it on Hexotica’s YouTube channel here.🪄 📺💫
What Is Petsitting & How Can It Help You Make Money While Traveling?
Pet sitting is when you are taking care of someone’s house and pets.
Either by dropping into their house to feed their pets on a regular basis, like once or twice a day.
Or, you are staying at their house, minding their gardens, minding their pets, making the house look lived in and secure.
This helps deter the burglaries that we all know happen and increase around Christmas time.
What I love about petsitting is that it’s a total win-win:
Petowners save lots of money by not having to put their pets in kennels. Especially when they have multiple animals.
The pets are happier at home, getting more attention than they would in a kennel.
And pet sitters get to care for all kinds of adorable animals while enjoying the peace and quiet of staying in a home alone. As well as a new area they can explore!
In case you’re new to petsitting, there are two main types of services: free and paid.
- Free sits are usually longer-term arrangements where the sitter stays in the pet’s home to care for them (housesitting).
- Paid sits tend to be shorter and more flexible. They can take place at the pet’s home, the sitter’s home, or involve quick daily visits for feeding or walks.
With so much variety, nearly anyone can find an opportunity to be a sitter. By caring for pets over the holidays, you’re not only helping families and their furry friends but also earning extra income and creating your own holiday memories.
Let’s dive into the details of each option…
Option 1: Housesitting at the Pet’s Home
Long-term house sits at a pet’s home are often done forfree.
It’s a beautiful exchange: free accommodation and utilities for the sitter in return for at-home care for the pets.
There’s also the added benefit of security. Someone is in the house during the holidays when break-ins tend to rise. Plus, they help keep houseplants watered and lawns mowed.
I spent a year and a half as a housesitting nomad when I first became a freelancer. And let me tell you, it saved me countless times!
Those early years were very feast-or-famine income-wise, so not paying rent or utilities was an absolute lifesaver. 🛟
The only regular expense I had was storing my belongings in a storage unit, which cost about $250 a month.
You can read more about how to become a pet-sitter and live rent-free here.
And to read about my personal experiences with housesitting adventures here and here.
Option 2: Paid Pet Caring Services
If you’re only going away for a weekend and have multiple pets, say, five dogs, it can cost a fortune to put them in a kennel. But many pet owners are not comfortable with having people live in their homes.
In that case, hiring a paid pet sitter who can come to their homes to feed, walk, and play with the pets feels like the perfect solution.
Free, long-term sitters like I was usually go for extended stays, often choosing holiday destinations or inner-city homes. But paid sits offer a wide variety of earning opportunities, including:
- Caring for a pet at your own home
- Caring for a pet at the owner’s home
- Dropping in for feeding or walks
- Daily walks for busy owners, especially during the holiday rush
No car? No problem. You can find nearby pet owners who need someone to check in on a cat once a day. Or, if you have space and your own pets are friendly, you could even care for a pet at your own home.
If you do have a car, you could line up multiple drop-in jobs over the holidays, earning around $50 per visit. All while running errands or getting your holiday shopping done!
There are lots of paid pet services available, including options for paid housesitting, making this a flexible and fun way to make money while traveling over the holidays.
How Do You Find Sits?
The most common question I get is: “How do you find petsitting opportunities?”
To be honest, most of the free sits I did at first came from posting in large, active Facebook groups. From there, I built enough referrals that I eventually didn’t need to search for sits. People started contacting me on a daily basis. At least one every day, but often 2-3. It was crazy once the word got out!
If you want to get started, I highly recommend also setting up a petsitting profile on a secure site like TrustedHousesitters. This internationally known site lets you collect referrals after each sit, which builds credibility and trust with future clients.
Use my referral link and you can get 25% off the sign-up fee.
Even if you find homeowners on Facebook, ask if they’re members of any housesitting platforms. If they are, secure the booking on that site so you can get your references officially documented.
Building a trustworthy reputation this way can also open the door to amazing international sits!
I have a friend who did this and ended up housesitting in mansions throughout Europe, condos with rooftop pools, and other beautiful homes. Places that would have otherwise been very expensive to rent on Airbnb or booked out months ahead.
Pet-sitting like this is not just a fun way to explore new places — it’s also a flexible way to make money while traveling.
For paid sits, I personally use Pet Cloud. Pet Cloud lists a wide variety of options for services. You set your own rates for each one.
You can get $10 off your sign-up fee with the coupon code CHRISTINE7806.
Ready to make money while traveling as a house and pet sitter?
Overall, pet and house sitting is a fun and easy way to either earn some extra cash or spend some time away from home to explore a new area.
As a mega-animal lover and ”mama” to two dogs of my own, I love these services so much as they are not only helpful to pet-owners, I feel that the pets usually prefer them over a kennel too.
If you have any questions about sitting, feel free to email me! I’ll be happy to help you get started. 🤗🐈🏠🐕
You can also watch this TikTok video to hear more it as well as hear my own pet-sitting plans this Christmas!
