A retiree has revealed she lives off her £300 monthly pension while travelling around the world.
Tiera St. Claire, 69, has had no base for 20 years – and has spent the last two decades visiting countries in Europe and further afield.
She’s discovered a budget hack to save money and make her pension go further.
The simple trick? Pet and house-sitting.
Tiera told the Express: ‘A friend of mine in Hawaii, where I had previously lived for 15 years asked if I would pet sit for her so I did… then I just kept going.’
She added: ‘I’ve pet sat in Hawaii, New York and Florida and I have recurring sits in London, Madrid and other parts of Spain (Alicante, Valencia and Marbella).
‘I essentially live out of a bag. I am lucky, though, because I have friends who have space for me to leave a suitcase here and there.’
Following her divorce in 2005, she also partook in a 500-mile walking pilgrimage across Spain.
Tiera St. Claire, 69, has been travelling the world for two decades
She adds that travelling, especially solo, can be lonely.
Tiera says: ‘But what I do miss is affection, but pet sitting gives me this and fills the gap. When I have a cat I can pet, that helps. They love you unconditionally.
‘I’ve fallen in love with all the pets that I’ve looked after. My favourites are the cuddly ones, but I find it easy to love them and tune into them. In Madrid, I’m with four guinea pigs, but I’ve had rats, snakes… I like the snakes.’
Tiera finds many of her house-sitting opportunities through HouseSit Match.
Lamia Walker, founder of the home-sitting service, said as reported in The Mirror: ‘We’ve seen a huge rise in the number of mature couples turning to house sitting as a way of saving money on holidays and even general living costs.
‘They then find they like this form of slow travel and get hooked on house sitting.
‘Retirees can struggle to afford a getaway these days with the cost-of-living crisis eating into funds, so house-sitting makes an affordable alternative, allowing them to explore fun new locations while staying in a comfortable home.
‘House-sitters can even save money on their own energy bills while they enjoy a holiday, as all the property’s utility bills are usually paid by the owner.’
Tiera finds many of her house-sitting opportunities online
Pet sitting and house sitting is the best way she gets cheaper stays
Tiera’s not the first to house sit or pet sit as a way to travel for less.
A couple recently revealed how they ditched their jobs for a year to travel the world by using the clever money-saving hack.
Silvi Drebenstedt and Lucas Roth managed to visit bucket list destinations without breaking the bank.
The couple, who are aged 29 and 33, have been able to save thousands by avoiding pricey hotels.
Instead, they house or pet sit – which has led them to look after a herd of alpacas in Hawaii, hang out with a budgie in Australia and help fishermen in Indonesia.
