A millennial woman has revealed how she saves thousands of dollars a year through not renting or owning her own home—and no, she doesn’t live with parents. In fact, she lives in other people’s homes free of charge.
For many people, rent or mortgage payments take up a huge chunk of outgoings, but Alanna Parrish doesn’t have to worry about that. She may work, travel and live independently, but Parrish doesn’t have a place she calls home. That’s because a few years ago, Parrish made the decision to become a full-time house sitter.
Indeed, Parrish, who is in her thirties, told Newsweek that it’s not so much a career choice, but “more of a lifestyle.” She loves the flexibility that house sitting offers, as well as the ability to travel and live in different places.
So, what does being a full-time house sitter entail, you might wonder?
“Housesitting requires a high level of responsibility and independence, but it’s also much more personal and fulfilling,” Parrish said. “I like knowing that people trust me with something so important to them.
“I plan well in advance, keep my calendar organized, and often line up sits back-to-back as much as I can. It takes a lot of administration work and attention.”
Parrish, who was raised in California, has been based in New York for the last 10 months, but she isn’t restrictive about traveling further afield. While she “essentially [lives] for free,” this does mean living out of a suitcase all the time and constantly being on the go.
Prior to any house sit, Parrish likes to set clear expectations, including reliable Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and detailed instructions about caring for the home and pets. The more transparent and thorough the information, the better the experience on both sides.
Not only does house sitting full-time allow Parrish to avoid paying rent or owning a property of her own, it also means she gets to spend time with pets. What’s not to love?
“While house sitting, I maintain my regular work routine, care for the home and pets, explore the local area, and keep the space clean and organized. I treat every home as if it were my own,” Parrish said.
She said: “House sitting has given me a lifestyle that feels aligned with my values—trust, flexibility, and meaningful connections. I’m grateful for the experiences and people that it’s brought into my life.”
Occasionally, there will be times when Parrish can’t get her house sits to overlap, leaving her without anywhere to stay. There’s only been a gap in her schedule a few times, but in those instances, Parrish will pay for a hotel or Airbnb for the night until her next house sit.
She said: “Some of the biggest perks are flexibility, cost savings, getting to experience new places, and spending time with pets. The biggest downside is lack of long-term consistency in one place and needing to adapt quickly to new environments. That said, it’s a trade-off I’m happy with.”
A question Parrish often gets is how much she charges for house (and pet) sitting. But much to people’s surprise, she doesn’t charge a dime most of the time. By staying in someone else’s home while they’re away, the owners know their home and pets are looked after, and it gives Parrish somewhere to stay. So when it’s a mutual exchange, she’s happy to do it for free.
If Parrish gets an outside request to house or pet sit, those are paid because she’s going out of her way to fulfill the requirements.
Parrish started documenting her way of life as a traveling house sitter on social media (@alannaparrish on TikTok). Many of the videos have gone viral as people love learning more about her lifestyle.
Naturally, internet users are often curious and love to ask questions which Parrish is more than happy to answer. She told Newsweek the online response is overwhelmingly positive, and people are often “inspired or curious” to try it out themselves.
One of Parrish’s TikTok videos has gone viral with over 929,200 views and 78,100 likes at the time of writing. Among the 700 comments on the post so far, one person replied: “never knew there was that large of a market for house sitting.”
Another TikTok user wrote: “this would give me so much anxiety.”
Another person said: “That is a very unique & creative way to make income while living in the city.”
While one comment reads: “Quite frankly, this is genius. If I was young and single, I’d love this.”