How you can live rent-free
House-sitting, caretaking or 'workamping' can be a huge budget boost. Just think: No monthly housing costs.
If you had no rent or mortgage payment, what would that mean to your bottom line? Free accommodations are available if you're willing to watch someone else's property.
House-sitting tends to be a quick-hit job, but two other gigs -- caretaking and "workamping" -- can last for months or years at a time. Best-case scenario: You fall into a sweet spot such as spending 51 weeks a year at a multimillionaire's Colorado ski retreat or secluded Hawaiian getaway.
Where do you look for a job like that? (Post continues after video.)
An obvious way is through word of mouth. I've gotten house-sitting jobs in Los Angeles, Seattle and Anchorage just by letting friends know I'm available. For me, it's a cheap way to travel. Sometimes I get paid, and sometimes I do it in exchange for a free flop.
The most comprehensive sources I've seen, though, are The Caretaker Gazette, Workers on Wheels and Workamper News.
House-sitting websites exist, too. Keep in mind that these companies, like any other Internet site, may vanish without warning -- taking with them your subscription. By contrast, the three sources listed above have been publishing for 18 to 30 years and all three supplement their regular publications with daily or weekly job updates.
What you need to know
"Workamping" assumes you'll be working -- part or full time, paid or volunteer -- while living in an RV. Usually, that means free hookup and rent in a campground, but sometimes RVers are hired to care for private property.
"Caretaking" can mean full-time responsibility for a landscape and/or animals. It can also be as simple as living in a foreclosure or unsold property to keep away squatters and vandals.
"We are getting a lot more real-estate investors who are stuck with (homes) they can't sell," says Caretaker Gazette Publisher Gary Dunn.
You'll need references, of course. Would you hand someone the keys to your place just because he sounded nice on the phone? Some options: a current or former employer, a clergy member or even your family physician are good bets.
Or how about a previous house-sitting client? Put out the word among friends and acquaintances, get written references and parlay those experiences into other gigs.
Get it in writing
Ask for a written contract so there are no misunderstandings about what is and isn't expected. For example, will you be paying a share of the utilities? Are you supposed to mow the lawn?
Keep your side of the bargain. If it says "no parties," don't invite your friends over to check out the hot tub.
A few more tips:
Get renters insurance. The homeowners insurance doesn't cover nonresidents.
Prepare to couch-surf. If you plan to do this full time, you need places to land in case of gaps between jobs.
Organize your finances. Is there a branch of your bank in that town? Can you pay your bills online? Oh, and bring more cash than you think you need -- you can always put it back.
Have an exit strategy. Suppose the homeowner forgot to mention his six cats -- and you're allergic? Make sure you have bus fare or gas money back home.
More on MSN Money:
I live rent-free, and have been living this way for over two-years. I am a caretaker for a large farm, but I wake up early, go to bed late; dirty 24/7, and at times I have to killed coyotes and such. Anything that is a threat to the farm animals has to be dealt with. I was a city woman, now 100% country, and although it took me years to adapt; I finally have and never want to leave. I have a lot of funny stories on how I did adapt. I have broken my leg, hit my head, fell in mud, got kicked by a goat, and so much more. People want my position, but when I fully explain to them what I have to do 7days a week; they always say, “Forget that.” Now my my degree I am looking for a job online, because this does not pay all the bills. Student loans, car, insurance, food, net, cable, so if anyone is interested in what I do; contact me, and perhaps when we are done talking you might say, "Hey, that is for me," or say, "Forget it."
Jane
I live rent free, I have for 5 years now.
The key to rent free living is work hard and live within your means. Any extra money put toward your mortgage and believe it or not within 10 years you will be paid off. Then take your previous mortgage payment and invest or save it, you must do this to make up for your previous 10 years of not saving. But beleive me it adds up extremely fast. Dont wory what the Jones have next door! Its all bull^%$# And they are totally in debt up to their eyeballs. I paid off my house in 2007 did fall for the RV, Boat, New kitchen remodel, Extravagant vacations, Off road toys etc..... Refinance and cash out equity blah blah blah. I am happy me and my wife made the right decision.
I didn't get the cash for clunkers deal since I drive a responsible vehicle. I didn't get the first time home buyer tax credit of $8, 000 because I bought in only a year or two too early even though this is my first home. I made no "green" upgrades to the home because I can't afford them on my low middle class salary. My HVAC system broke a year after I bought my first home...I ate it and paid $6000 for a new HVAC unit--not "green" friendly so no Obama tax credit. I make all my payments (pay my bills on time) yet I can't afford a home telephone, cable television or satellite tv, and even trash service and I had to buy in a really rural area on the outskirts of town, and I barely can pay my bills each month. Oh, and once my dad died I inherited his home which I can't even afford. Now I am faced with selling my primary home at a loss--I'm hoping to break even and not write a check to the bank at closing **if it sells** in this lousy real estate market. What I want to know is where did all of the equity go--how could a home appraise for $330k and two years later is only worth $150 k? My question is...where is my break--oh--just remembered...I'm in the low middle class so I pay for everyone else's stuff--can I buy your cable tv this month? How about letting me pick up the tab for your irresponsible real estate purchase--can I? Just go into foreclosure and I've got it covered.
My plan after I sell--move in with mom and live rent-free right before I turn 40...awesome!
Sounds G U D to me.....I've been to every continent except africa repeatedly, and it's never been free
I am tired of paying rent already, and I just sold my house in January.moved to the big city and leased a cab for 420 a week, and so far I have made 90 bucks a week after gas and rent, including tips, not including supplies(cards, 5 hour energy, mcYuk, etc.) so, yeah I'm game for that hawaii would be cool, I used to spend my summers exploring the islands with my kid.I like most of Europe and southern china.
I live rent-free, and have been living this way for over two-years. I am a caretaker for a large farm, but I wake up early, go to bed late; dirty 24/7. I was a city woman, now 100% country, and although it took me years to adapt; I finally have and never want to leave. I have a lot of funny stories on how I did adapt. I have broken my leg, hit my head, fell in mud, got kicked by a goat, and so much more. People want my position, but when I fully explain to them what I have to do 7 days a week; they always say, “Forget that.” Now my my degree I am looking for a job online, because this does not pay all the bills. Student loans, car, insurance, food, net, cable, so if anyone is interested in what I do; contact me, and perhaps when we are done talking you might say, "Hey, that is for me," or say, "Forget it."
If twenty people buy 40 houses, and lease them out for 700.00 dollars per month. They will have over a thousand dollars per month income from them.
It would be a good supplement for them when they retire, or it would make their payment on their own house.
If two thousand people would invest two hundred dollars per month as a group they would be able to invest 400,000.00 dollars per month it would not take long to own many houses.
RELATED ARTICLES
DATA PROVIDERS
Copyright © 2013 Microsoft. All rights reserved.
Quotes are real-time for NASDAQ, NYSE and AMEX. See delay times for other exchanges.
Fundamental company data and historical chart data provided by Thomson Reuters (click for restrictions). Real-time quotes provided by BATS Exchange. Real-time index quotes and delayed quotes supplied by Interactive Data Real-Time Services. Fund summary, fund performance and dividend data provided by Morningstar Inc. Analyst recommendations provided by Zacks Investment Research. StockScouter data provided by Verus Analytics. IPO data provided by Hoover's Inc. Index membership data provided by SIX Financial Information.
Japanese stock price data provided by Nomura Research Institute Ltd.; quotes delayed 20 minutes. Canadian fund data provided by CANNEX Financial Exchanges Ltd.
WHAT IS FRUGAL NATION?
Donna Freedman's Frugal Nation blog is for readers who want to live cheaply -- whether due to necessity or a lifestyle choice. It explores living sustainably and making life more meaningful at the same time.
ABOUT DONNA FREEDMAN
Donna Freedman, a writer based in Anchorage, Alaska, writes the Frugal Nation blog for MSN Money. She won regional and national prizes during an 18-year newspaper career and earned a college degree in midlife without taking out student loans. Donna also writes about the frugal life for her own site, Surviving and Thriving.
RECENT POSTS
Starting Monday, this site is joining forces with MSN Money Smart Spending. Here's why.
VIDEO ON MSN MONEY
TOOLS
Best rates on savingsFind the highest rates on savings accounts, CDs and money market accounts.
- Are you saving enough for retirement?
- Find a great credit card
- Car insurance premiums by model
SMART SPENDING
Remember when real estate was so hot there were homebuyer lotteries and bidding wars? And people so desperate to buy that they'd make an offer sight-unseen? In some markets, they're back.
MSN MONEY'S
- Shared
- Commented
- Viewed