Emma Truscott has opened up on her unique lifestyle and the savings that come with it
Emma is able to work remotely while travelling without the cost of accommodation(Image: Jam Press/@wheres_ems)
For the past three years, Emma Truscott has been travelling the UK and Europe as a full-time traveller, living for the most part entirely rent-free. The 38 year old has revealed the one travel hack that has saved her £12,000 each year, which she’s able to splurge on experiences and luxury pursuits during her travels instead.
Originally from Cornwall, Emma dabbled in house-sitting for strangers during a trip to London in July 2022. It was then that she realised becoming a full-time house-sitter could allow her to stay in other people’s homes at no cost while she globe-trotted.
The role does come with its share of duties. House-sitters are expected to look after the home while the owners are away, including tasks like bin duty, watering the plants, and pet care, all in return for free lodging. As a freelance writer and virtual assistant, Emma can work from strangers’ homes too, making her full-time travelling lifestyle financially viable as she earns money without shelling out for accommodation.
She said: “The biggest perks are being able to live like a local in neighbourhoods around the world, see places I didn’t know existed, and pay nothing for accommodation. To me, there are no cons, and I’ve had nothing but positive experiences so far. I understand it won’t be for everyone, but I love living like this.
“It’s not exhausting like backpacking – you’re in a comfortable home, you can do a big grocery shop and unpack. Sure, there’s usually a day or two of travel every month, but that’s a small sacrifice to pay.”
Emma has no intention of ending her house-sitting lifestyle anytime soon, saying she feels like she’s “really living” and can’t see any advantage to settling in one location whilst spending the bulk of her earnings on household expenses.
She continued: “Perhaps I’ll be lucky enough to make it to 70 years old and still be house sitting – what a life I would have had!”
Nevertheless, she’s hoping to put the £12,000 she’s banked from last year’s bill savings towards holidays that don’t involve house-sitting duties. She revealed: “I’d love to spend a month in Sri Lanka, and perhaps think about rescheduling an adventure through South America that I had to cancel in 2020 because of the pandemic.”
Emma relies on an application to find properties for her full-time arrangement, with most of her earnings going towards “fun rather than overheads”.
She explained: “Without the pressure of big monthly bills, I’m also able to pursue work I genuinely enjoy, take more risks in my freelance business and work fewer hours overall.”
For 2025, Emma worked out she’ll spend roughly £22 on utilities, including her mobile contract, and £195 on work-related costs. Meanwhile, temporary lodging for occasional breaks between house-sits sets her back £86 monthly.
Her other outgoings include roughly £188 on high-end groceries, £63 on experiences such as festivals and an average of £78 per month shopping for non-essentials.
Emma’s travel expenses are among her most costly necessities. Significant flights cost around £148 per month and daily transport sets her back £14 per month.