A Taranaki couple have decided to give up on the burden of paying rent and mortgages to house sit full time instead.
Jessica Edelbaum and Travis Strickland have spent the last six months living what they call a "nomadic" lifestyle, travelling around the region and living in other people's homes – for free.
Speaking to Breakfast about why they made the decision, Strickland said: "There was a lot of effort being made as far as paying rent, paying all the bills, and we felt like we weren't making progress anywhere."
He said getting onto the property ladder had become a challenge.
"Any of that kind of reality was not forthcoming," he said.
"So, we figured this was a way for us at least to begin in that direction and to be able to provide."
Strickland called it a "fair enough way" to save and have more options when it came to buying a home.
He said that while they didn't often get paid for house sitting, it was a much better alternative to paying rent every week.
Since they started their lifestyle change, Edelbaum said getting systems down has been a challenge – but she realised having too many clothes has become a "burden".
She said they were "getting more and more succinct, and realising we need less and less stuff".
Edelbaum said the couple had also learnt a lot about trust while living house to house.
"It is a great exercise and practice in trust that the houses will show up, the connections will be made, and we will know where to slot in."
She said there are "moments that test that trust for me", but it's been "quite fun".
However, the couple are never worried about not having a home, as support from the community has been overwhelming.
"We'll never be stuck," Eldbaum said.
She encouraged other people to "do it".
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