We are so thankful to anyone who cares for our dogs that when we say, eat and drink anything, we mean it! If we have something special (expensive bottle of wine or something) we hide it away and say, this area is off limits. Otherwise, we really want our sitters to use what they need.
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Thank you Debbie, what a lovely thoughtful host you are and what good advice which we give to all owners any items which are irreplaceable or of personal importance etc., put them in a safe place, sitters will respect this and it’s the best solution for everyone.
Prevention is much better than cure.
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I do repeat sits for a wealthy couple who knows many of my vacations are based on wine regions all over the world. The man is a wine enthusiast with an impressive wine cellar. My first sit after chatting he told me to help myself to his wine. I quickly said no I’d be afraid I’d unknowingly select $1,000 bottle. So he picks a bottle or two each time for me. I always Google what he leaves and it’s normally $100-$200 bottle very yummy. Other than that like most I only use spices and perishables.
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I’m both a sitter and a HO . I’m happy to offer any and all of my food and drink . I also am on a home exchange site so I’m very comfortable sharing my home with others .
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yes recently had a new sit and the HO said just use anything you want and he really did have overstocked cupboards and drawers of food. I did use one or two things but did actually replace them afterwards. Just sort of can’t use this and not replace . Though i do have the same idea as someone mentioned here i don’t replace perishables as the HO’s are.also mostly of the opinion “ otherwise I’d have to bin it” so that feels ok to use and not replace
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wow sounds like you have a great sit and have built up a good understanding with the HO. Lovely that they like to “spoil “ you when you do the sit and surprise you with some great sounding wines. You have found a real dream sit 
Hope you get to enjoy it many many times
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OMG Vanessa just had to giggle when I read, “As an over polite Brit”. well I have this week lived in the Netherlands for the last 43 years ( not an expat though just came here for summer student travel and ended up staying, marrying , divorcing etc etc) so am now more Dutch than English) BUT and this is a big one, I still also am , An overpolite Brit, on these topics.
Nope cannot use stuff without replacing, reporting straight back to HO if any out of ordinary happens. Once in Barcelona was playing with the most feisty of 3 cats and she bounced on the settee and in slow-mo I saw the expensive Apple-Tv remote fly through the air and of course land right on a corner and split the glass. Reported straight back to HO and offered to pay for a new one, he said oh, don’t worry as there had been a tiny chip out of the corner so that probably helped it split. Wow that was so nice of them.
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I know… what is it with us… I wonder where this originated in our history? I feel sometimes like my mind and my mouth are two different people 
I’m hoping living in France might rub off on me… but it sounds like from your experience that’s unlikely I feel your pain over the cat remote issue! Glad it had a happy outcome though!! Have a lovely day in the Netherlands!!
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@Maggie @Vanessa_A - I have been with my Greek husband for 18 years and he still can not understand why I say " sorry" when somebody bumps into me
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As a HO, I always let a Sitter know that they can use any food at all, and help themselves to the drinks cupboard or whatever wine we have in, and I am at pains to make sure that they know that I mean it! I want them to feel at home as much as they can when they are here. The only thing that I request is that when we get back there is enough milk for us to have coffees for a day, some bread, and a bottle of wine!
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Hi @Boodie - that is so generous and above and beyond.
Personally we would only use perishables such as salad, fruit and veg which would expire before the HO returned. We would sometimes use condiments, spices, pickles, oils etc but never any food from the freezer or alcohol. We would replace anything that ran out. We also wouldn’t expect personal toiletries - just soap by the basins.
Occasionally we have been left wine, fizz or biscuits as a gift which we would gratefully accept.
I guess expectations vary from person to person and that makes this topic so interesting
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Hello @LadyandtheTramp,
I’m interested to learn which house swap site you use as you are so comfortable with the experience.
It’s something I’ve thought of doing but not yet been brave enough to look into. You appear to have had good experiences.
Colin that saying now this is maybe a bit weird. I have actually unlearnt saying sorry here in the Netherlands as the dutch are often very rude with bumping into you and then giving YOU a look as to say watch out where YOU are walking. so on that point nopei do not say sorry anymore. BUT then again put me in the UK for 10 minutes and it’s sorry this and sorry that , haha that weird human nature and upbringing for you
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Daisy, we typically play it by ear. All of our sits have told us to use perishables and sometimes, we are told to use anything. Whatever we use, we replace, even the perishables. We do this because we believe no one wants to come home to an empty refrigerator, or have to go to the grocery immediately.
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Canadians are known for that as well.
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Thank you very much. I will definitely have a look and save your link in case we decide to join. Will it expire? I don’t think we aim to do anything in the immediate future.
Also, do you mind if I come back and ask you questions?
I’m always ready to talk travel 
.
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I always say to the sitter use want you want but replace. My last 3 sitters have used ALL the toilet paper, ALL the dish washer tablet but left one. Nothing was replaced which surprised me as I had to go out and buy some. Also ALL the plastic liner bags in bins. This had never happened before over the 4 years I have had sitters so having the last 3 sits where this happened is confusing me.
Hello @LadyandtheTramp - we’ve removed the number from your comment as mindful this is a public forum. The safer option is to send a private direct message to Julia All the best.
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