I’ve been left emergency cash which I have never used (touch wood) and on a few occasions money for specific fresh food items for pets which I used and left receipts for. The idea of going out and buying a bunch of cleaning items with money left by owner, especially when there are already cleaning items available, is a bit odd to me.
1 Like
I’ve rarely been left petty cash but on the two occasions I have I kept the receipts, despite being told not to bother. There should be no need for petty cash if the home owners leave plenty of food for their pets and cleaning products.
1 Like
If it is one sitter 50.00, if two, 100.00.
Also I asked if there are a few Provisions that they need so they can arrive and be comfortable, for example: milk bread, eggs, coffee, tea creamer…
Edit: we leave petty cash as a courtesy if there’s something that the house lacks, for example, a spice or a condiment that they would need to buy but would most likely leave at the house.
On a sit I was once at there was no potato peeler. So I bought one and left it at the house with a note saying it was my gift to the home host. I was not left any cash but I did need a potato peeler over the course of a week.
I’ve been left petty cash before, one was $200US and the other $100US. I didn’t touch either. The one for $200 said I could use as I please and the other requested receipts for any purchases.
As a HO I’ve left cash for incidentals and never asked for a receipt. Amount varies depending how long I’m travelling for.
1 Like
I’m not sure cash is king anymore so leaving a preloaded card is better and it documents expenditures as and when. Seems like the ideal solution to me. I don’t think where I live I’ve even touched cash in 6 mths or more….
1 Like
I’ve been left petty cash a couple of times and provided receipts when I had to use some of it. Fortunately, when the snake catcher had to be called, there was enough money to cover that expense!
4 Likes
Depending on their country and work situation…I live in Canada and am self-employed. I can deduct a small percentage of cleaning & home maintenance purchases so I would definitely ask for receipts. And, because it’s not actually a slush fund, would definitely ask for receipts to ensure the funds were spent on items that were actually required, not just personal preference.
Reading further, the comments of ‘I’ve left cash and stated spend as you please’ kind of sound like HO is leaving a tip. How to tell the difference? If that is your intent state it clearly in a note written on the envelope ‘thank you in advance for taking care of our fur baby, use this for any items needed during your sit and keep the change’.
4 Likes
I have had HO’s leave some cash but I tell them upfront I won’t use it. Most of my sits have been in popular areas where a hotel room is $400-$600 per night. If the pets need something I buy it. On a long sit I took both dogs to the groomer midway and the day before the HO returned. The HO also allowed me to use her vehicle which I had professionally cleaned and the gas tank on full. In addition, I use the second to last day of any sit for detailed house cleaning.
3 Likes
When I had sitters for my cats, I would leave £100 in an envelope in a drawer, which they knew about. Imagine my delight when, years later, I found it during decluttering. 
8 Likes
Out of 100+ sits we have been left cash a couple of times and that has been for specific items. On a long sit, if we run out of pet food the owner usually buys online and gets it delivered.
I would never buy different cleaning products. The owner has bought the specific item that they prefer therefore if I ran out I’d buy the same item. It’s a matter of curtesy to me.
Like some others have replied, I don’t mind buying incidentals or replacing things I have used. It’s a very small price to pay.
I don’t mind covering incidentals, either. What I prefer, though: For some sits, hosts have ordered more food or toys themselves and had it sent to the home. One of them labeled all such orders under the dog’s name, so I’d know which ones to open versus other packages.
1 Like
If you’re fine with doing venmo and you truly don’t want the sitter to use your money unless it’s absolutely necessary then that might be a better alternative so that it has that extra layer of the sitter asking to be reimbursed for an expense they feel was necessary to the sit.
I just know when I show up to sits and they leave me cash in an envelope with a vague note like “if you need anything” or just a simple “thank you”… I can assume it’s my cash to keep. If it’s cash that says explicitly “for emergencies” then I know it’s not meant for anything else than a vet visit most likely.
There are ways of letting the sitter know you won’t leave them with necessary expenses without feeling like you need to leave cash. Especially if you feel like people who have sat for you were taking advantage. If you feel like you’re being generous in other ways with your sitters that cash is over the top, then just say they can send you a venmo request or something similar when an emergency arises.
1 Like
I think it’s a peace of mind providing the receipts & it’s nice that you’re not concerned about.
I think petty cash is a great idea. You never know what can happen while you’re away.
I do feel though the sitter should ask before buying. However, if the sitter wasn’t able to reach the owner in time, then I suppose some decisions, if time sensitive, would need to be without permission.
I think requesting receipts is totally fair & as a sitter, I certainly would leave them.
4 Likes
I’ve done 16 sits and never needed extra cash for anything. Of course, I do not have sensitive skin regarding products either. I bring my own food and use the products they have and the most I have purchased is get extra (same as owner had) treats for the pets if I run low which is not expensive.
Hardly the point. I find it quite irritating when the owners did not have the foresight to buy enough food for their dear fur babies. It has happened to me twice. In one case, the owners had left 20 €, so no problem. In the other case, I paid out of pocket. And got a three-star review.
3 Likes
There should always be enough pet food provided or cash left to pay for it. Or an arrangement that hosts will order an online delivery when needed.
We do occasionally buy extra treats- if its a dog/cat we are particularly fond of but that’s personal choice.
I think some sitters pay up front if/when they run out of supplies and then feel uncomfortable to ask for/accept reimbursement. They should not feel that way! Costs related to the pets are the ‘business’ side of the exchange and sitters should never be out of pocket in service of a sit.
3 Likes
With home delivery services available pretty much everywhere in the world, hosts can easily order whatever is needed from anywhere.
Talking about petty cash, or cash in general, it must have been at least two/three years (or more) since I had cash on me, in any currency, even in countries where cash is supposedly still king.
The Times They Are A-Changin’
3 Likes
Many countries have their own systems for small payments. So I tend to have a few euros or Danish crowns etc on me for buying things like ice cream on the street.
For the countries where we sit this has been the solution - run out of cat litter -tell hosts they do an online order and it’s delivered next day - filter on water dispenser needs replacing -hosts do an online order and it’s delivered next day
2 Likes