How did he get in the country with only $25 in his account?
Will £70 of food cover his food bill for the duration of his stay? If not, be prepared to come home to empty cupboards, refrigerator and freezer.
I’m sorry, I’ll say it, you have been taken for a mug and I hope you emphasis these things in your review to warn other potential home owners.
Or worse. I would not let this person stay in my home.
I suspect he is an opportunist and he does have money. I have accounts where I have little in them and could demonstrate just £25 in it. I suspect out of date cards could readily be rejected and therefore look like there’s no money.
I may not have been the architect of this mess but I have certainly built a good chunk of it. A mug indeed; kindness taken advantage of. I have friends as ‘gardeners’ now coming every day to do yard work and keep an eye on things. Live and learn.
If the sit had not already started and I knew I could find someone even a pet hotel, sorry but there is no way this person would get to stay in my house. As a longtime sitter ( since 2017 with THS I would never think of asking or Hinting that I needed money. You can always contact family or if in real dire straits your embassy because if this person is hoping for a free flight home point him in direction embassy for repatriation
You are enabling this person’s behaviour to take you for a mug (your word). You know it. If you keep doing it you will keep having to pay out. Don’t complain about it.
Are you sure he’ll leave your house when you come back or will he have moved in by then?
I’m very sorry he should’ve been reported straight away
I’ve never heard of anything like this, it’s horrendous behaviour from his end and although I get your initial issue of ending up without a sitter it’s might be a bit naif you’ve taken it this far
REPORT
Oooohhhh that is straight up deceit, I’m afraid. He has known for some time he’s broke and was just manipulating you down the journey. SO sorry this is happening to you. Yikes.
So, has the sitter gone?
No. Seems to be doing a good job. I just feel sad, abused and confused, all at my own hand.
I’m sorry you feel sad while you should be feeling comfort knowing your pets are in good hands. It’s stressful preparing for a trip and being put on the spot like that. You did what you felt you needed to at the time for the welfare of your pets. He’s a jerk, but if he’s doing a good job then I’d just leave it be until he’s gone. Please do review accurately though, for the rest of us suckers… er, I mean, kindhearted folks 
Is there any place near your home where he can sell your furniture and belongings to raise some cash for his departure?
What has made you believe anything he is saying?
I will be shocked if this sit has a happy ending.
I strongly suggest you find an excuse for a trusted friend or relative to go by the house and see what’s going on.
Try not to feel too bad, Froggie. He could indeed be taking advantage (well — he IS, really), but it may be more desperation than nefarious. Backpacking & ran out of money or got taken advantage of by someone else, or just bad luck — and you were kind enough to bail him out. As long as you’ve got eyes on him and he’s doing a good job otherwise, maybe think of yourself as a good samaritan vs a “mug,” and it won’t sting so much.
My daughter said something recently that’s stuck with me: if she gives money to 5 people, maybe one is a scammer, & that sucks. But she chooses to focus on the other 4 people who likely really needed it, and the help she gave them is worth way more to all of them than the $20 the potential scammer got off her.
She has literally said that she had friends stopping by under the guise of them doing gardening. Literally, in this thread, an entire day before you saying this. Lol ohhh my YOU. 
@hasmag
Somehow in my haste to populate the boards with my helpful advice, that one got past me. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
Thank you!
Yes, and OP should also mention this also in the text of the review.
Oh, what a situation! So he had good reviews by pet owners on THS? or were that references contributed by others? Such references may have been organized by himself.
This “remote consultant” sounds like a nomad. What is his nationality? If he was from the US, there should have been a background check on his profile.
Please don’t think you’ve been taken advantage of, you seem to be a good trusting person & and we need more of us around.
Some people are just absolutely rubbish with money and if the pets like them then they are very likely a good person.
That being said there’s only so much you can do for them too but as it’s fallen on your call, so to speak, it has involved you by fate
I dont think any of us can say when you’ve literally been put on the spot what wed do and im pretty sure I’d have probably paid for the shopping too. After all, the option of cancelling your trip is less desirable
Maybe they have tried it on. You don’t know.
In the end if pets and home are ok, just put down to experience but don’t blame yourself. It’s just happened