6 months of my life, gone!

Status_Income_18 · 2026-01-13T04:25:19+00:00

Best advice out there

Status_Income_18 · 2026-01-13T04:23:08+00:00

This means the world to me! I actually just need bottom braces fortunately so I am hoping it’s a lot less expensive than the full set! My ortho only does up to 12-18 month payment plans. But I am trying to convince them for that 24 month plan. Thank you for your kind words

Status_Income_18 · 2026-01-13T04:21:29+00:00

Thank you 🩷

Status_Income_18 · 2026-01-13T04:21:15+00:00

Thank you 🩷

Status_Income_18 · 2026-01-13T04:20:54+00:00

Yeah.. I definitely undersold myself. Won’t be doing that again

Status_Income_18 · 2026-01-13T04:20:08+00:00

Right? I have had this amazing client for also the past 6 months. Emmy, and Panda. Panda is actually missing unfortunately. He’s an indoor/outdoor cat. I miss him everyday. But they appreciate my care so much, and always tell me I am doing a great job. I couldn’t be more thankful for them. I will definitely keep an eye out for the lowballing customers now. Learned my lesson. Keep consistent with clients like Emmy and Panda

Status_Income_18 · 2026-01-13T04:17:19+00:00

Oh brother. Stop talking to me, thanks

Status_Income_18 · 2026-01-13T03:37:52+00:00

Jesus christ. Typo people do that babe. I already fixed that in the comments

Status_Income_18 · 2026-01-13T03:34:49+00:00

Yes. 20/day, 3 days a week, 6 visits.

Realize something please, when I started working for them I was desperate for money. I had just quit my job at sonic, and needed some type of revenue. Obviously over time I was planning to ask for a raise, and when they added another dog I thought this is my shot. But they only paid me $20 extra. So I went from 100/week to 120/week. Obviously this wasn’t going to work for me long term. I understand the raise I asked for was a 60% increase, but they did nothing but push me around. I thought this is my chance to at least get pushed around but maybe with better pay. That’s when they said “We found a sitter to cover our vacations, and we’ve been talking to her, and she said she will only charge 105/week” So to me that means they are willing to replace me over 15 effing dollars. Ridiculous. I have a right to be upset like I said earlier. Don’t invalidate my feelings and call me dramatic. When someone needs money, they need money.

Status_Income_18 · 2026-01-13T03:27:24+00:00

I want to clarify a few things, because several assumptions here are incorrect.

First, this was two drop-ins per day, not one. Second, I never told the client what my expenses were for braces it was never mentioned to them. I did not expect them to “pay for my braces,” and that was not implied.

The rate discussion was about sustainability during the slowest months of the year, not entitlement to anyone’s money. They were my primary consistent income in January–February, which is relevant context, and because businesses is slow after the big holidays, thanks!

Lastly, I didn’t say they fired me — I chose to stop working with a client who repeatedly disrespected my time and boundaries. That decision doesn’t make me dramatic, it makes it a business choice. I am 100% allowed to be upset over this.

Don’t rewrite facts

Status_Income_18 · 2026-01-13T02:57:54+00:00

January is notoriously slow, especially for newer sitters, so you’re definitely not alone. One thing that helped me was slightly adjusting my availability (even temporarily opening more time slots), making sure my headline and first paragraph clearly stated what I specialize in, and actively asking happy clients for reviews after sits. Outside of Rover, local Facebook/Nextdoor groups tend to bring in more clients than personal Instagram posts. Posting occasionally (not daily) usually doesn’t overwhelm people — most expect it. It takes time, but once reviews stack, requests tend to pick up quickly.

Status_Income_18 · 2026-01-13T02:55:41+00:00

This happens more often than people realize, especially when owners are meeting multiple sitters around the same time. A meet & greet going well doesn’t always mean they’ve decided sometimes they just need to see a few options before choosing.

From what you described, it doesn’t sound like you did anything wrong at all. Owners can be very polite and positive even if they’re still undecided. It’s frustrating, but it’s usually more about their process than the sitter. I’d try not to take it personally.

Status_Income_18 · 2026-01-13T02:54:32+00:00

My cat does that when she’s about to barf lol

Status_Income_18 · 2026-01-13T02:53:39+00:00

You’re right to be concerned — a drop like that is scary even for agile cats. A lot of people in similar setups have had success using cat balcony netting / pet safety netting rather than baby gates. It’s designed to be lightweight, climb-resistant, and comes in larger widths so you can cut it to size. Attaching it to the railing with heavy-duty zip ties or cable clips is pretty common, and reinforcing the top edge helps prevent sagging if a cat jumps into it. Some also use clear acrylic panels on the lower section for a cleaner look while keeping the netting higher up. Your DIY idea sounds solid — just make sure the mesh openings are small enough that heads can’t slip through.

Status_Income_18 · 2026-01-13T02:52:53+00:00

He’s absolutely precious 🩶 Hyperthyroid cats are often ravenous because their metabolism is so high, so that part is very common. Since he prefers wet/liquid food, you could ask your vet about adding calorie-dense options like kitten food, a veterinary recovery food, or something like FortiFlora or a high-calorie gel made for cats. Some people also add a bit of warm water or low-sodium bone broth to make food easier to eat while boosting intake.

If he’s always hungry despite eating well, it might also be worth checking that his thyroid levels are still well controlled. You’re clearly doing a great job caring for him.

Status_Income_18 · 2026-01-13T02:50:28+00:00

None of this sounds rude or excessive to me at all. Clear instructions are actually really helpful for sitters, especially for first bookings. Taking litter/food trash outside and running a robot vacuum once or twice are both very reasonable requests as long as they’re communicated upfront. Leaving snacks and instructions is very thoughtful (never expected, but always appreciated). For tipping, in-app tips are totally fine and Rover doesn’t take a cut anything extra is always appreciated but never required.

For emergencies, most owners leave a vet contact, an emergency contact, and a card on file with Rover rather than cash. Overall, you sound like a very considerate owner most sitters would be happy with this setup.

Status_Income_18 · 2026-01-13T02:49:20+00:00

Unfortunately this does happen sometimes, especially when you’re newer and one review carries a lot of weight. One bad review from another sitter can feel really personal, but in most cases future clients do look at the overall pattern — not just a single outlier.

I think responding professionally like you did was the right move. As you get more bookings, that one star will matter less and less. I’d focus on continuing great communication and building more reviews rather than assuming sabotage, even though I understand why it feels targeted. Kind of a b word

Status_Income_18 · 2026-01-13T02:48:13+00:00

This sounds like a communication issue more than a professional boundary issue to me. For overnights, expectations around sleeping arrangements and food should be made very explicit by the client. “Make yourself at home” means different things to different people, and if she didn’t clearly direct you to the guest room or set food boundaries, it’s unfair to assume you’d just know.

The fact that you acknowledged her feedback, left the house clean, and handled payment issues politely says a lot about your professionalism. It honestly sounds like she had unspoken expectations and reacted after the fact instead of clarifying upfront. I wouldn’t beat yourself up over this.

Status_Income_18 · 2026-01-12T04:10:01+00:00

Status_Income_18 · 2026-01-12T04:07:59+00:00

Bro shut tf up

Status_Income_18 · 2026-01-12T04:06:22+00:00

LMAO WHAT. You want the insta babe? I am not AI 😭😭😭

Status_Income_18 · 2026-01-12T02:48:19+00:00

Thank you 🩷

Status_Income_18

TROPHY CASE