Even if you're short of money you can still have a great holiday. Try these ideas

House-Sitting:

More and more travellers are organising their holidays around house-sitting. It might mean looking after pets and keeping the garden groomed, but for free accommodation, it's worth it.

To join a house-sitting website, you'll probably have to pay a registration fee and this can range from $50 up to $250. Before you take up a house-sitting assignment, it's important to make sure you've discussed who's liable for any damages that may occur during your stay. Some websites offer a house-minding agreement that both parties are asked to sign.

Val Lehman, who played Bea Smith on Prisoner, loves the service - she registered her home with www.housecarers.com 'I've had wonderful, reliable, trustworthy people who came into my home and cared for everything beautifully,' she says. 'I'm so grateful to HouseCarers for this.'

Other house-sitting websites are
www.aussiehousesitters.com.au and www.houseminders.com.au

House Swapping:

Can you imagine staying in a house or apartment with all the home comforts in your dream destination for free?

While we can't promise you'll meet Jude Law, like Cameron Diaz's character did in last year's home swapping romance The Holiday, exchanging homes has become more popular than ever. And there's a chance you'll get a car thrown in as well.

'We swapped our apartment for one in central Berlin for three months,' recent home swapper Ben McMillan of Sydney says. 'The minus was they broke a lamp and replaced it with an inferior one, but the plus was they left a photo album, and, of course, we got to live rent-free in Germany!'

The beauty of house swapping is that the relationship is built on trust. If you're worried about leaving your home in the hands of strangers, it's likely your partners in home swapping will be as equally worried about theirs. However, keeping the lines of communication open at all times will ensure that everyone has peace of mind.

There are many websites where you can offer your home for a home swap and take up temporary residence interstate or overseas. If you're only interested in swapping within Australia and New Zealand, for only $48 a year become a member of Aussie House Swap - visit www.aussiehouseswap.com.au.

For home swapping worldwide, join Homelink for $250 a year - visit www.homelink.com.au Alternatively, browse and post your home on international sites such as www.gumtree.com.au or www.craigslist.org for free.

Working Holidays:

If you're willing to expend a bit of elbow grease, a working holiday is the perfect way to see Australia and the world.

Every year, thousands of keen travellers follow the Harvest Trail around Australia. From picking mangoes in Darwin or grapes in the Margaret River, the hard part will be deciding where to start. If you're not afraid to get your hands dirty and work up a sweat, it's a great way to meet people and stay fit and healthy.

For more information, visit www.jobsearch.gov.au/harvesttrail or if you're interested in overseas work, try www.pickingjobs.com

Another way to experience the great outdoors is with a farmstay where you work in exchange for keep. Willing Workers on Organic Farms Australia runs a program where you can learn organic farming skills and absorb the lifestyle of the area you're visiting. Visit www.wwoof.com.au

Does the idea of working at a tropical resort in Bora Bora or on the ski fields in Japan bring a smile to your face? Club Med is looking for people who are skilled in activities such as tennis, golf or windsurfing to become GOs - gentil organisateurs. The Club Med Village will provide your room, board and return airfare and you'll also receive a minimal salary. The hours are long but the work is fun. You'll get one day off a week and have the chance to meet people from all over the world. For more information or to apply online, visit www.jobs.clubmed.com.au

Camp for Free:

Pack your tent and a packet of marshmallows on Friday, November 9, and join thousands for a night of free camping at more than 100 family friendly BIG4 Holiday Parks across Australia. If you're new to camping, it gives you an opportunity to experience the security of a holiday park with all the creature comforts just a stone's throw away.

Family friendly facilities include swimming pools, giant jumping pillows and kids' clubs. During the event, there will be sausage sizzles, pancake breakfasts and trivia nights. Park owners will even help you pitch the tent!

Free powered and unpowered sites must be reserved in advance for the annual Come Camp with BIG4. Book at www.big4.com.au or call 1800 632 444

Car Sharing:

Car sharing has become popular around the world - not only does it help save the planet but it also saves you money. Bruce Jeffreys of Australia's first car share company, GoGet says: 'We share our service with Global Roaming Partner Program that allows Australian members to navigate, for example, the streets of San Francisco for free. The big advantage is they also get free parking as local councils set aside dedicated parking.' Visit www.goget.com.au

Websites that put drivers and passengers in touch with each other to save on journey costs include www.toshare.org and www.hitchhikers.orgor Aussie site www.catchalift.com

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