Woman works part-time on Australian island, lives rent-free

Sirirat Nensewicz, a 27-year-old content creator from Hamburg, Germany, spent two months working part-time on Pumpkin Island, located off the coast of Queensland, Australia. She took on a variety of roles, including cleaning, gardening, and bartending, while working only 24 hours a week. This arrangement allowed her to live rent-free, with her only expenses being groceries and her phone bill, totaling around $270 monthly. The opportunity arose during her working holiday visa in Australia, where she needed to complete 88 days of specified work for a visa extension. After applying to over 100 employers without success, she found a job on Pumpkin Island just two days after submitting her application. The island, accessible by a small boat, was home to only a few residents, including the managers and previous workers. During her free time, Nensewicz enjoyed the island's serene environment, often lying in a hammock or swimming. Groceries were delivered weekly by the same boat that brought tourists to the island, allowing her to save money for personal expenses. Nensewicz described her experience as transformative, emphasizing the appreciation she gained for life’s simple pleasures. She noted the open-mindedness of the people she met and highlighted the exceptional work-life balance that the island offered, making her time there an unforgettable experience.