- Lauren worked as a support assistant in the United Kingdom.
- She makes more working part-time in a store
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A shocked British traveler has shared her 'unbelievable' income as a part-time supermarket employee in Australia, contrasting it with her earnings in her home country.
Lauren, 29, hailing from Liverpool, left her position as a support worker earlier this year to embark on a journey across Australia and started working in the stockroom at IGA in Derby, inWestern Australiathe Kimberley region in May
She mentions that she currently makes more by restocking shelves at Outback than she ever did working exhausting 60-hour weeks in the UK.
It's crazy," she said to Daily Mail Australia. "I just can't believe how much money I will end up saving.
Posting on TikTokas "Lauren's Adventures," the British woman detailed her paycheck in a video that rapidly became popular.
"For the past three months, I haven't been working, I've only been traveling," she said.
Then I considered, well, I need to find a job now. I was looking for a place with minimal interruptions, and to experience the Outback lifestyle for a while.
But I simply can't accept the disparity in pay. It's absolutely outrageous.
The footage, which has accumulated almost 700,000 views and numerous comments, contrasts her income in Australia with that in the UK.
Lauren mentioned that she makes £12.50 per hour as a support worker in England, working 60 hours weekly, which includes bank holidays and public holidays, and she takes home roughly £2,500 each month.
In Australia, the lowest hourly wage she gets for restocking shelves at IGA is $34, which is approximately £16, from Monday through Friday.
That exceeded what she previously made in Britain, yet the rates are even higher during evenings and weekends.
"My salary in Australia versus my salary back home needs to be discussed," she said.
From 6pm onwards, Monday through Friday, and on Saturdays, my hourly wage is $38, equivalent to roughly £19.
On Sundays, I earn $45 per hour, which is equivalent to £22.50 per hour.
On holidays, my hourly wage is $64, roughly equivalent to £30 per hour.
So, I used to work 60 hours a week back home for less pay than I'll make in a supermarket working around 40 hours a week.
I'll make more money by doing that. My mind is just like, what!
Lauren knows about the increased cost of living in Australia, yet believes she is in a better position overall.
"I'm aware that housing costs are high around here, and that's one reason the wages are better," she mentioned.
But usually, if you visit Australia by yourself, it's preferable to live with others and share a house.
You have the option to rent a room for $450 per week, with others available for $300 — this translates to roughly £600 to £800 each month.
I've chosen to try living in the outback, so I'm in Derby. My place costs $165 per week — approximately £80.
Lauren's story resonated online, as other Brits filled her comment section to share that they too had earned significantly more in Australia.
One mentioned, 'I make more here working at David Jones in retail compared to when I was in a health clinic.'
It's wild — you can make a good sum in hospitality and retail, particularly on weekends. So great.
"Sign me up for every Sunday and holiday," another person added.
However, not all individuals shared Lauren's perspective.
Everything in the UK is more affordable. I spent five years there," someone mentioned. "Food, housing, electricity, vehicles, and fuel are all less expensive.
It's easy to reside in the UK with a monthly budget of under £2,000.
And another cautioned: 'The cost of living in Australia is almost twice as much.
I'm also from England - it somewhat evens out in the end.
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