Young Aussie reveals why she took a $100,000 pay cut and ditched a very enviable job to live in a sharehouse and serve food at a restaurant

Published: 06:44, 20 July 2026 | Updated: 06:44, 20 July 2026 A young woman claims she has never been happier after giving up her $150,000-a-year job and moving into hospitality where she makes a fraction of the money. Sarame Cornish, 33, worked as a project manager and claimed it was a huge achievement as she became the first person in her family to earn so much money. She told Yahoo she pursued the role because climbing the corporate ladder was 'just what everyone was doing'. Ms Cornish said she struggled with the 50-60 hour weeks and that the long hours eventually took a heavy toll on her health and wellbeing. She ultimately decided it wasn’t worth sacrificing her 'health, time and freedom' and quit her job in 2023.  Ms Cornish now works casually at a popular beachfront restaurant and lives in a sharehouse nearby. Despite taking a $100,000 pay cut and giving up her dream of owning a home, Ms Cornish insists the decision was worth it.  'I'm 33, working casually, not financially supported by anyone but myself, and I'm so much happier,' she said. A young woman claims she has never been happier after giving up her $150,000-a-year job and moving into hospitality and only making a fraction of the money Currently paying just $280 a week to live in a Bondi house share, she says it is okay not to have every aspect of life mapped out. Ms Cornish said many of her childhood friends were now under pressure from being tied down by huge mortgages amid the cost-of-living crisis. 'I don't think I could even get a home loan,' she said. 'But it's not really something that I want at the moment, especially in Australia [with house prices so high].  'For me, the property market in Australia just isn't really worth the investment of my money.' Ms Cornish said sharing her story online has helped her realise she is not alone. 'The more I share my reality, I've realised so many other people are in the same boat, and that's helping me let go of it all,' she said. While she does not know what the future holds, Ms Cornish is confident she will 'have all those things' one day. Ms Cornish said she is a 'thousand times' more happy since leaving the corporate world 'It's just going to look different from most people,' she concluded.