Coworking Office Space For Free

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Note: The alternative I’m sharing in this post may not be suitable for everyone. I would only consider it if necessary or if it offers benefits similar to those outlined in this post. It’s particularly appropriate if you’re just starting out in your freelance career.

Why a Coworking Office Space?

One might wonder why remote workers and freelancers would choose to pay for a coworking space when they could work from home for free.

Here are a few reasons:

Increased Productivity: Working from home is convenient, but it often comes with distractions like family members, roommates, pets, etc. A coworking space offers a designated environment, helping people stay productive without the usual interruptions of home life.
Social interaction. Many people seek coworking spaces to avoid the isolation of working alone at home. Coworking spaces provide a setting where people can interact, share ideas, network, and enjoy the social aspect of a workday.
Work-Life Balance: For some, working from home blurs the boundaries between personal and professional life. Renting a coworking space creates a clear separation, allowing for a better balance between work and home responsibilities

Easy Jobs

I’ve noticed that some people have a lot of free time during their working hours.

I mean, they might be at work for the standard 8 hours, but in reality, they’re only actively working for maybe 2 or 3 hours a day—sometimes even less.

There are only brief periods when they’re actually doing the work they’re paid for. This isn’t because they’re lazy or uninterested; it’s simply because there’s nothing else for them to do!

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Once, I was working as a mason’s helper in a gated community. Right next to where we were working was a guardhouse where the doorman was stationed to open and close the gate for residents and delivery drivers.

All he had to do was press a button on his remote control and occasionally receive deliveries.

He had so much free time that he spent most of it chatting with the mason while we worked.

Sometimes, he even helped us with our work.

Again, even though he had a standard 8-hour shift, there were only brief moments when he actually needed to work.

The Concept: Working Hard While Hardly Working

By now, you may have already grasped the concept I want to share with you in this post: You can use that free time, which other employees use to scroll through social media or watch TV series, to continue working!

Grab your laptop or whatever tool you use for remote work and keep working while you earn extra money, basically by existing in the “office” of another job.

Think of it as an office space—only it’s free! HAHAHA

And it’s not just any free office; you actually receive a monthly salary just for your presence in that “office,” plus all the benefits of a regular job, such as:

Health insurance
Accident insurance
A 13th salary (an additional payment given at the end of the year in Brazil)
Public transport voucher
Food vouchers (in some cases)
Unemployment insurance (three months of support)
Paid vacation

Certainly, in a typical office setting, you can carry out your usual work activities without experiencing any interruption.

But when you work in a low-responsibility job, you earn money to be interrupted only occasionally—which is more profitable than dealing with frequent interruptions at home. It becomes another source of income for you.

Moreover, the interruptions you do encounter are brief and minimal.

It’s not like when you’re at home, where someone might interrupt your work schedule with time-consuming tasks that keep you from concentrating on your work activities.

In such an environment, people understand that you’re busy working or doing something important, rather than assuming you’re distracted by activities like video games (I don’t even play video games!!!).

My Office Space

Working at a Campground resort

I came up with this idea toward the end of 2021, but I couldn’t pursue it at the time because shortly after I needed to keep my father company in the hospital and at home.

But now, for the past month, I’ve been working as a “doorman” at a campground resort, opening and closing the gate.

The work environment here is very peaceful and pleasant. There aren’t too many people passing through the gate, especially on rainy days, and everyone is friendly. The air is fresh and clean, and the surroundings are full of greenery, with streams, colorful birds, toucans, “caxinguelês” (Guerlinguetus brasiliensis, a kind of tiny squirrel), and other friends of the forest.

Even the volunteers—travelers who work a few hours in exchange for accommodation and other benefits—have more to do here than I do. With plenty of free time, I can read books, write, learn Russian, and work while earning money by staying at the workplace of another job. HAHAHA

Home-office Office-home

Not only do I have the privilege of working in such an amazing environment, but I also get to live here at the campground resort for free!

I was provided with a small house to live in (and it’s not a shared house!), with a bedroom, a bathroom, and a kitchen. I even have a refrigerator now (yes, I’m getting fancy here).

So I don’t have to pay for expenses such as housing, energy or water. And speaking of water, it comes straight from the spring: fresh and without chlorine (I bought a filter).

Thank God for all of these blessings!

Right next to my house, there’s a stream with a small natural waterfall. A bit further, there’s a circular courtyard surrounded by trees. I even have a tiny plot of land where I can grow some vegetables or anything else I like.

My workday here starts only at 9:00 am, and I don’t even need to commute!

Other Advantages

I also have permission to use several amenities at the campground resort for free: the bathroom for hot showers, the communal kitchen (though I usually cook at home), the laundry facilities, the front desk WiFi, and also free bicycles for volunteers to use (though I’m not a volunteer).

And it’s not uncommon for guests and clients to leave behind items that they don’t want to take back home, such as food in good condition, clothes, and bedding.

While I don’t take advantage of the free food, I’m currently using a blanket that was left behind by a client.

Recently, I also received a mini electric stove in good condition that a client decided to leave behind. With this electric mini stove I can now cook for free at home as well, since the campground resort covers the electricity costs.

Coworkers and Networking Opportunities

Working at home can be isolating and lonely, and some remote workers miss the social interaction of a traditional office. This is another reason why some people rent coworking office spaces.

But working at a hostel or campground resort gives you the opportunity to connect with volunteers, network, and even learn more about their countries, languages, and cultures.

Many of them are freelancers or engage in online business and activities. Since we have similar activities, this creates networking opportunities and the chance to exchange knowledge and insights. You might even form collaboration and joint projects.

The volunteers here are nice people, and it’s fun to have them around. We’re often about the same age, and we sometimes spend our free time together—chatting, relaxing around the crackling campfire, exploring the city, hiking, celebrating, or simply preparing a meal in the communal kitchen.

Concluding Remarks

Again, the alternative I shared in this post may not be suitable for everyone. I would only consider it if necessary or if it offers benefits similar to those outlined in this post.

Along with health insurance, accident insurance, unemployment insurance, 13th salary, paid vacation, and a salary, my free “office” indeed provides everything you’d expect from a regular coworking space:

A peaceful place to work
Opportunities for networking
Social interaction

You can also apply the concept I shared in this post to pursue your passions and goals, learn languages, spend more time with family and friends, work on meaningful projects, or even change careers. I explore this further in my other post: The Fun of a Boring Job: A Stress-Free Life with Plenty of Time to Do Whatever You Want.

Thanks for reading! 🙂

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Until next time, God willing.

Take care!