Ellie Titmus, a British mom who racked up $31,000 in debt, has paid back $25,000 in just five months by decluttering and selling 410 household items on eBay and Facebook Marketplace. The 32-year-old says her debt began to snowball after she became a single mom in 2022 and took out a short-term loan for $20,245 and another loan for $10,797 to get by. Over the next four years she found herself spending money on “silly things” like carry-out food and online shopping — $1,349 in one month using three credit cards, for instance. Despite making some payments over the years, her debt was still overwhelming. That’s When Ellie combed through her house and sold off 410 household items, including toys, clothing, jewelry, kitchen gadgets, and room decor items, online. Through her job she took the opportunity to invest in stocks and bonds, and when they had matured last month, she cashed in $17,545 worth, putting $15,295 toward her debt. She estimates she has paid back $25,000 so far by saving on random purchases. She still has $11,742 in interest to pay off, but she’s made a lot of progress, thanks to being willing to let go of things she didn't use.
