I've made £100,000 reselling second-hand clothes on Vinted and Depop - now it's my job

Becky Chorlton, 26, has always hated throwing things away and found a love for thrifting with her mum, Sandra, 62, a retired receptionist. She started listing some of her old clothes on Depop while studying for her masters in physical activity and health in July 2019.

Within a couple of months she found she was pocketing more than she was earning from her part time job - around £100-a-week. When the pandemic hit, Becky started reselling more online and realised she could turn thrifting into a full-time job. It took off and she started making between £600 to £700-a-week.

Now Becky finds old clothes at charity shops and car boot sales and makes up to £3,000-a-month - and says she's made around £100,000 so far in total.

Becky, who lives near Manchester, said: "I have turned thrifting into a job. I make £2,500 to £3,000-a-month on average. I've made over £100,000 in four years."

Becky has always had an interest in recycling and reusing from a young age.

She said: "I have always prolonged the life of anything. I have always hated throwing away things before they need to be. I would reuse the cardboard from toilet rolls for my dolls."

While at University of Exeter in 2019, Becky started getting into thrifting.

She said: "Me and my mum used to go thrifting together all the time. She introduced me to charity shops and car boot sales. I was hooked. My friends paid a fortune for dresses. I'd buy one for £4 and then re-donate it."

When Becky went to university to do a masters she started listing some of her clothes on Depop to make some extra cash. At the time she was working part-time in a shoe shop taking home just £30-a-week and realised she was earning £100-a-week through reselling.

She said: "I was making more money selling clothing."

Becky returned home when the pandemic hit and continued reselling and building up her online profile @beckysbazaar.

She said: "My mum said you could do this full time. It took off - I was making £600 to £700-a-week. I made about £24,000-a-year - the same as a starter job."

Becky now spends her days rummaging through piles of clothes and accessories in charity shops and thrift shops. She also tries out mystery boxes for her online content and to resell things on.

She said: "Sometimes I find they are really good value. In a recent one each item was 83p. I'd rather sell cheaply and quickly so people get a bargain. I list things for about £5."

Becky says her job is "24/7" but she's always doing it with a "smile on my face".

She said: "I feel like I have a cheat code to life. Sometimes it's surreal that I work for myself."

Becky usually prioritises her business and rarely keeps items she finds for herself. She often sells the items at budget prices so it is affordable but has found vintage £1 sweaters which she can sell on for about £65. She uses Vinted for budget-friendly clothes and items and Depop for more particular and expensive finds.

She said: "My wardrobe is one in one out. I pretty much sell it everything. I don't really think of myself."