A woman has revealed how she paid off $80,000 in student loans in three years with a lucrative side job that became her full-time job.
Kelsey Mikula, 26, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, majored in zoology at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, and had difficulty finding a job after graduating in May 2019.
She began buying and reselling clothes to pay off her student loan debt while working shifts as a unit secretary at a hospital.
“My first experience with reselling was when I was in high school and selling discontinued mascara,” she recalled.
Kelsey Mikula, 26, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, paid off $80,000 in student loans in three years by buying and reselling clothes and shoes on eBay and Depop.
Kelsey said she started this lucrative business after graduating from college and had trouble finding a job.
“I didn’t start taking it seriously until 2020, when I finished college and couldn’t get a job in my major.”
Kelsey buys clothes and shoes at charity stores like the Salvation Army, Goodwill, and local thrift stores, and then resells them on e-commerce sites.
“The first platform I started selling on was Poshmark, and I slowly moved on to eBay and Depop,” he explained.
Each month he spends $1,800 buying clothes and selling them for a profit.
Kelsey began making payments on her student loans in April 2020 and paid them off in full in March 2023 through her side hustle.
“My main niche is clothing and shoes, specifically for women, but I also dabble in home goods,” she said.
‘They pay me $5,000 a month in earnings; It can really depend. I was able to pay off my $80,000 student debt and did it in just three years through resale.
‘It was an incredible feeling. I felt like I could finally save the money I was earning.’
Kelsey buys clothes and shoes at charity stores like the Salvation Army, Goodwill, and local thrift stores, and then resells them on e-commerce sites.
“My main niche is clothing and shoes, specifically for women, but I also dabble in home goods,” she said.
In addition to paying off his student loans, he was able to buy a Ford Explorer. He is now reselling full time with the goal of saving enough money for a house.
In December 2023, Kelsey took the plunge and began buying and reselling full time.
“I made a lot more doing this than I did at my full-time job, so I decided to quit,” he said.
‘I love the freedom this job has given me. I am my own boss. If I don’t want to work in the morning, it’s not necessary. I can work any hours I want.’
In addition to paying off his student loan debt, with his earnings he was also able to buy his dream car, a Ford Explorer.
“I am grateful that my hard work has paid off and I am debt free,” she said.
“Currently I still live with my parents and work in the basement. The next step is to buy a house.”
Kelsey said the most she ever made on a resale item was a Christian Dior sweater she bought for $10 and sold for a $700 profit.
She also bought a pair of Chanel shoes for $20 and sold them for over $200.
Kelsey insisted that she is never tempted to keep any of the luxury items she purchases.
“I don’t usually save clothes, but if I do, I’ll keep them for a few months and sell them,” she explained.
“I’m not a materialistic person and I’d rather see the salary.”