Scarlet Nation, a 23-year-old university student, now earns £2,500 per month working part-time hours as a reseller of vintage clothing on Vinted, after struggling to afford her rent. The flexible income allows her to travel and spend time with friends, and she says the money arrives quickly.
From rent struggle to reselling success
After moving away to university, Scarlet found she could not cover basic costs like rent. While browsing social media, she spotted a £40 bundle on Facebook Marketplace containing 120 vintage clothing items. A fashion enthusiast, she saw potential and sold one dress for £10 more than the entire bundle cost her.
Within a week, she generated £2,000 from that first haul, with plenty of stock remaining. She has since developed her skill into a full-time business, earning up to £2,500 monthly, according to the Mirror.
Financial freedom and flexibility
Scarlet said: "This bundle completely changed things for me. I make a full-time wage doing part-time hours. I felt unsure about how I was going to continue affording rent and food as student finance didn't cover it. I was in debt from paying bills during my previous year at university – but I managed to pay this off within a month from reselling."
She added: "I feel so much lighter and free as I'm earning a decent wage while studying. I'm able to be flexible and see my friends and travel whenever I want without restrictions. I will definitely continue doing this on the side after graduating and I'm even thinking about writing my dissertation on women with side hustles who don't even realise it."
Scaling the business with bundles
Scarlet bought her first bundle in October 2025, featuring brands like Jane Norman, Charlotte Russe, Vintage Aéropostale, Superdry, and Billabong. She sells on Vinted, focusing on sought-after vintage styles such as Roxy and Billabong, as well as crochet pieces, low-waisted shorts, and accessories. She also uses Fleek, an online platform connecting vintage wholesalers.
She explained: "My initial goal was simple. I just wanted to make some extra money while studying. But, within a year, reselling had grown far beyond my expectations. One of my biggest highlights so far has been doing a dream Christmas trip to London with my boyfriend and my friend, as well as her fiancé."
Balancing business and studies
Scarlet also documents her "flips" on TikTok while pursuing a business and finance degree. She spends 20 hours per week on physical tasks like washing, photographing, packaging, and posting, which drops to 10 hours during busy university periods. Additionally, she spends eight hours on admin, including listings, messages, and sourcing stock online.
She noted: "Accessories do so much better in summer. And colours really matter. I use bundles to scale more efficiently and access higher-value stock. For example, I've bought four bundles and in my latest one, I spent £100 on 20 items. The returns came quickly. I made my entire investment back from just three items, as they sold for £40 each."
Scarlet concluded: "I've been balancing university exams at the same time and I'm doing really well. I think reselling has helped me mentally, financially and educationally. Doing my own taxes and running a business has given me real life practice for what I study. I honestly don't think I'd have been able to grow it to this point without what I've learned so far."
