I was a struggling mum relying on food banks for my kids – now I’m funding Christmas by flogging my used tights online
A MUM claims to have earned £1,000 by hosting a very unusual Christmas treasure hunt.
And the coveted prize is not exactly what you might expect.
Lizzy Groombridge is well-known for her 6-foot-3 height and long legs.
She has raked in thousands of pounds selling her used tights online in the past and is now using them to save for Christmas.
The 30-year-old, from Cornwall, has flogged her used tights for a whopping £38,000 in the past, as well as her size nine-foot pictures for £114,000.
With the festive season well underway, the savvy mum has come up with a new method to sell her discarded items to those locally.
“I host treasure hunts where I will hide a pair of discarded stockings somewhere in town and give the recipient clues on where to find them,” Lizzy told What’s The Jam.
“Each person pays £50 to take part and it’s been a hit so far.
“I settle on a discreet package and will hide them around in secret spots for half an hour before telling the person the rough location.
“It’s not long before I get a message saying they’ve found the tights.
“This way, they can collect them without having to meet up – it’s a win-win.”
Lizzy will be continuing her treasure hunt over the next few weeks, stopping the weekend just before Christmas.
She will be using the profits to buy presents for her family and children.
“Sometimes, people order things other than just tights,” Lizzy explained.
“I’ve hidden underwear, socks, and toenail clippings, too.
“These go for a bit more, at around £70 per item, but I’ve only had a few requests so far.”
Christmas used to be one of the toughest times of the year for the mum.
Side hustles in numbers
Based on new research from Finder, an estimated 22.8 million Brits are using side hustles to top up their income.
Among those aged 18-23, 68 percent have a side hustle in 2024.
Those aged 24-42 aren’t far behind, with 65 per cent having an additional source of income.
Side hustles are less popular among older generations, with 40 percent of those aged 43-54 having one.
Whereas 23 percent of people aged 55-73 and just 7 per cent of those aged 74 and over are earning extra cash this way.
She loves her new career and not having to worry about feeding her family anymore.
“I used to struggle for money and live on food banks, as well as digging down the back of the sofa for loose change so I could feed the kids,” Lizzy added.
“At Christmas, I had to sell my precious belongings just so I could afford presents.
“Now, though, I make money doing something that I love.
“It’s not a traditional way but I’m able to provide for my family and make the festive season extra special.
“Something that was once a distant dream has now come true.”