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'My boyfriend's death opened my eyes, I've sold everything to go to South America'

Rebekah sold her car and put all her clothes on Vinted to raise enough for an open-ended trip

[Rebekah Swatton on her travels]

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Rebekah Swatton on her travels

A woman saved 18,000 in just seven months to travel the world - by selling her wardrobe on Vinted. Rebekah Swatton, 26, has spent the past seven months aggressively saving for an open-ended trip abroad after a previous journey forced her to rethink her relationship with money and possessions.

Her outlook on life changed dramatically after the sudden death of her boyfriend from a cardiac arrest five years ago, an experience she says made her realise that "nothing in life is certain". Last March, she embarked on a six-month backpacking adventure across Australia, Africa, and Asia, taking a sabbatical from her job at Lloyds Banking Group.

But when she returned to the UK in September, she says she was struck by how little she actually needed the possessions waiting for her at home. That realisation sparked a drastic lifestyle change.

[Rebekah at work]

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Rebekah at work

Rebekah sold her car, worked up to 20 hours of overtime each week and cleared out the majority of her wardrobe on Vinted - ultimately building up savings of 18,000 for her next trip to South America. Rebekah, from Powick, Worcestershire, said: "I had been away for so long that when I came back I realised I had been living without any of these extra material things happier than I was living with them."

Rebekah began saving in 2022 following the sudden death of her boyfriend of six months, who passed away from an undiagnosed underlying heart condition. Rebekah said: "It really made me wake up and I felt that nothing is certain going forwards. I'd gone straight from college into career mode without thinking.

"I'd always said I wanted to travel and this really catalysed my first trip, as I want to live my life to the fullest."

Last March, Rebekah set off on a six-month backpacking adventure, travelling through Australia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, Kenya, and Tanzania. When she returned, Rebekah decided to completely change the direction of her life and pursue travelling full time.

[She has sold most of her clothes on Vinted]

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She has sold most of her clothes on Vinted

She said: "It was such an amazing time. I really enjoyed feeling free and experiencing new things each day. But once I got back and realised I wanted a change, I decided next time I left I would leave my job permanently and not return to the UK for at least a few years."

With that commitment in mind, Rebekah knew she would need to build up substantial savings to support herself on an open-ended trip with no fixed return date. Rebekah said: "Since I've been back, I've been living with my parents, which of course helps keep outgoings down.

[Rebekah managed to raise 18,000]

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Rebekah managed to raise 18,000

"I have been working my 30,000 banking job full time plus an extra 15 to 20 hours over time each week. I sold over 200 items on Vinted, from clothing to accessories to random trinkets and also sold my car for 2,500.

"This, plus working 60 hour weeks and living with my parents, meant I saved nearly 20k for the next time I leave the country."

Rebekah has booked a flight to Guatemala for the first week of May, with plans to travel through South America from there. She said: "I've planned out the first couple months of my trip with flights and loose accommodation.

[Rebekah Swatton spent the past seven months aggressively saving ]

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Rebekah Swatton spent the past seven months aggressively saving

"But I know over the next six months I want to travel through Guatemala, Columbia, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile."

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