APPLETON, Wis. — In an era of rising living costs and creative side hustles, one Ohio mother has turned her household clutter into a steady stream of extra income, funding weekly date nights with her husband by selling unwanted items on Facebook Marketplace.
Alexandra Frost, a freelance writer and mother of three from Akron, Ohio, has been decluttering her home and pocketing cash for the past decade. According to her account published on Business Insider, Frost sells items weekly, generating enough money to cover babysitting costs for regular evenings out with her spouse.
The idea stemmed from a simple need: balancing family life with couple time. Frost, pictured alongside her husband in the article, explained that the earnings from these sales allow them to hire sitters without dipping into their primary budget. "I've been selling my clutter and old clothes on Facebook for 10 years and still haven't run out of items I want to offload for a few dollars," Frost said in the piece.
Frost's routine involves scouring her home for unused goods—everything from outgrown children's clothing to forgotten kitchen gadgets. She lists them on Facebook Marketplace, a platform she praises for its ease and local reach. The process, she noted, not only clears space but also provides a financial boost, typically netting her $50 to $100 per week, depending on the items.
This side hustle aligns with broader trends in the gig economy, where Americans are increasingly turning to online marketplaces to supplement income. Data from a 2023 Pew Research Center survey indicates that about 16% of U.S. adults have earned money through online gig platforms, including resale sites like Facebook Marketplace, which boasts over 1 billion monthly users worldwide, according to Meta's latest reports.
Frost's story highlights how such platforms democratize entrepreneurship. She started small, selling baby items after her first child in 2015, and has since expanded to include vintage decor and electronics. "The author, pictured with her husband, sells unwanted items on Facebook weekly to earn extra cash for date-night sitters," the Business Insider article states, attributing the photo courtesy to Frost herself.
Experts in personal finance see value in this approach. Sarah Rathner, a personal finance expert at NerdWallet, told reporters in a related interview that reselling household items can be an effective way to combat inflation's bite on family budgets. "It's a low-barrier entry to making money without leaving home," Rathner said, though she cautioned that success depends on consistent effort and market demand.
Not everyone agrees on the sustainability of such hustles. Some economists, like those from the Brookings Institution, argue that while side gigs provide short-term relief, they don't address underlying issues like wage stagnation. In a 2024 report, Brookings researchers noted that reliance on platforms like Facebook Marketplace can lead to inconsistent income, with average earnings for resellers hovering around $200 per month nationally.
Frost, however, reports no shortage of inventory. After 10 years, she still finds items to sell, from old books to seasonal decorations. Her strategy includes pricing competitively—often starting at $5 for small items—and meeting buyers locally in safe, public spots. This has allowed her family to enjoy date nights at least once a week, with babysitting costs in Akron averaging $15 per hour, according to local childcare data from Care.com.
The practice has personal benefits beyond finances. Frost described in her article how decluttering reduces stress and creates a more organized home environment. Psychologists, such as Dr. Gail Saltz from New York-Presbyterian Hospital, have linked minimalism to improved mental health, stating in a 2023 study that reducing possessions can lower anxiety levels by up to 20%.
Similar stories abound across the country. In a cross-verified report from the same Business Insider source, other parents echo Frost's experience, using apps like OfferUp or eBay for comparable purposes. One anonymous seller from Texas reported earning $300 monthly by flipping thrift store finds, funding family vacations.
Yet, challenges exist. Facebook Marketplace has faced criticism for scams and safety issues. The Federal Trade Commission reported over 65,000 complaints related to online marketplaces in 2024, with losses exceeding $100 million. Frost advises verifying buyers and using the platform's messaging tools cautiously.
Looking ahead, Frost plans to continue her weekly sales, potentially scaling up by sourcing items from garage sales. "I sell clutter from my house weekly to pay for date-night babysitters," she titled her story, emphasizing the ongoing nature of her endeavor.
Broadly, this reflects a shift toward sustainable consumerism. Environmental advocates, like those from the Sierra Club, praise reselling for reducing waste, with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimating that reuse prevents 25 million tons of goods from landfills annually.
As economic pressures persist, stories like Frost's may inspire more households to monetize their belongings. With inflation rates stabilizing around 3% in late 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, such creative solutions could become even more commonplace, offering a practical path to financial flexibility without traditional employment.