Sammie Ellard King, 36, has detailed his journey from being £24,000 in debt to accumulating £250,000 in savings over a decade, largely through intensive side hustles.
King's debt began to accumulate during his university years after receiving a student overdraft and credit card. He admits to spending extravagantly on items like clothing and alcohol to project an image of wealth, leading to a situation where one-third of his wages were dedicated to interest payments by age 25. This financial strain resulted in a poor credit score, making it impossible for him to rent an apartment.
His turning point came in June 2014 when he was denied a rental property due to his credit history. Following this realization, King informed his friends and family about his debt. He calculated that at his then-salary, it would take seven years to repay his debts. Determined to achieve financial freedom in two years, he began pursuing side hustles.
King engaged in various activities such as website testing, online surveys, reselling items, and tutoring, earning an additional £2,000 per month. He dedicated up to six hours daily after his primary job to these side ventures, successfully clearing his £24,000 debt within 18 months.
Upon becoming debt-free, King redirected the income from his side hustles into savings and investments, including a Trading 212 Stocks and Shares ISA. By April 2019, he had saved £10,000. He continued reselling, noting significant profits from items like limited-edition trainers that sold out quickly on platforms like eBay. He also continued to earn money through online surveys during downtime.
King now implements a spending control measure, requiring a 24-hour waiting period for any purchase over £50. Currently, his savings and investments total £250,000, with £100,000 being direct contributions and the remainder from investment returns. Last year, his investment earnings surpassed the average UK salary.
He plans to purchase a farm to grow food and host events. In 2021, King launched Up the Gains, a platform offering financial advice through a website, podcast, and social media, which has reportedly assisted over a million individuals. Building on this success, he launched the Gains App in June 2026, a budgeting application designed to help users track expenses, find savings opportunities, and earn cashback. The app has garnered over 13,000 users and positive reviews, with King noting its resonance during the current high cost of living.