Mum is mortgage-free at 35 thanks to ‘savvy spending’

A mum who dropped out of high school at the age of 14 has revealed how she was “fascinated by saving” which led her to be mortgage-free at 35.

A British mum who dropped out of school at the age of 14 and hasn’t got a single academic qualification to her name has revealed how her savvy spending habits mean she’s mortgage-free at 35.

Holly Smith struggled to keep up with the other kids at school due to her autism and went on to become a money saving expert, using coupons to pay for the supermarket shop and stretching every last penny.

The mum-of-three dropped out of school at 14 but has no debts. Picture: hollyvlogs/Instagram

In an interview with the Mail on Sunday, Holly explained she’s able to go on fancy holidays, eat in classy restaurants and save hundreds on groceries by turning bargain hunting and money saving into her hobby.

“I began checking grocery prices for my mum when I was eight,” she said.

“By the age of 11 I was booking holidays and comparing car insurance quotes for family and friends.

Money blogger Holly Smith shares her savings tips on social media. Picture: hollyvlogs/Instagram

“In my mid-teens I camped for three days to get my parents’ name down for a house on a new estate which I knew would be a good investment. I was totally fascinated by saving.

“In my early 20s I wanted to take it further but I didn’t know how.

The money blogger has half a million followers on TikTok and almost 100,000 subscribers to her YouTube channel. Picture: hollyvlogs/Instagram

“I was in and out of hospital having surgery and surviving on benefits. While I was convalescing I did hundreds of competitions every day and I won one in which the first prize was having your own website designed. That’s how I began.”

Holly has now turned her hobby into a full-time job, sharing money saving tips with other bargain hunters on her website, Extreme Couponing.

She has an impressive social media following of 3 million followers on Facebook. Picture: hollyvlogs/Instagram

She’s just authored a book, Holly Smith’s Money Saving Book, and has an impressive social media following of three million followers on Facebook, half a million on the video site TikTok and almost 100,000 subscribers to her YouTube channel.

“I could spend a few seconds with someone and find them stuff on their phone that would save £20 to £30 ($A36 to $A55) n an average family supermarket weekly spend. I save at least £2000 ($A3685) a year on mine,” she said.

Holly Smith is a bargain-hunter who shares tips with followers online. Picture: hollyvlogs/Instagram

“More people will be forced into cost-cutting as a result of COVID-19, especially those in the £50,000 to £60,000 ($A92,000 to $A110,500) income bracket.

“It’s expensive just living, never mind raising a family. I hope I can help bargain-hunting become second nature.”

The mum and self-confessed bargain-hunter has three children. Picture: hollyvlogs/Instagram

She counts paying with a £1200 ($A2200) supermarket shop with coupons and £12,000 ($A22,000) of first-class transatlantic flights on loyalty points as her most memorable money saving achievements.

Holly now resides in Norfolk with her husband Callum, 31, and daughters Mollie-Rose, 9, and Bella-Marie, 8, and their 11-month-old son, Cloud.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission