For sale on eBay: a life

An Australian hoping to make a fresh start is to put his entire life for sale on eBay for one Australian dollar (about 50p).

Ian Usher, 44, originally from Scarborough, has decided to put nearly all his worldly possessions, including his car, his three-bedroom home and his job for sale on the auction site.

Usher is selling his life "lock, stock and barrel" so that he can escape the painful memories of the past few years. He recently went through a divorce with his wife of five years who he called "the best woman in the world".

Explaining his decision to put everything he owns on eBay, Usher said: "I just want to make a clean break and start again literally, so I am selling everything lock, stock and barrel, from the contents of my wardrobe to my kettle, and from my cutlery to my car."

He hopes that following the sale he can leave his Australian life behind him, walk to the airport – bearing in mind he is selling his car – and with his wallet in one hand and his passport in the other and catch the first available plane.

The auction does not officially start until 22 June and will last for seven days. In order to promote the sale Usher is using a specially designed website, complete with diaries and videos, detailing the contents of his life and how to bid for it.

His employer has agreed to give a two-week trial to whoever secures the sale of Usher’s life. Bids start at $1 AUS although Usher will be able to set a minimum limit for the agreed sale, understood to be around £230,000.

www.alife4sale.com
www.ebay.co.uk