A rug salesman in my home town whose midlife crisis has prompted him to sell his entire life on eBay may inspire others to get rid of parts of their lives that they no longer want.

Think of those family members you don’t get on with. The so-called friends who only contact you for favours. The job you hate.

Ian Usher, 44, will put his whole life under the hammer at a starting price of $1, after his marriage failed two years ago.

Up for grabs is his $420,000 house just south of Perth's city centre, motorbike, car, job as a shop assistant in a rug store, friends and all of his material possessions.

After the auction on Sunday June 29 at midday, Usher told the BBC he plans to leave with only the clothes on his back and catch the next flight to a yet-to-be-determined destination, where he will attempt to build a new life.

The lovelorn Mr Usher is very well organised. He has his own website alife4sale.com which includes a poll that allows people to comment on what they feel about someone who has put their life and possessions on the block.

When The Wrap checked, 22,574 site visitors believed it was an awesome idea, while 6,060 felt it was a pretty dumb thing to do.

On the question of whether they would do something similar, 9,442 said they would, while 16,340 replied, “No Way”.

The site’s bulletin board also included some interesting comments.

Caroline wrote. “I don't know why I'm amazed to read your site. I guess I can't help but think of the millions of people that find themselves in your same situation and because they don't have the luxury of excess time or cash, they soldier on and heal with what they've got.

“That means they don't sell their crap and try to shed their life, their friends, their memories. It's all part of life, buddy. Learn from it and grow and maybe one morning you won't wake up and think about her (the ex-wife) quite as many times as the day before.”

Usher has several messages from interested women - based in locations ranging from Brazil to Africa - inviting him to start a new life with them.

What the Wrap finds especially interesting is that this eBay auction idea may catch on. Wives may be tempted to sell their partners and their possessions - although come to think of it, this already happens. It’s called divorce.

There again how do you tell your best friends that you have put them up for auction on eBay? “Sorry, mate, but I’ve had enough of you in my life. You’re being sold off without a reserve.”

And how will the auction winner on June 29 introduce himself to Mr Usher’s ex-friends. “Hi, I bought you at an auction, let’s go for coffee”.

By then, of course, Mr Usher will be Going, Going, Gone…