"It was just before Christmas. When I started off as a rep I was claiming benefits," she told Sky News Online.
"I was selling door-to-door and needed £400 in a month just to pay my rent.
"As long as I paid my rent I did not care about anything else."
In the event she made £600 and has not looked back.
One three-week sales blitz saw her rake in £18,000.
She has now hooked up with online Dragons' Den star Julie Myer to offer video tips to inspire women in business.
But she also has handy advice for those at the other end of the employment spectrum.
With the dole queue getting longer by the week, Debbie says the key to surviving redundancy - and to becoming the UK's most successfully Avon lady - is confidence and "just being friendly".
"At first I was really shy so it was all about getting my confidence back - my confidence just went after I was made unemployed," she said.
"Now it's about friendliness, just being friendly and talking to people."
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