Getting Rid of Just-in-Case Items: 20 Dollars, 20 Minutes - The Minimalists (2024)

FAQs

Getting Rid of Just-in-Case Items: 20 Dollars, 20 Minutes - The Minimalists? ›

That means if the item is not being used and can be replaced for under $20 and/or it would take less than 20 minutes out of your day to order or go get it… then it can go!

Then we tested our hypothesis: the 20/20 Rule. Anything we get rid of that we truly need, we can replace for less than $20 in less than 20 minutes from our current location. Thus far, this hypothesis has become a theory that has held true 100% of the time.

The 20/20 rule is a genius invention by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus from The Minimalists. This simple rule is if you can replace something you are decluttering in less than 20 minutes for less than $20, you can declutter it.

Apply the 20/20 Rule

Carver suggests using The Minimalists' 20/20 Rule to stop holding on to possessions just in case. This rule suggests that if an item you're on the fence about donating can be replaced for less than 20 dollars in less than 20 minutes, then let it go.

When struggling to make decluttering decisions, the 20/20 rule says you should consider letting go of an item if: You can replace it for less than $20. And you can replace it in less than 20 minutes.

It asks two simple questions: Have you used this in the past 90 days? Will you use it in the next 90 days? If your answer to both is no (with the exception of things like seasonal clothes, holiday decorations, or anything used only for a specific part of the year), it's time to get rid of that thing.

Remove Everything and Replace Only What You Use

No matter what rule I use when decluttering a messy space, my first step is always to remove every item, clear out the offending closet or cabinet, and wipe it down.

Take it room by room: Start decluttering one room at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Focus on a specific area before moving on to the next. Sort methodically: Divide items into categories (keep, donate, sell, discard) and work through each category systematically to prevent decision fatigue.

This rule is “so simple, yet so life changing”. Simply by dealing with an item immediately, whether it is your shoes, incoming mail, or your used coffee mug, less clutter will be created. One touch, one movement, equals less effort overall. This rule can also be applied when you are purging, editing, and organizing.

How to get rid of stuff in minimalism? ›

'Pareto's Principle says that 80% of the results come from 20% of the causes,' explains home organizer, Melissa Gugni. 'In regards to one's closet, for example, it means that an average person wears 20% of their clothes 80% of the time.

Use a 'just in case' box

You're not getting rid of it right away so set a timeframe by which you need to have used the item. If you haven't used it by that deadline, then let it go.

Put 60% of your income towards your needs (including debts), 20% towards your wants, and 20% towards your savings.

Take regular breaks using the “20-20-20” rule: every 20 minutes, shift your eyes to look at an object at least 20 feet away, for at least 20 seconds.

One school of research, and even some NHS guidance, suggests that the urge could dissipate if you just hold out for twenty minutes. It's all down to the way our brains are wired.

'The 80/20 rule is the concept that we use 20% of what we own 80% of the time,' says Sara Bereika, founder of Sara Jane Organizing. 'That means the remaining 80% (the stuff we use less frequently) is clutter. More than ever many of us have aspirations to live more simple lives.

The idea behind Project 333 is simple: Wear only 33 articles of clothing for the next 3 months. All clothing, accessories, jewelry, outerwear, and shoes count towards your number. Exceptions include wedding rings, underwear, sleepwear, in-home loungewear, and workout clothing.

The 80-20 rule is the principle that 20% of what you do results in 80% of your outcomes. Put another way, 80% of your outcomes result from just 20% of your inputs. Also known as the Pareto principle, the 80-20 rule is a timeless maxim that's all about focus.

What Is the One-In, One-Out Rule? It's simple: for every new item that comes into your home, a similar one must go. There's nothing new to this advice. Since the minimalist movement became mainstream, many organizing pros have been recommending it as a way to keep the clutter at bay.