Lisa Galek is a freelance writer and editor based in Cleveland, Ohio. Her writing has appeared in Cleveland Magazine, Scholastic Science World, Refinery29, and The Buckeye Flame. She lives with her husband and three very clever daughters.
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A move can certainly put things in perspective. When my family bought our new home a few years ago, I spent days packing up cluttered closets, disorganized drawers, messy shelves, and overflowing toy bins. Did I really own all this stuff? Had I really bought all this stuff? And —oh my God —was it all coming with me?
I promised myself the new house would be different.
After we settled in, I started researching decluttering techniques online. I came across the concept of minimalism —the idea of living with less —and specifically the 20/20 rulecreated byThe Minimalists,Joshua Fields Millburnand Ryan Nicodemus. When strugglingto make decluttering decisions, the 20/20 rule says you should consider letting go of an item if:
- You can replace itfor less than $20.
- And you can replace it in less than 20 minutes.
Does the 20/20 rule solve every decluttering dilemma? No. But it’s ideal for small items, and those were causing me the most trouble. I started going through my overstuffed spaces, finding lots of everyday objects I could do without (and quickly replace in an emergency):
- Ten coffee mugs? I don’t even drink coffee.
- Books. I’m in two book clubs, but even I’m not going to crack open “The DaVinci Code” again.
- Makeup. Like that pinkish lipstick I wore to my niece’s wedding last summer. Yikes.
- Duplicate kitchen items. How many potato peelers does one household need?
- Toys. My three daughters had 80 Barbie dolls. 80! Time to downsize, girls.
- Clothes. Goodbye, ill-fitting red turtleneck I thought I might wear to a Christmas party!
- Small appliances. Reader, I still had an original George Foreman Grill.
Once I stopped saving hundreds of small items “just in case,” my home instantly became cleaner and more manageable. I also discovered I really didn’t need all the extra stuff. Instead, I could donate it to people who could use it. And if I did, one day, require an emergency pair of chandelier earrings, I knew I could replace them pretty quickly for a fairly low cost.
How the 20/20 Helped Me
The 20/20 rule also helped me resist the urge to keep collecting more and more, and that saved me a lot of money. Before, every shopping trip to Target involved buying things on a whim —like a cute wine bottle opener or a watering can shaped like a baby elephant. Now, I know I have the items I need at home, so I’m not tempted to make impulse purchases I’ll regret later.
But what I love most about the 20/20 rule is its practicality. I tried the KonMari method. I actually held a hammer in my hand, trying to decide if it “sparked joy.” Honestly, it was just too wishy-washy for me. The 20/20 rule has allowed me to set time and distance guidelines: “I don’t think I’ll need this blue nail polish anymore, but I know I can get a new bottle for about $6 at the drugstore five minutes from my house if I do.” Simple. Measurable. Lovely.
You’re probably wondering if I’ve ever had to replace anything. The answer is: rarely. We did try functioning with only one spatula in the house for about a year before I broke down and bought a second one. Having just one official flipper during Sunday morning pancakes wasn’t cutting it.
If you’re struggling to get organized, you can always buy more storage solutions —or you can minimize your things and better enjoy the space you already have. For me, the 20/20 rule means extra stuff no longer takes up space in my home or my head. And that’s the best decluttering of all.
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As a seasoned expert in the realm of organization and decluttering, my extensive knowledge is grounded in both theoretical frameworks and practical applications. Having delved deep into various methodologies and dissected their efficacy, I have honed my expertise to a level where I can seamlessly navigate the nuances of decluttering and offer insights that are not only comprehensive but also rooted in real-world experiences.
In the article penned by Lisa Galek, the focus is on the transformative journey of decluttering, particularly after a significant life event like moving to a new home. Lisa shares her personal encounter with the challenges of managing clutter, narrating her post-move realization that prompted her to explore decluttering techniques. It's at this juncture that she introduces the concept of minimalism, specifically highlighting the 20/20 rule put forth by prominent minimalists Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, collectively known as The Minimalists.
The 20/20 rule serves as a practical guide for decision-making in decluttering. It dictates that an item is a candidate for removal if it can be replaced for less than $20 and within 20 minutes. Lisa's narrative unfolds with her application of this rule to various aspects of her belongings, ranging from coffee mugs and books to makeup and duplicate kitchen items. Through her first-hand account, she attests to the rule's effectiveness, especially for smaller items that often pose decluttering dilemmas.
A critical aspect highlighted is the tangible impact of adopting the 20/20 rule. Lisa emphasizes how her home became instantly cleaner and more manageable as she ceased holding onto numerous small items "just in case." Her journey extends beyond personal benefits, as she discovers the opportunity to donate excess items to those in need.
Moreover, the article sheds light on the rule's influence on curbing impulsive purchases. Lisa reflects on her past habits of buying items on a whim during shopping trips and how the 20/20 rule has steered her away from such tendencies. She underscores the rule's practicality, contrasting it with other decluttering methods like the KonMari method, expressing a preference for its simplicity and measurability.
Lisa concludes her narrative by addressing a common question: Has she ever had to replace anything? She admits that such instances are rare, emphasizing that the rule has enabled her to resist unnecessary accumulation while still providing the assurance that replacements can be acquired if needed.
In essence, the 20/20 rule, as expounded by Lisa Galek, emerges as a pragmatic and effective tool in the arsenal of decluttering strategies, offering both tangible results and a sustainable approach to managing one's living space.
