12 Essential Minimalist Rules to Save Money and Reduce Clutter

Do you want to decrease the clutter around your home but don't know where to begin? The minimalist lifestyle is all about learning to live with less. It's the perfect lifestyle to adopt for anyone who wants to declutter their home. Minimalists swear by the following fifteen rules to reduce clutter and save money. 

1. The 80/20 Rule

This rule, known as Pareto's Principle, was discovered in Italy when one philosopher realized that the majority of outcomes were caused by a minority of causes. How can this be applied to minimalism? For example, people wear 20% of their clothes 80% of the time and use 20% of kitchen gadgets 80% of the time. By applying this rule to your home organization, you'll be more intentional when decluttering. 

2. Use It or Lose It

The Use It or Lose It rule is simple: you only keep necessary items around your home. People often purchase so many everyday objects intending to use them, but they eventually end up in storage. Consider the items around your home; if you don't currently use something, it's time to let it go.

3. The 2-Minute Rule

The 2-minute rule says that anything that will take you two minutes or less should be done immediately. There are so many everyday household tasks that people put off for later that could have been done right away, like sorting the mail, tidying a workspace, wiping the bathroom sink, or emptying the trash can. It’s much easier to keep your home clean and organized after decluttering with the 2-minute rule.. 

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4. 90/10 Rule 

Deciding which items bring you the most value and joy can be difficult when decluttering. However, this minimalist rule teaches you to prioritize quality over quantity. The 90/10 rule entails identifying the 10% of your belongings that you value the most and minimizing the rest. 

5. Declutter Before You Organize

It's only possible to keep your home tidy and clutter-free through decluttering. Whenever you have too many things in one space, keeping them neat will be a struggle. Before organizing, start with getting rid of the excess belongings then start organizing. 

6. The 50% Rule

People always complain about needing more storage, but the problem is having too many belongings. The 50% rule means keeping your storage spaces only 50% full. This gives you sufficient space to find things you've put away and reduce clutter. 

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7. The 90+ Rule

No one ever buys something hoping it's subpar quality. When shopping, give everything you consider buying a grade. If the item doesn't score 90 or above, don't buy it. This rule will help you avoid cluttering your home with things you don't need or aren't good investments. 

8. Declutter Duplicates

Have you ever heard someone say they loved something so much they got it in every color? The declutter duplicates rule helps you avoid cluttering your home with different versions of the same items. Unless you have a specific and justifiable reason for owning multiple variations of the same product, you must declutter the duplicates. 

9. The House on Fire Rule

What would you take if your house was on fire? This rule focuses on identifying the items you want to keep rather than those you want to get rid of. The house-on-fire rule helps you to put things into perspective and determine what's essential and what you can live without. 

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10. Project 333

This minimalist rule focuses on your wardrobe. It challenges you to wear only 33 items of clothing for three months. The thirty-three items should include clothes, shoes, outerwear, and jewelry. It helps you realize that you don't need as many clothing items as you think and helps you declutter your wardrobe. 

11. 24-Hour Rule

It's easy to purchase something you don't need when buying a non-essential item. You must consider whether you truly need the item, where you'll be storing it at your home, and whether you already own something similar. But by giving yourself 24 hours to reconsider and do additional research, you can ensure you only purchase the things you'll actually use and find value in. 

12. The 90/90 Rule

The 90/90 rule is excellent for seasonal decluttering and organizing. This rule entails asking yourself two questions about your belongings: Have you used it in the last 90 days? If not, will you use it in the next 90 days? If you answer no to both of these questions, you're likely keeping items around the home that you don't need.