The 20/20 rule is a quick test for the items people keep just in case: if something could be replaced for under twenty dollars in under twenty minutes, it can usually go. This guide explains where the rule came from, how to run it on a shelf or storeroom in one session, and how to adjust it for Dubai, where replacing an item is a short walk in some neighbourhoods and a long drive in others.
The 20/20 rule was popularised by The Minimalists, Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus. Their test: anything you are keeping just in case can go if you could replace it for less than 20 dollars in less than 20 minutes from your current location. The point is that the feared 'what if' rarely arrives, and when it does, the cost is small.
The rule targets one specific kind of clutter. It is not about things you use, love or would struggle to replace. It is about the drawer of spare cables, the fourth pair of kitchen scissors and the craft supplies kept for a project that never started.
Most people find the time question harder than the price question. Be honest about travel time and about how often the item was needed before. A spare extension lead used once in three years passes easily; a specialist tool used every summer does not.
The original figures are in US dollars and assume an American town. Treat both numbers as a starting point, and set a local price limit that feels small for your household instead of converting the figure exactly.
| Home situation | Is twenty minutes realistic? | Sensible adjustment |
|---|---|---|
| Tower in a dense district such as Business Bay, JLT or Dubai Marina | Often, with supermarkets and pharmacies in the building or close by | Use the rule as written |
| Villa community further from shops, such as Arabian Ranches or Dubai South | Harder by car, though many areas have fast delivery | Count delivery time, or stretch to the next planned shopping trip |
| Items usually bought abroad or shipped from overseas | No, as shipping can take days or weeks | Exclude them from the rule |
| Items needed at short notice, such as a spare work charger | Depends on the time of day | Keep one spare and let the rest go |
Season matters too. A twenty-minute errand in August heat is a bigger ask than the same trip in January, and many residents travel for weeks in the hottest months. Allow for that with items you would need while the household is away or when going out is uncomfortable.
If a move is already booked for the next few weeks, keep the boxes. The rule is for a vague future, not a planned one. Our kitchen decluttering guide goes further on utensils, containers and duplicate appliances.
The rule is a filter for low-risk items. It fails whenever the cost of being without something is higher than its price.
When in doubt, fill a small holding box and write a date on it three months ahead. If nothing from the box has been used by that date, it goes without reopening the debate.
Letting go of cheap items only helps if they do not become landfill followed by a repeat purchase. Working items should go to reuse first: a neighbour, a building group, a charity or a donation drive. Our guide to donating decluttered items explains how to prepare them.
The rule also changes how a household shops. Once everyone sees how easily things can be replaced, there is less reason to buy extras in bulk just in case, which is where the rule saves money over time.
Larger just-in-case items, such as spare furniture, broken fans or shelving kept for later, fall outside the price limit, but the same honesty applies. When a storeroom or villa garage is full of them, junk removal can collect the bulky pieces together once the decisions are made.
The rule works well alongside other methods. The four-box method gives a session its structure, the 20/20 rule settles just-in-case items quickly, and a one-in, one-out habit stops duplicates returning. The KonMari method asks a different question, whether an item sparks joy, and suits clothes and books better than cables.
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Written by
The Junk Services Dubai Team
Junk Removal Specialists
Our editorial team is made up of the crews and coordinators who clear homes, villas and offices across Dubai every day. We share practical, first-hand guidance on decluttering, disposal and responsible waste removal in the UAE.
The 20/20 rule was popularised by The Minimalists, Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, as a way to let go of items kept only in case they might be needed.
Yes. Treat the price as a small amount your household would not mind spending again rather than an exact conversion. The idea is low cost, not a precise figure.
Replace it. The rule accepts that this will happen occasionally, and the small cost is usually lower than the space and effort of storing many rarely used items.
It suits spare basics such as extra socks or plain T-shirts, but most clothing decisions depend on fit and use. A dedicated wardrobe session works better for the rest.
It can be if working items go straight in the bin. Donate or pass on anything usable, and buy fewer duplicates afterwards so the rule reduces consumption.
Yes, for surplus stationery, cables and duplicate supplies. Leave equipment, records and shared items to whoever manages them.
The 20/20 rule is useful because it swaps a vague worry for two concrete questions. Use it on the drawers and shelves full of duplicates, keep the exclusions firm, and let the few items that fail the test stay without guilt.
When a declutter leaves bulky items behind, from old shelving to boxed garage overflow, WhatsApp Us photographs and your area. Our team will confirm what can be collected and a suitable time.
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