I Tried the 30/30 Rule, and Now I’ll Always Use It Before Making Purchases

By nature, I am cautious when it comes to purchasing items that may or may not end up as clutter. When contemplating a purchase, especially an expensive one, I stall and analyze if the product will be utilized for the long haul.

I don’t have any formula for this process; I just tend to wait, which I admit has caused some issues. Sometimes I’m happy I waited, as I realize I didn’t need the item immediately or at all. Other times I’ve unfortunately waited too long, and when returning to purchase the item from the store or online, I find that it’s out of stock or sold out. 

It made me wonder if there’s a straightforward process I should be implementing that could help me streamline my decision-making. So when I found out about The Minimalists’ 30/30 rule, I decided to give it a try for this purpose. 

Here’s the gist of The Minimalists’ 30/30 rule: If something costs more than $30, the challenge is to try to get by without it for the next 30 hours, and for something that costs more than $100, they say to wait 30 days. This extra time is supposed to help you assess if the item will or won’t add value to your life. And if you do end up purchasing it, you can feel good that you were intentional about bringing it home.

Recently I spotted a large cabinet in a local store’s Facebook video that I was drawn to. I felt it would work in a space that had been empty for quite some time in my family’s living area. I wanted to check it out but knew I needed to pause. So I implemented the 30/30 rule and waited 30 days, as it cost over $100.

I needed to think about what adding this new furniture piece to my home would do. Was I just trying to fill a void on a blank wall in my living area with a pretty item, or could I utilize a new storage piece and ensure it served a purpose? 

The next month, I visited the store to look at the cabinet in person and see if it would work for my home. I love this local store, and it’s well-known for deals on furniture that go fast. The bad news was there was only one cabinet left, so I was on the spot again and felt a tug to make the purchase quickly. I resisted. 

Instead I asked myself if it would truly be a functional piece or end up as clutter. I got feedback from my husband; he said he loved it. I wanted to be sure that it fit the area and wasn’t too big or small, so we measured it (and realized it would fit!). It was $365 so it was a little more expensive, but worth the 30-day wait — and I ended up purchasing it. 

This large cabinet is a beautiful-yet-functional piece where I can store my kids’ art supplies, plus files and bills. The top is a lovely landing spot for keys, sunglasses, and mail that had otherwise been lying about all over my kitchen countertops.

Now that we’ve used it for a few weeks, I’m glad I added this furniture piece to my home and implemented the 30/30 rule before getting it. If I had purchased it immediately, I’m not sure I would have adequately thought through all the functional sides of this cabinet. It streamlines many disorganized processes, and I think it looks lovely in the blank space on my wall.