The 'Use It or Lose It' Rule (Minimalism Basics)

Most of us are managing WAY MORE inventory than we can handle. But, it can be difficult to know what to keep and what to pass on. Introducing the "use it or lose it rule"...start using the things you have or donate them to someone who can make use of them!

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[lucindapick]

This reminds me of a quote, "Ships in the harbor are safe, but that's not what ships were built for." Use the nice stuff!

[heatherd]

I have started a new habit in my closet kind of like use it or lose it. Everytime I hang up a shirt fresh from the laundry, it goes in the back. Every morning when I get dressed I "must" wear the shirt in the front. If I hesitate, or don't want to wear that shirt, I ask why? Does it not fit right? Don't like the way I feel in it? Too clingy? This makes me love my clothes SO much more. I have decluttered my clothes so much that now when I open my closet I am excited to wear that shirt today! Also limiting the number of hangers in my closet helps too!

[de-deheeter]

As a maker myself, I can pretty much guarantee that if the lady who made your potholders had known you packed them away, she would’ve been very disappointed. I’m glad that you are using it. I made a quilt for some friends for wedding gift many years ago. They have lived far away from us for their entire marriage. This past summer, I got brave and asked about the quilt, because I had never taken a picture of it. “Oh, yes!” They had slept under that quilt every night of their married life, and though it’s well-worn, it’s still loved and used. I got my picture, wear and tear and all, and I was so thrilled that it brought tears to my eyes!

[Is]

My grandma gave my sister and me each a set of dish towels that she hand embroidered herself. I have been using mine and thinking of her everyday for 16 years and my sister has had them in a box to protect them. She just realized within this last year that I have been using my set all along and was so excited to pull hers out and use hers. She felt like she needed permission to use them because they were so special. Now she gets to think of grandma when she sees hers everyday as well. Thanks for this great reminder!!!

[darcyharris]

You work wonders Dawn. I retired a year ago and have been watching you closely. I have minimalized and organized our home so much! I love how the open space makes me feel calm and relaxed. I love being at home more than ever and it truly is our home sweet home. My house is always 15 minute party ready and my guests comment all the time on how beautiful our home is now. Today I sat down to watch you and when you mentioned “if you don’t like it today you won’t like it better tomorrow, I marched right up to my closet and purged even more and have 3 bags to take to our local charity resale shop.
You are amazing (and so is Tom).
I love watching you, keep teaching us!

[arozsa-h]

“Shop your house first” I love this advice! Find special items that can actually be used and not stay in a bin forever, also another amazing encouragement

[alexinaaron]

One thing that hinders me from decluttering (and I'm actually pretty good at it) is the desire to be more environmentally friendly: to donate, to bring to my local recycling center, to bring to give to a homeless shelter or school or hospital, etc. OR to find a way to repurpose, so as to be more "zero waste". But all that stuff is HARD and takes time and thought and sometimes research or extra errands. One day, I just decided to use your "guilt free" method to just fill up a trash bag. It felt so good to just get rid of some stuff that had been hanging around for MONTHS because I was trying to get rid of it more responsibly. I do responsibly declutter most our stuff, but man, I just needed to give myself permission to not be perfect.

[tpeters]

If I have shampoo, bubble bath or soap of some sort that I don’t care for, I just clean with it. Everyday scrubbing of the toilet and sink doesn’t need to be harsh chemicals, unless you clean less often. Once it’s done, I continue with my regular cleaner.

[greenthumbelina]

When our daughters were little, I started using our stemware and also the crystal snack sets we got for wedding gifts (which proves I'm old) for Sunday brunches at home. Our daughters loved being all dressed up and using the pretty' dishes, it made them feel more grownup, and they also were expected to use good manners at the table.

[melissamoreno]

The cost of storing these items is always my confidence, my self esteem and my peace. Imagine someone forcing you to look at one of your mistakes every single this is what we do to ourselves when we keep these items.

[seanagarrow]

I’m a “crazy for holiday themed blankets” person…They make a huge “holiday” statement draped over a couch, chair, or bed. Unfortunately, I have limited storage space. So, I “use” them daily as folded up pillow inserts. Little do visitors know that the decorative pillows in my house are actually blanket holders. Easter, Christmas, & Thanksgiving (Fall leaves) blankets are folded inside the couch throw pillows, and Halloween & blue-starred blankets (stars for Memorial Day/4th of July/summer) are inside the throw pillows on the beds…
If I ever decide to kick the blanket habit, I may fill them with sweaters or jackets..lol!😃

[JamieM]

I have had a cardboard box full of antique green glass for decades, waiting for the right glass-fronted shelving unit to display them. I've never found one.
After watching this & some other decluttering channels, I finally pulled that box out. I have two green mason jars with metal lids that are now candy jars, a beautiful green bottle with an antique stopper that is one of my very few living room decor pieces, & a green milk bottle (with bubbles in the glass!) that holds fresh flowers.

I donated my old flower vase & donated the rest of the stuff that was in the box, because none of it was that special when I really thought about it.
So happy I'm actually using some of my favorite things! And no more dusty box taking up storage space!

[EmmaAppleBerry]

There's a french saying
*"the fate of glass is to break"*

keeping that in mind with precious things i want to protect & never use allows me to realise that those things are made to be used.

id actually be doing them a disservice not to, & that yes at some point maybe in 5 years, maybe in 50 itll break and thats okay. 😊

[sarahouser]

Funny I made the decision to wear my race walking Nikes $$ when I painted on Labor Day Weekend. Sure enough I splashed Accessible Beige by Sherwin Williams on my shoes but my feet felt great! I feel pride seeing the stains knowing I’ve still got the energy at 60 to paint my master bedroom. Thanks for today’s video.

[danielleroth]

My grandmothers made beautiful quilts, and my parents always kept them hidden in a cedar chest to "protect" them. They were handed down to me, and we use them all the time now, because I believe she would have wanted us to use them than hide them away and let them get old! We have a few with stains on them which is sad, but so much better than never using them. Love this!

[marcelshepherd]

My grandma gave us a beautiful set of dishtowels and a tablecloth that she had embroidered for a wedding gift. She very adamantly told me they were to be used and not sit in a box somewhere. At first, I didn't want to, but I took what she said to heart and we use them regularly. Every time I get one of those items out, I think of her and I love it.

[polystaircasesniffs]

I’ve momentarily lost the wind from my decluttering sails; I was told my massive decluttering progress (8+ months now) was not going to make a difference in calming the house and increasing happiness with the kids, that this decluttering road is just a red herring. Rewatching all your videos right now to try to get my sights back and convince myself they’re wrong!! Hugs Dawn, so glad you just dropped a It’s a sign! :) Sighhhh

[Lynntahl]

My favorite mug has a hairline fracture through it, which makes it unusable for liquids. I was devastated! Yet it wasn’t completely broken, so I started using it to organize drink powder packets. I didn’t want to lose it so I started using it differently. Great concept!

[janetmurphyca]

I love this. This is def something I try to do. For instance I live in a super casual style house with two teens, my husband and 2 dogs. Yet in the middle of the island in our kitchen is a fancy crystal candy dish. It was my grandmothers and is VERY connected to my memories of her. So instead of hiding it in our china cabinet we fill it with M&Ms and use it every day. It is super special and makes me smile daily.

[beverlyfindley]

This totally applies to "wedding china" - those nice dishes we registered for and stashed away for a "special occasion." In 2020, no one was going to anyone else's house for dinner. So I decided we would start using the nice dishes. Just the two of us. We made a big breakfast every weekend and used those dishes and it was so fun 😊