Try the “$1 Per Use” Rule

This is part of Stewie's Guide to Ruthlessly Declutter Your Clothes Today.

Let me tell you a story about a friend I’ll call Abe who is extremely frugal. Not in a saves-coupons-in-binders kind of way, but in a buys-the-cheapest-option-and-regrets-it-later kind of way.

For example, Abe loves Vans shoes but thought that paying $50 for shoes was outrageous. So instead, he’d buy $15 knock-offs that didn’t feel great. After six weeks, the cheap canvas material would separate from the soles, and Abe would buy a new pair. And after this happened several times, Abe would search for a different cheap knock-off.

The cycle kept repeating until I introduced Abe to the “$1 per use” rule—a little mental trick that changed how he shopped.

The $1 Per Use Rule

It’s simple: before buying something, ask, “Will I use this enough times to make it worth the cost?”

When Abe was looking at Vans, I asked, “Will you wear these $50 shoes at least 50 times? If so, that’s a $1 per use, which is reasonable. If you wear them 100 times, it’s $0.50 per use. But, and this seems really unlikely, if you only wear them five times, that’s $10 per use, which is a colossal waste of money.”

Something clicked in Abe’s brain, and he pulled out the calculator on his phone, and said, “I’d wear them for a whole year, which is only 14 cents per use.” He was delighted that he finally felt OK buying the shoes he actually wanted.

Honestly, this rule has helped me feel good about spending money on quality things I’ll actually use—like a great winter coat or expensive shoes—because I know I’ll get my money’s worth.

This rule also helped me justify spending more money on glasses, paying for anti-scratch, anti-glare, and transition lenses. And it’s kept me from wasting money on things I’ll regret—like funny T-shirts that make me laugh when I see them in the store, but that I won’t actually wear.

Now, Let’s Apply It to Decluttering

The same logic that helps me decide what to buy also helps me decide what to let go of.

As you go through your closet, ask yourself, “What’s the cost per use for this item?”

Maybe you have a $45 blouse that you’ve only worn twice.

Maybe there’s a pair of designer jeans you found on clearance, but they still have the tags on them.

Maybe you bought a trendy jacket that you convinced yourself you’d wear, but it’s been sitting untouched for a year.

If your cost per use is more than $1 (always will be) why keep it?

Sure, you spent money on it. But keeping it won’t bring that money back. The cost is already paid, whether you wear it or not.

So why not give it to someone who will actually use it?

Shifting Your Mindset

For a long time, I kept things because I felt guilty about wasting money. But I’ve learned that clutter is the real waste—not just of money, but of space, energy, and mental clarity.

Now, I see it differently. I think of letting go as a smart financial decision. If something isn’t earning its keep in my closet, it’s better to free up space for what I actually love wearing.

So, as you go through your wardrobe, try the “$1 per use” rule. Ask yourself, “Is this item truly worth the space it’s taking up? Or would someone else get more value from it than I ever will?”

If the answer points to letting go, trust it. Because the real value of clothing isn’t in the price tag—it’s in how much you actually enjoy wearing it.

Next steps…