We talk a lot about how to make more money — side hustles, job hopping, investing, freelancing — but the easiest way to grow your bank account might be right under your nose. It’s not about earning more. It’s about not spending what you already have. That’s where the $20 Rule comes in.

💡 What Is the $20 Rule?

The $20 Rule is simple:
Every time you don’t spend $20 on something non-essential, consider it $20 earned.

Not in a metaphorical way — in a real, tangible, bank-account-has-more-money kind of way. That’s because:

• You didn’t work an extra hour.

• You didn’t pay taxes on “earning” it.

• You didn’t lose time or energy.

• You just made a powerful decision with your wallet.
  
  

🛑 $20 Disappears Fast — Here’s Where

We rarely think twice about spending $20. But here’s how fast it adds up, often in ways we don’t even notice:

• Fast food or takeout for 2: $22

• Gas station snack + drink + convenience fee: $18

• One “quick” Target run: $20–$80

• Streaming service or app trial you forgot to cancel: $10–$25/month

• Impulse buy from a social media ad: $20–$50
  
  

💬 “It’s just twenty bucks.”
But say that 10 times a month, and you’ve spent $200. That’s $2,400 a year you could have used for debt, savings, travel, or even just peace of mind.

📊 Let’s Do the Math:

• Save $20/week = $1,040/year

• Save $20 just 3× a week = $3,120/year

• Save $20/day (by cooking, skipping Amazon, or brewing coffee at home) = $7,300/year
  
  

This is tax-free money — meaning you didn’t have to earn $10K to save that $7K.

💥 The Mindset Shift: “Would I Work an Hour for This?”

Next time you're about to spend $20 on something unnecessary, ask yourself:

Would I clock in and work an hour of my life for this exact thing right now?

If the answer is “no,” you just gave yourself permission to keep that $20.

✍️ Challenge: The 7-Day “$20 Pause” Tracker

Here’s your challenge:
For the next 7 days, keep a simple list of every time you almost spent $20 and stopped yourself.

Write down:

• What it was (e.g. DoorDash order)

• Why you didn’t buy it

• What you did instead (e.g. made a grilled cheese, went for a walk, left your card in the car)
  
  

You’ll quickly start to see how often these near-spends happen — and how easy it is to reclaim them.

💭 Final Thought: Small Choices, Big Change

We’re trained to think that growing wealth means hustling harder or finding more ways to earn. But sometimes, the real game-changer isn’t what you bring in — it’s what you choose not to let go.

The $20 Rule is a reminder that your everyday decisions carry power. It’s not about being cheap. It’s about being conscious. Every time you pause, skip, or walk away from a $20 impulse, you’re building a habit — a habit of keeping your money, owning your time, and choosing long-term comfort over short-term convenience.

These little moments of awareness? They stack up. Fast.

So whether you save $20 once a week or three times a day, know this: you’re not just spending less


You’re buying back your freedom.