When people consider organizing their home, they sometimes get overwhelmed and may even consider getting a storage unit to store some items. They think this will help solve their clutter problems. Maybe, if they can just get some of the stuff out of their house, then they can organize everything that is left. Although, that is not usually the case. The only real solution for your clutter problem is to sort though items and decrease the amount of things that you actually keep.
Self storage companies put commercials on television bragging about how they can solve your clutter problem. Do not let them convince you that this is a great idea. It definitely is NOT a good idea. They entice you with great offers for your first months rental on the storage unit. Some companies offer $1 for the first month or even the first month free. Even if you intend to just utilize the storage for just 1 month, I would still avoid taking that route. It sounds good in theory but, what usually happens it that you end up leaving the items in there longer than you intended.
I, and many other people, have used a storage unit in the past. I have learned a valuable lesson from my personal experience. In my case, I was in the process of moving from one apartment to another and the renovations on the new one were not going to be completed for about 2 weeks. Instead of sorting through my belongings and getting rid of some of my unnecessary stuff before I moved, I thought it was a great idea to get a storage unit temporarily (or so, I thought) to make the transition easier. I intended on getting all of my items out before the end of the month but, of course, that did not happen.
As is the case with most people, once you put the stuff in storage, you tend to forget about it. Out of sight, out of mind. I, myself, always seemed to be too busy to go and sort through the stuff or get anything out. And of course, you can only go there when the place is open, which also limits the time you have to sort through the items. Before you know it, you have been paying for the storage unit for over a year. The costs really add up. I realized that it would have made my life a lot easier if I had just sorted through everything before I moved. That way I could have just kept the items I really needed (not the ones I just wanted to hold onto) and downsized. Not to mention, all of the money I would have saved.
The storage companies already know that this is going to happen to most of the people who rent the units. They know that once people get the items into these units that they are going to keep them there for an extended period of time. That is what they are counting on. That is why they do everything they can to convince your to put your items there in the first place. They figure that if you were the type of person to sort through the items quickly, then you would have done so earlier and, therefore, would not have needed to store these items there to begin with.
I know, because I used to be that type of person myself. It is not easy to change and it is difficult for people to part with certain items, especially sentimental items. These companies know that when a person finds it hard to deal with all of the clutter (and the emotions that go along with it), that they can easily take advantage of their vulnerability and offer what appears to be an easy way out.
This only prolongs your agony. Try to avoid this trap at all costs. The money spent on a storage unit, each month, could be better spent on something else. Plus, if you are unable to continue paying on the unit for any reason, then the storage company keeps all your stuff and auctions it off. That is why you see shows like “Storage Wars” popping up on television. It happens so frequently that they actually turned it into a TV show.
Now, I’m not suggesting that you get rid of all of your mementos or family heirlooms. But, I do suggest that if you have some special items, the best place for them is not in a storage unit. You should honor these items, by displaying them in your home, so that you can see them and appreciate them everyday. What is the sense of having these precious items if you cannot enjoy them.
I believe that everyone can learn to declutter their homes and lives. Once things are neat and organized, you may also notice that some of your stress will go away and you may feel a new sense of calm. This is usually because it is so much easier to find things that you need and is becomes more effortless to maintain the organization. Begin your decluttering process today. You will be so happy that you did.