Storage units are costing you more than you think.
One of my clients, let’s call her “Jane,” recently contacted me about getting some help with cleaning out a storage unit belonging to a relative who had passed away. I came to find out that she actually had 3 relatives who had passed away, each leaving behind a storage unit filled with “stuff.” Jane felt overwhelmed by the thought of sorting, managing, and disposing of items from her family members.
She’s not alone.
An average of 1 in every 10 Americans has belongings in a storage unit. The average cost of a small unit in Illinois is $100 a month, or around $1,200 a year. If you want a climate-controlled unit or insurance, you’re looking at even more per month to store items you’re not even using and can’t access easily. Often, storage units end up being more expensive than the items being stored in them.
Along with the financial cost of keeping items in a storage unit, there are usually sentimental or emotional issues at play, too. Like Jane, it can be emotionally overwhelming to sort through the belongings of a loved one who’s passed. Perhaps you don’t have room in your own home for their personal belongings, or you just don’t want them but can’t bring yourself to get rid of them. If the storage unit is for your own belongings, it might feel wasteful or “wrong” to get rid of items you’ve spent your hard-earned money on, so you keep paying the rental fee, month after month. The items often end up left in storage, collecting not just dust but expensive rental fees.
“It’s typically all about procrastination,” says Ann Gambrell, a founder of the National Association of Professional Organizers, who runs decluttering workshops and clutter support groups. “People end up spending money because they can’t make a decision.”
By following three simple rules, you can help minimize your need for long-term storage.
- Ask yourself if you have used an item in the last 12 months. If not, donate or get rid of it.
- If you rarely use it, or if it is something that can be replaced for less than $25.00, let it go. (At $100/month in storage, you’ll have paid for it several times over. Also, items tend to decrease in value over time, so the longer you store them, the less they’re worth.)
- If it is a family item you have inherited, ask yourself if your children really want to deal with it in the event of your passing. Would they really want it? If not, let someone else find joy in it.
If you absolutely must place items in storage (such as a relocation for work or home improvement projects, for example), be intentional about your storage unit:
- Purge and eliminate before purchasing the unit.
- Be very clear about what you’re storing and why; don’t store items you know you won’t need in the future just because you have a place to put them.
- Have a plan for the length of time that your items should stay in storage. Set a goal with a time frame to either eliminate or sell the items if necessary.
- Shop around – most rental facilities offer minimal fees for the first month, saving you money.
If you need help with managing or eliminating your storage unit, schedule a free consultation with us today.
