Do you use a storage unit and what do you have in it?

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry if this sounds like a very dumb question but I am thinking of using one and just want some insight. If you’ve use one long or short term, if you’ve had good or bad experiences.

For background, I still live at home with my parents and will be moving out soon. I don’t want to take up any more space in the house storing my belongings that I don’t want to take to a new state with me just yet. Things like childhood books, yearbooks, clothes I won’t need anytime soon, collectible type things etc. Things that I’ll want when I have my own home someday but don’t need in an apartment/short term living situation.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

As long as you don't have an issue with your parents, why don't you just offer to pay your parents to keep it. When I moved to DC from faraway state, I stopped by my parents house and deposited some of the stuff you're describing—but also gave them a nice, nearly new washing machine and a couch. They've slowly returned the boxes on visits as I've gotten larger and larger places.

If it's an issue of not wanting to freeload, that's legit but see if you can work out a deal — self-storage can get pricey and it's probably a lot more convenient to keep it in your parent's attic.

[Anonymous]

Ruthlessly pare it down now. If you have time to digitize some of it do it now.

[Anonymous]

OP here - I think I would rather put it into a storage unit where it can be consistently temperate controlled, and just safer off in general. And just out of the way for whenever I do come stay in my old room


Do storage units have bug problems? I’d just be nervous about bed bugs or termite incidents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I think I would rather put it into a storage unit where it can be consistently temperate controlled, and just safer off in general. And just out of the way for whenever I do come stay in my old room


Do storage units have bug problems? I’d just be nervous about bed bugs or termite incidents.

reasonable... and not all, but certainly some. do your research.

[Anonymous]

No. I pared down all the things you mentioned until they fit in two plastic under-the-bed boxes. My parents kept one ski jacket of mine when I moved to a warm climate. I used it twice.

OP, don't get a storage unit. Make your life fit the space you live, otherwise you'll make you'll keep getting more things to fit more space. If you get a storage unit, you'll wind up filling it. Then upgrading to a bigger storage unit. Then you're Tori Spelling with 14 warehouses of crap, and too overwhelmed to clean them out.

[Anonymous]

Storage units are not totally safe, my mother stored all of her things in one while moving in with us, then got a mouse infestation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. I pared down all the things you mentioned until they fit in two plastic under-the-bed boxes. My parents kept one ski jacket of mine when I moved to a warm climate. I used it twice.

OP, don't get a storage unit. Make your life fit the space you live, otherwise you'll make you'll keep getting more things to fit more space. If you get a storage unit, you'll wind up filling it. Then upgrading to a bigger storage unit. Then you're Tori Spelling with 14 warehouses of crap, and too overwhelmed to clean them out.

Excellent advice!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. I pared down all the things you mentioned until they fit in two plastic under-the-bed boxes. My parents kept one ski jacket of mine when I moved to a warm climate. I used it twice.

OP, don't get a storage unit. Make your life fit the space you live, otherwise you'll make you'll keep getting more things to fit more space. If you get a storage unit, you'll wind up filling it. Then upgrading to a bigger storage unit. Then you're Tori Spelling with 14 warehouses of crap, and too overwhelmed to clean them out.

OP here ha fair enough. Good point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Storage units are not totally safe, my mother stored all of her things in one while moving in with us, then got a mouse infestation

Ugh I do worry about this. But I also worry about things happening to the house as well while I’m not here.

[Anonymous]

Storage units are more expensive than you think. You’ll be paying several hundred dollars for years. Units with AC are more expensive, and it’s a pain to move thing in and out. And are you really going to go visit your things? It’s one thing to use them for furniture temporarily but another for keepsakes. I would pare down to a box or two.

[Anonymous]

I just learned something about Torri spelling. I had no idea she had multiple storage units and a hoarding issue.

When my husband and I got married, we had a storage unit because we had two apartments and we combined into one apartment knowing that we would move into a house. Long story short it was a dumb idea because the stuff that we chose to use in our apartment versus what we chose to store showed us what we liked. When we finally Emptied the storage unit when we moved into a house we realized we didn't like any of the stuff in the storage unit and we just donated it. All that money down the drain paying for a storage unit when we should've just donated upfront.

[Anonymous]

Ok thank you everyone for your suggestions to not use one but I do think I have made up my mind that I want one for now. So thank you but I’m not necessarily looking for advice on paring down on my stuff. Just want to know some cons of storage units and tips on if I do use one. Thank you though!!!

[Anonymous]

Not worth it long term. They continually Jack up the prices, the have limited temp control. Mine got mice and mold in a Public Storage brand name facility.

[Anonymous]

I’ve helped friends empty their storage units. I found no evidence of infestation. I did notice it was a burden for them to keep paying monthly and most items ended up being donated eventually.