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NewsMoney Saving Tip - Storage
Money Saving Tip - Storage

Money Saving Tip - Storage

Last updated by Someone on

Storage….we all need it. Whether it’s for hobby items, treasured belongings or for your home run business products.

In Mid 2016 I completed some home renovations to give us a couple of extra bedrooms. After ruthlessly throwing a lot of stuff out, I still had family memories I couldn’t part with. Things like my children’s first drawing from kindy, my old school uniform and dad’s flying log book.

I made the decision to put it all in storage for a few months with the view to sorting it out over Christmas and eventually getting rid of most of it. Now nearly 12 months on, I found myself with all the stuff still in storage and the monthly bill rising from $129 a month to $179 a month…a deal-breaker.

So last weekend I rallied the troops (my teenage sons and their friends), we hired a ute and moved it all out of storage and back under the house. It made sense to me as there is all this space under there, it’s dry and it’s free! It felt so good knowing I won’t have to fork out that money each month and at the same time I can just pop under the house at will and go through boxes if and when it suits me.

Interestly, while I was loading the ute at the storage facility, there was a man about my age who was busy unloading boxes from his car and putting them into his storage unit! I’m sure I caught a glimpse of him looking on me with envy…..

While extra storage space appeals to a lot of us, it’s an expense that needs to be justified, especially for people on tight budgets. To ensure you’re getting the biggest bang for the buck, try these five tips for saving on self-storage.

1. Store Only the Good Stuff.
You wouldn’t pay for a safe deposit box and then stuff it full of worthless trinkets you never want to see again, right? So don’t turn your storage unit into an over-priced garbage bin. Carefully scrutinize everything you choose to put in it, and cut ties with items you no longer use by having a garage sale or donating items to charity.

2. Take Advantage of Discounts.
Self-storage is one of those industries where businesses compete hard for customers through advertising and promotions. Whether you need storage for a few months or an extended period, be sure to ask about discounts. My self-storage operator is currently offering a “first month free” deal. https://www.nationalstorage.com.au/one-month-free/

3. Pack and Load Carefully.
If you’ve ever attempted to load a moving truck by yourself and then watched a seasoned professional do it, you’ve seen the difference it makes when you use space effectively. By maximizing efficiency, you may be able to downsize to a smaller unit.

4. Get It Included in Your Move.
The moving industry can be as competitive as self-storage, sometimes offering discounted or free short-term storage as part of your move. Take advantage of this perk if you can, or ask your storage facility whether it has a partnership with a removalist that offers discounts. https://www.grace.com.au/home-removalists/storage/

5. Share Space.
The bigger the unit you lease, the better the deal. By joining forces with trustworthy friends or relatives, you can maximize your purchasing power if you rent a larger unit at a lower combined rate. This strategy can chop 25 % to 50% off your rent.

What other ways can you suggest to save money on self-storage?

 

Originally posted on .

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Robyn
Robyn from NSW commented:

Just make sure under the house or storage unit is not in a flood zone, as many have found out recently, some floods are much bigger than any before, houses that have never flooded - now nothing but muddy smelly memories 

Someone
Someone from VIC commented:

I keep an open cardboard box in the bedroom and regularly pop items in that I don't really use. Once a month I take the box to the RSPCA op shop, it's liberating! 

John
John from VIC commented:

Try not to be a collector. Don't take too many photos, you don't need half of them anyway. Spend 1hour every week decluttering even if its a draw or cupboard. Only keep things you need and use. Pass on the rest or throw out. 

Robin
Robin from NSW commented:

I scanned all my son's artwork and school projects. All on disc - originals in the recycling! 

Robyn
Robyn from NSW commented:

Let someone who is not emotionally invested do the decluttering. It is very liberating when you see how much extra room you have and how much easier it is to clean the home. 

Joanne
Joanne from VIC commented:

I have heard others say "If you haven't looked at or used it in 2 years get rid of it" I suppose that means my Hot Rollers I found in a box the other day. I think at the age of 64 I won't need them 

Leonie
Leonie from QLD commented:

When we downsized we stored boxes on shelves lining a shipping container. I can walk down middle of it and access most things. Labelling and a simple map will make it even better - in time! 

susan
susan from SA commented:

Take photos of special things and remember fire hazards are real or flooding. I have a very difficult time releasing papers. I found the Japanese decluttering ideas of Marie Kondo to be very wise. .Philosopher/counsellor/ declutter expert she is all 3. "Donating for others to enjoy vs throwing away" made decluttering much easier. Planning a new house meant serious decluttering and during the three years of planning I let go of more and more and have not missed anything as I kept photos of anything precious. It is often the memory not the physical item that is treasured. 

Carolyn
Carolyn from QLD commented:

I have done that paid lots for things that were not worth it!in the end it's back home taking over my house! 

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