Organization and Storage Units

The bottom line is that many of us own too much stuff. Then we decide we don’t have enough room in our house and we go pay for a storage unit. As a professional organizer in Colorado, I can tell you I have done that before, and I highly discourage it. Instead, you could take the money you would spend on storage and hire an organizer to help you sort through and figure out what the most important things are that you want to keep and have in your home.

The Hidden Cost of Storage Units

The average American spends $90-$150 per month on a storage unit, which adds up to over $1,000 per year. Most people keep storage units for years, never accessing the items inside. Instead of paying to store things you don’t use, that money could go toward:

Professional organizing services to declutter your home
Home improvements to maximize your existing space
Experiences and activities that bring you joy
Savings or paying down debt

Clutter: An American Problem

Clutter is truly an American problem as well as a first-world problem. When I go visit other countries and anywhere in Europe, it is so satisfying to spend time in an Airbnb that doesn’t have a lot of items. Why, you ask? We can relax in a space that is not filled with clutter. When our minds are cluttered, the environment we live in also gets cluttered. By having an environment that is simple and clutter-free, that allows us to relax and enjoy the important things in life.

My Storage Unit Story: A Cautionary Tale

I’ll get off my soapbox now and return to the storage unit issue. When I got divorced and moved to Colorado 15 years ago, I decided to pack up my house and put it in a storage unit. A year later, I had not retrieved or needed anything in that storage unit, and it was too expensive to move everything in the house across the country. I decided to throw a garage sale from the storage unit because it was unnecessary to take much back with me. I remember keeping my bicycle and a few other things that would fit in my suitcase back to Colorado.

The Freedom of Letting Go

It was the most freeing feeling to empty that storage unit! I don’t remember making much off of the sale, but it didn’t matter! I felt like it helped people that needed the furniture and other items. It made space in my budget to focus on more important things, and a weight lifted off my shoulders from decluttering my life. It was a mental decluttering of my divorce/prior relationship and a physical decluttering of the storage space, which was wasting my money.

What to Do Instead of Renting a Storage Unit

If you’re considering a storage unit, ask yourself these questions first:

Have I used these items in the past year?
Would it be cheaper to replace these items than to store them?
Am I storing things out of guilt or obligation?
Could I donate, sell, or gift these items to someone who needs them now?

Alternatives to storage units:

Declutter first: Work with a professional organizer to sort through your belongings
Maximize home storage: Use vertical space, under-bed storage, and closet organizers
Digitize paperwork and photos: Reduce physical items by scanning important documents
Sell or donate: Let go of items you don’t use and help others in the process
Rent short-term only: If you absolutely need storage during a move, limit it to 1-3 months

Experiences Over Things: What Really Matters

The takeaway from my personal experience was that we don’t need “things” to make us happy. It’s truly the experiences in life that give us joy and not the physical items. The things we buy may give us a quick cortisol boost, but the reality is that it’s temporary. What I have discovered during my organizing and decluttering journey is the important things in life are experienced and lived, not bought!

Ready to Ditch Your Storage Unit?

If you’re ready to let go of your storage unit and reclaim your budget and peace of mind, professional organizing services can help. As a professional organizer in Littleton, Colorado, I help clients declutter, make decisions about what to keep, and create organized systems in their homes. Contact me today to start your decluttering journey!