A self-storage unit is a great way to create some extra storage space at a low price. But how do you decide what should go into your storage space and what should stay in your home or garage? The key to determining what to put into storage is to think about how you use your belongings.

Infrequent use

Some items see infrequent use — or are never used at all — but still can't be thrown away. Perhaps you're saving a bicycle for when a child grows up a little more, or don't want to throw out important documents that you reference once every few years. You may need to store records for your business or have items that you'd prefer not to part with for sentimental reasons. Items like these need to be kept safe but don't have to be close at hand. This makes them ideal candidates for a storage unit; in the event that you do need them, you can retrieve them, but they won't be taking up space in your home.

Predictable use

It isn't just infrequently-used items that can go into a storage unit. Items that you use regularly but never unpredictably are ideal for storage. For instance, you might go kayaking frequently, but you're seldom going to find yourself in a situation where you need a kayak at a moment's notice. Moving your kayaking gear into a storage unit is, therefore, a good way to save space at home without adding too much extra effort to your kayaking trips. The same applies to camping gear, luggage, sporting equipment, formal wear and more. 

Inventory and replacements

Buying supplies in bulk is a good way to save money, but it can put a lot of demands on your available space at home. Whether you need to store business inventory or home supplies, you can save space by moving most of your bulk purchases to a storage unit. For instance, you may need padded mailing envelopes for your home business, but only post a few orders a week. Leave a month's worth of envelopes in your office and move the rest of your supply to your storage space. Every month, or as needed, you can refill your on-hand supply from your storage unit, freeing up space in the office while still saving money on supplies. 

Thinking about how often you use items and whether you need to keep them close to hand can help you decide what you want to keep at home and what you can move to a storage unit. By making smart use of this affordable storage solution, you can cut down on clutter while keeping the things you need where you need them.

Reach out to local self-storage facilities for more information.

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