Amen!!! Another aspect of this is to consider that when you die, it's almost a certainty that whatever's in your storage space will end up in a landfill. Or, best case scenario, you burden your family with the task of having to sort through it all and figure out new homes for all your stuff--a job undesirable to you when you were alive. What a rough legacy to leave behind!
Co-siiiign! PS. Just took three lenses and one old camera to B&H to trade in after 12 years and let’s just say that stuff does not hold its value; still was so glad to get something for it to put toward a new camera and not to spend tons of time on pricing and shipping myself. Let it go!!!
I am guilty of having a 5x5 space...BUT I do use it. I store things like large luggage, beach chairs, seasonal clothes, because I have a very inexpensive, teeny tiny (225 sq.ft.) place; even with the storage fees added to my rent, I'm still under market (hear me justifying?). BUT I cannot wait to get rid of it once I get something larger. Aside from some "good" dishes and my LPs (which I believe I stored correctly and will weep if not), probably a good half (3/4?) will be donated. Life evolves, and what was once meaningful ends up being meh. xo
This is a great post. But I am a fan of trying to sell stuff online if you have the time and energy.
I’ve never paid for storage but I am very guilty of using my parents house as my storage unit (a privilege not everyone gets).
This year I’ve finally gotten rid of some long stored personal items: my boxes of olds toys (including a box of Polly pockets I made $700 from) and my stamp collection ( that was embarrassing using over $150 of uncirculated 90s stamps on parcels, the looks I got at the post office!) Next up have to sell my wedding dress: I hope as it’s art deco it will still have a life to live.
I love your anecdote about paying a local cleaner to hem your clothing, instead of going and getting your sewing machine. There is so much of a desire of independence, that much of what we have can be replaced if we were willing to pay for services. This is a great way to help entrepreneurs and small business owners! We also need to push our local libraries to become a lending library of things. Camping gear, snowshoes, even sewing machines can be borrowed, and then "stored" at the library.
I was just talking with someone about this topic last night. He and his family moved from a house in BK to the LES and they have TWO storage units for their overflow. I tried to convince him to at least drop down to one! I thought of you immediately, of course.
I use this bag from Ikea as a water bottle sling sometimes. I like that it's a little more versatile and can be a normal bag, or that I can still use the exterior pockets even with a water bottle in the main pocket.
I am guilty of holding hardly used things in a garage. It reduces the need for discipline needed to live in a 950sft home with hardly any storage. Grateful. Speaking of camera equipment, I am in the same place and shelved the process of editing it out. Your post got me to tackle the problem again.
I really love this article. Thank you for writing and sharing. My husband and I used to live in a 300 sq ft apartment in Brooklyn before moving to the mountains of Colorado, and everytime we have to move again, I wonder in what ways we can simplify and minimize our stuff that we never needed back in NYC in our tiny apartment. I know you're not here to answer all my questions and problems, but the things that are too big to store in our small townhome, but we use a TON seasonally, and that give me a hard time not resorting to a storage unit include things like: 1. Snow tires (or summer tires, depending on the season). When you live in a small mountain town when getting to work, or even just out of the driveway, actually depends on having snow tires, it's hard to justify just getting rid of them (or vice versa). On top of that, snow tires are heavy (therefore use more gas) and wear out faster, so it doesn't make sense to just keep them on all year long. 2. Bikes or other seasonal equipment. When the roads are covered in snow from late October-May and sometimes June, but then you use your bike 5-7 days a week May-October when it's finally possible to, you can't just get rid of that item. Same goes for skis (but skis are so small and skinny they can fit anywhere... and also, skis aren't *necessary*). Anyways, I'd be curious to hear how this might either shift your thinking or wonder what the other answer is... because I've been wondering what the answer is for 10+ years now.
Amen!!! Another aspect of this is to consider that when you die, it's almost a certainty that whatever's in your storage space will end up in a landfill. Or, best case scenario, you burden your family with the task of having to sort through it all and figure out new homes for all your stuff--a job undesirable to you when you were alive. What a rough legacy to leave behind!
Co-siiiign! PS. Just took three lenses and one old camera to B&H to trade in after 12 years and let’s just say that stuff does not hold its value; still was so glad to get something for it to put toward a new camera and not to spend tons of time on pricing and shipping myself. Let it go!!!
Have your friend check out the site Adorama. They buy cameras and related equipment. Got rid of mine there and made some easy money.
I am guilty of having a 5x5 space...BUT I do use it. I store things like large luggage, beach chairs, seasonal clothes, because I have a very inexpensive, teeny tiny (225 sq.ft.) place; even with the storage fees added to my rent, I'm still under market (hear me justifying?). BUT I cannot wait to get rid of it once I get something larger. Aside from some "good" dishes and my LPs (which I believe I stored correctly and will weep if not), probably a good half (3/4?) will be donated. Life evolves, and what was once meaningful ends up being meh. xo
This is a great post. But I am a fan of trying to sell stuff online if you have the time and energy.
I’ve never paid for storage but I am very guilty of using my parents house as my storage unit (a privilege not everyone gets).
This year I’ve finally gotten rid of some long stored personal items: my boxes of olds toys (including a box of Polly pockets I made $700 from) and my stamp collection ( that was embarrassing using over $150 of uncirculated 90s stamps on parcels, the looks I got at the post office!) Next up have to sell my wedding dress: I hope as it’s art deco it will still have a life to live.
I love your anecdote about paying a local cleaner to hem your clothing, instead of going and getting your sewing machine. There is so much of a desire of independence, that much of what we have can be replaced if we were willing to pay for services. This is a great way to help entrepreneurs and small business owners! We also need to push our local libraries to become a lending library of things. Camping gear, snowshoes, even sewing machines can be borrowed, and then "stored" at the library.
I was just talking with someone about this topic last night. He and his family moved from a house in BK to the LES and they have TWO storage units for their overflow. I tried to convince him to at least drop down to one! I thought of you immediately, of course.
I use this bag from Ikea as a water bottle sling sometimes. I like that it's a little more versatile and can be a normal bag, or that I can still use the exterior pockets even with a water bottle in the main pocket.
https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/vaerldens-crossbody-bag-black-40487933/
I am guilty of holding hardly used things in a garage. It reduces the need for discipline needed to live in a 950sft home with hardly any storage. Grateful. Speaking of camera equipment, I am in the same place and shelved the process of editing it out. Your post got me to tackle the problem again.
I really love this article. Thank you for writing and sharing. My husband and I used to live in a 300 sq ft apartment in Brooklyn before moving to the mountains of Colorado, and everytime we have to move again, I wonder in what ways we can simplify and minimize our stuff that we never needed back in NYC in our tiny apartment. I know you're not here to answer all my questions and problems, but the things that are too big to store in our small townhome, but we use a TON seasonally, and that give me a hard time not resorting to a storage unit include things like: 1. Snow tires (or summer tires, depending on the season). When you live in a small mountain town when getting to work, or even just out of the driveway, actually depends on having snow tires, it's hard to justify just getting rid of them (or vice versa). On top of that, snow tires are heavy (therefore use more gas) and wear out faster, so it doesn't make sense to just keep them on all year long. 2. Bikes or other seasonal equipment. When the roads are covered in snow from late October-May and sometimes June, but then you use your bike 5-7 days a week May-October when it's finally possible to, you can't just get rid of that item. Same goes for skis (but skis are so small and skinny they can fit anywhere... and also, skis aren't *necessary*). Anyways, I'd be curious to hear how this might either shift your thinking or wonder what the other answer is... because I've been wondering what the answer is for 10+ years now.