Comments on: Stop Paying For Self-Storage To Keep Your Clutter. http://simpleorganizedlife.com/stop-paying-for-self-storage-to-keep-your-clutter/ Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:10:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Sherri http://simpleorganizedlife.com/stop-paying-for-self-storage-to-keep-your-clutter/comment-page-1/#comment-7617 Sherri Thu, 23 Sep 2010 05:09:13 +0000 http://simpleorganizedlife.com/?p=46#comment-7617 I have a great deal on a storage unit... $27 a month. Locked in rate. Since I don't have a garage or carport or basement, I consider this a good safe off-site place for me to keep camping equipment and holiday things and yes, a few boxes of personal things that maybe I really don't need, but well, can't seem to part with. I'm really careful about keeping it tidy and easy to get to and we often visit, bringing seasonal things in and out. If it were a lot more money, then yes, I would ditch it. But it's very secure, safe and well, helps me to keep my home very clutter free. And I use it sometimes for those iffy items that I think I don't need but I can't seem to just give away... I'll pop them in the unit for a month or two and then the parting is MUCH easier. I have a little shed in my yard, but in our park, those sheds are easy targets for kids and such, so I really don't want to keep anything very valuable in it. It's easy to say that there is a clear cut rule to storage units, as in, no one should use them, but I think if you manage it well, they can be very useful, if you need a bit of space. Just saying.... :-) I have a great deal on a storage unit… $27 a month. Locked in rate. Since I don’t have a garage or carport or basement, I consider this a good safe off-site place for me to keep camping equipment and holiday things and yes, a few boxes of personal things that maybe I really don’t need, but well, can’t seem to part with. I’m really careful about keeping it tidy and easy to get to and we often visit, bringing seasonal things in and out.

If it were a lot more money, then yes, I would ditch it. But it’s very secure, safe and well, helps me to keep my home very clutter free. And I use it sometimes for those iffy items that I think I don’t need but I can’t seem to just give away… I’ll pop them in the unit for a month or two and then the parting is MUCH easier.

I have a little shed in my yard, but in our park, those sheds are easy targets for kids and such, so I really don’t want to keep anything very valuable in it.

It’s easy to say that there is a clear cut rule to storage units, as in, no one should use them, but I think if you manage it well, they can be very useful, if you need a bit of space.

Just saying…. :-)

]]> By: Nicky http://simpleorganizedlife.com/stop-paying-for-self-storage-to-keep-your-clutter/comment-page-1/#comment-3937 Nicky Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:43:42 +0000 http://simpleorganizedlife.com/?p=46#comment-3937 Well this is a great post, but I have to comment. You see I'm a freelance artist in addition to my job (which I love) working at a school as an aide. However the paintings I love to do are often 5 feet tall canvas. These and the supplies to them are kept in a storage unit along with anything that doesn't fit in my current rented home. About every 8months to a year I move in the vicinity as I can only afford to rent a room on my salary and those are subjected to the current renters staying put. In addition I keep antiques that I love and could not buy back that sometimes fit, sometimes don't. So yes I may loose about 1,000 a year but selling even ONE painting often pays for that when it's the larger one, and about 3 of the smaller so to me it's worth it. Otherwise I couldn't have a place to keep them. :) Well this is a great post, but I have to comment. You see I’m a freelance artist in addition to my job (which I love) working at a school as an aide. However the paintings I love to do are often 5 feet tall canvas. These and the supplies to them are kept in a storage unit along with anything that doesn’t fit in my current rented home. About every 8months to a year I move in the vicinity as I can only afford to rent a room on my salary and those are subjected to the current renters staying put. In addition I keep antiques that I love and could not buy back that sometimes fit, sometimes don’t. So yes I may loose about 1,000 a year but selling even ONE painting often pays for that when it’s the larger one, and about 3 of the smaller so to me it’s worth it. Otherwise I couldn’t have a place to keep them. :)

]]> By: David http://simpleorganizedlife.com/stop-paying-for-self-storage-to-keep-your-clutter/comment-page-1/#comment-2009 David Thu, 21 May 2009 13:44:14 +0000 http://simpleorganizedlife.com/?p=46#comment-2009 You aren't crazy; getting rid of clutter and "stuff" is a process that one must go through!! You aren’t crazy; getting rid of clutter and “stuff” is a process that one must go through!!

]]> By: Tom http://simpleorganizedlife.com/stop-paying-for-self-storage-to-keep-your-clutter/comment-page-1/#comment-2000 Tom Thu, 21 May 2009 07:12:56 +0000 http://simpleorganizedlife.com/?p=46#comment-2000 No, David, no need to apologize. I appreciate your honesty. If you had told me what you thought I wanted to hear, then your comment wouldn't mean much, would it? I am aware of the crazy aspect of paying for a storage unit, but am not yet ready to part with my stuff. So I guess I'm stuck . . . for now. I like your website! Tom No, David, no need to apologize. I appreciate your honesty. If you had told me what you thought I wanted to hear, then your comment wouldn’t mean much, would it? I am aware of the crazy aspect of paying for a storage unit, but am not yet ready to part with my stuff. So I guess I’m stuck . . . for now.
I like your website!
Tom

]]> By: David http://simpleorganizedlife.com/stop-paying-for-self-storage-to-keep-your-clutter/comment-page-1/#comment-1994 David Thu, 21 May 2009 04:04:13 +0000 http://simpleorganizedlife.com/?p=46#comment-1994 Yes. Not what you want to hear, but yes. I have lived in much smaller apartments than 1,000 sq feet, w/o a garage, and have still never needed a storage place. Sorry if that's not what you want to hear. :) Yes. Not what you want to hear, but yes. I have lived in much smaller apartments than 1,000 sq feet, w/o a garage, and have still never needed a storage place. Sorry if that’s not what you want to hear. :)

]]> By: Tom http://simpleorganizedlife.com/stop-paying-for-self-storage-to-keep-your-clutter/comment-page-1/#comment-1993 Tom Thu, 21 May 2009 03:43:43 +0000 http://simpleorganizedlife.com/?p=46#comment-1993 $1000 a year is a lot of money and it does pain me to spend it on storage. But the facts are that I live with my wife in a 1000 sq. ft. condo with no garage or yard. Not much space in a 1000 sq. ft. condo. So, I repeat, do you still think it's nuts to rent the storage unit? $1000 a year is a lot of money and it does pain me to spend it on storage. But the facts are that I live with my wife in a 1000 sq. ft. condo with no garage or yard. Not much space in a 1000 sq. ft. condo. So, I repeat, do you still think it’s nuts to rent the storage unit?

]]> By: David http://simpleorganizedlife.com/stop-paying-for-self-storage-to-keep-your-clutter/comment-page-1/#comment-1989 David Thu, 21 May 2009 01:28:04 +0000 http://simpleorganizedlife.com/?p=46#comment-1989 At $80 a month, you are spending almost $1000 each year to store your stuff. Could you put up a shed in the yard, which would be much cheaper? At $80 a month, you are spending almost $1000 each year to store your stuff. Could you put up a shed in the yard, which would be much cheaper?

]]> By: Tom http://simpleorganizedlife.com/stop-paying-for-self-storage-to-keep-your-clutter/comment-page-1/#comment-1988 Tom Thu, 21 May 2009 00:55:06 +0000 http://simpleorganizedlife.com/?p=46#comment-1988 Your point is well-taken, but what if you don't have a garage? I don't have one, and the stuff I keep in a storage unit is about what an average garage would hold. In this case, do you still think it's nuts to have a storage unit at a cost of $80 a month? Your point is well-taken, but what if you don’t have a garage? I don’t have one, and the stuff I keep in a storage unit is about what an average garage would hold. In this case, do you still think it’s nuts to have a storage unit at a cost of $80 a month?

]]> By: Mitch http://simpleorganizedlife.com/stop-paying-for-self-storage-to-keep-your-clutter/comment-page-1/#comment-91 Mitch Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:52:25 +0000 http://simpleorganizedlife.com/?p=46#comment-91 I really enjoyed reading your post. I’m head of marketing at a storage company (StorageByMail.com) so you might be surprised to hear that I completely agree with you. Our good friend Lorie over at The Clutter Diet Blog (http://bit.ly/13j1X) calls self storage “climate-controlled mausoleums” for clutter. I love that quote and think it sums up many of your critiques of self storage. We’ve tried to approach the storage business in a different way. We have an efficient centralized warehouse, allow customers to add and remove packages via the mail, offer online tracking & inventory management, and have no minimums or fixed contracts. This attracts a different and smarter consumer of storage. Most of our customers use our service for specific needs, such as relocation or eBay inventory management. More recently we’ve noticed customers adopting a strategy of downsizing into smaller and more sustainable homes. We have customers in Manhattan and San Francisco for example who have saved a lot of money by living in smaller apartments than they otherwise would and using StorageByMail.com for storing things like seasonal clothing and files. And in the process they’re reducing their impact on the environment (too many of us live in homes that are far larger than we really need). We think compulsive hoarding is a problem and appreciate when individuals such as you take the time to make the case for decluttering. We also think that our industry has contributed to the problem through the construction of ubiquitous self storage warehouses in cities around the country and through marketing tactics that encourage the lazy practice of hiding clutter rather than addressing it. Our goal at StorageByMail.com is be different by offering a better set of tools for managing one’s storage needs more responsibly. Regards, Mitch Griffin StorageByMail.com I really enjoyed reading your post. I’m head of marketing at a storage company (StorageByMail.com) so you might be surprised to hear that I completely agree with you. Our good friend Lorie over at The Clutter Diet Blog (http://bit.ly/13j1X) calls self storage “climate-controlled mausoleums” for clutter. I love that quote and think it sums up many of your critiques of self storage.

We’ve tried to approach the storage business in a different way. We have an efficient centralized warehouse, allow customers to add and remove packages via the mail, offer online tracking & inventory management, and have no minimums or fixed contracts. This attracts a different and smarter consumer of storage. Most of our customers use our service for specific needs, such as relocation or eBay inventory management. More recently we’ve noticed customers adopting a strategy of downsizing into smaller and more sustainable homes. We have customers in Manhattan and San Francisco for example who have saved a lot of money by living in smaller apartments than they otherwise would and using StorageByMail.com for storing things like seasonal clothing and files. And in the process they’re reducing their impact on the environment (too many of us live in homes that are far larger than we really need).

We think compulsive hoarding is a problem and appreciate when individuals such as you take the time to make the case for decluttering. We also think that our industry has contributed to the problem through the construction of ubiquitous self storage warehouses in cities around the country and through marketing tactics that encourage the lazy practice of hiding clutter rather than addressing it. Our goal at StorageByMail.com is be different by offering a better set of tools for managing one’s storage needs more responsibly.

Regards,

Mitch Griffin
StorageByMail.com

]]> By: David http://simpleorganizedlife.com/stop-paying-for-self-storage-to-keep-your-clutter/comment-page-1/#comment-89 David Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:12:09 +0000 http://simpleorganizedlife.com/?p=46#comment-89 Living in an RV is a good reason, for sure! Living in an RV is a good reason, for sure!

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