How to Save Money on Self Storage
Looking to save money on self storage? Storage units are already cheap, but if your money is tight, any extra expenditure can be a big concern. Luckily, it’s easy to find affordable storage near you by using a few tricks.
There are so many excellent reasons to rent a self storage unit. It can help make moving easier. You can use it as an off-season closet. If you run a business, a storage unit is an affordable and safe place to keep your inventory.
Let’s look into ways to save money on self storage and make it as affordable as possible.
Look for Discounts
Often, self storage companies will offer discounts, such as a low rate on the first month’s rent. You may even find a discount that lasts longer.
Most facilities offer discounts for members of the military, including on rent and items in the on-site store. Just remember to bring in your military ID card when you rent your unit. If you’re a student, call a variety of facilities and ask if any offer a student discount as well.
Compare Facilities
You are looking to save money, but you still want to rent at a good facility. So, check out a few and compare them. Do any have better security measures in place than the others? How close is each facility to your home or work? What are the hours of operation? How much more do they charge for climate control, a highly desirable option in many areas?
Weigh these things with the rental price before you decide where to store your items.
Store Only What You Need
Don’t fill your storage unit with clutter and items you’re just going to end up throwing out. Store things you’ll actually need later.
In the short term, it will be a little extra work to decide what you need to keep in storage and what you can get rid of, but in the long term, it will save you money and effort. Take the time to go through your things and decide what you no longer need.
Save Space
It’s important to use your unit efficiently, and we have a couple of tricks that can help.
One is to use mostly same-sized boxes. Small or document boxes are sturdy, hold a good amount of weight for their size, and stack well. And that’s the point of using same-sized boxes: they stack easily on top of each other without wasting space. Yes, you will want some other box sizes for specific items, such as a wardrobe box for suits and dresses, but these will be in the minority.
Also, pack carefully to use as much interior box space as possible. We have a variety of articles on the topic, including how to pack books, kitchenware, and more.
Store Bulky Items at Home
Do you have large comforters or other similarly bulky items? A few of these can increase the size storage unit you’ll need. If you can, we suggest storing them at home.
Good places to store bulky items are under beds and up on a closet shelf, or at the bottom of a closet. Many of us simply don’t use the space under our beds for storage, so that may be an untapped resource in your home. You also may hang clothes in your closet, but not use the floor section.
Get a Free Rental Truck
Some facilities will offer a free truck rental with move in. This can make moving your furniture and boxes into storage much easier, and save you money if you were planning on renting a truck. Look for this sort of deal.
Rent the Smallest Unit You Need
There are a few things to consider when deciding what size unit to rent. The smaller the unit, the cheaper the monthly rent. However, it’s a good idea to create an aisle to walk down in the middle, which will make it easier to get to any of your belongings.
So, we recommend figuring out the absolutely smallest size unit you could pack all your things into, then go one size larger. Yes, you’ll pay a little more, and you want to save money, but when you realize you need that tool set you packed toward the back of the unit, it will be easier to retrieve it.
Now that you have some solid ways to save money, make sure you know the ins and outs of packing your boxes, organizing your unit, and more. We have dozens of articles with helpful storage tips waiting for you.
