Reduce Storage
Impacts: Mind, Money, Time
If you have a storage unit, garage, or attic filled with stuff you never use choose to lighten your load and get rid of it. At the very least cull through those old things and dump all but the good stuff and then start using it again. No matter where your stuff is stored is it costing you money, time, and a certain level of stress.
Most people hold onto things for sentimental and financial reasons. The memories associated with stuff and the memory of how much you paid for it when it was new somehow justify throwing good money after bad. Fold you cards, this is loosing hand. Once stuff is stored it will begin to degrade and loose value. If the stuff has so much sentimental value it should be in your home. Prioritize and keep only the best stuff.
Stuff ties us down. It’s hard to move and it requires a lot of time to manage. For example, it seems easier to simply leave the stuff piled up and finding the time to deal with it is always difficult. But now imagine your house clean and clutter free. Imagine your work space organized and efficient. Imagine your garage, basement, or attic empty except for a few precious items carefully wrapped and stored. Does that idea make you feel less encumbered or does it make you feel empty?
If stuff makes you feel complete, safe, or successful you might want to do some serious thinking about why. I’m not trying to suggest that there’s some right or wrong way to think about stuff I’m simply suggesting that many people get caught up in accumulating things for reasons they never considered.
In any event when it comes to possessions, less can be more and less is definitely easier to care for, manage, and move. Choosing to reduce storage will save you money, time, and stress.
Take Action
- Visit your stuff in storage more often.
- Remove the most important stuff.
- Remove all the stuff and sell it at a garage sale. At the end of the sale post a free stuff ad on craigslist.org with a photo of the stuff. If your comfortable posting your address and leaving the stuff in your driveway this can make it much easier to get rid of stuff.
- Find local charities that are willing to remove everything from your storage once you’ve collected the stuff you want to save.
- Post an ad in craigslist.org and a photo of the left over stuff in your storage. Be sure to say they must take it all. This will save you time and multiple visits to the storage.
- Stop buying new stuff you don’t need.
