College Lifestyle: What to Store

Have a Plan

1. Is your load of extra stuff getting out of hand?
2. When do you need to free up some extra space?
3. Is this going to be temporary, such as over the summer or for a semester when you study abroad?
4. How much time do you wish to spending sorting through the items and separating them into the things you might use in the near future and the things you can live without?

Sending Things Home

1. Sending extra items to a distant location provides a more permanent fix to the excess clutter in your life than stuffing them in a closet where they will need to be moved again in the future.
2. At mom and dad’s you will have no monthly storage fee (hopefully).
3. Your things will be in a climate-controlled space if mom stashes your boxes in your old room.  The freed up space will make it possible for you to start fresh and buy new things that match your current interests and fashion flair.
4. You will be keeping your old things together in one location far away, but they will not be thrown out so you will be able to use them later when you have more time and square footage in your home.
5. You can make your parents do the dirty work of digging through your old stuff if you happen to need something that you sent home.
6. It will be easy to hand down clothes, old alarm clocks or furniture to siblings and relatives.

1. Shipping large packages is not cheap.
2. Large furniture could be difficult and costly to haul back and forth between breaks.
3. There is no insurance policy; you cannot guarantee that your dog (or little sister) will not get into your things.
4. You will not have quick access.
5. It might be difficult to get your parents to ship back something that you tell them you need.
6. Your family might ransack your things and make claims to them while you are away.

The Beneficial Options in Self Storage

1. You will be able to go to the self storage facility and pick up the items you need at your convenience. When you find that a reference to last year’s science book would fit perfectly into this year’s research paper, you may be relieved to know that you just have to drive down the road to find it.
2. Easy access will allow you to rotate seasonal clothing throughout the school year.
3. You will be able to pack furniture near campus during breaks.
4. You can take things to the unit anytime and quickly make space in your room.
5. You may opt to share storage space with friends to save money.
6. It will provide a place to store items such as last term’s books until you can sell them online.

1. Storage facilities, especially near large campuses, get booked fast as summer approaches, so make plans to reserve a unit well in advance.
2. Avoid the degeneration of your items. Be sure to wash clothes and blankets, and to overall store your items properly.
3. Leave room in and around boxes of clothes for ventilation, and keep the door of your mini fridge open.  Over time, especially with the increase of humidity, moisture and mildew can build up.
4. Remember storing electronics like a television or video game system will require a climate-controlled unit to ensure that parts do not melt.

Alternatives to Mom and Dad’s Place and Self Storage

1. Portable storage units are available. Renting one of these may save you the cost and time of transporting your items to a self storage facility or of shipping them home.  When you order a portable storage unit, the storage company will haul a large box to your location. You pack your items into it at your convenience.  The company then hauls the box back to their facility and you can access your items from there with a little advance notice.  If you prefer, you can have the portable storage unit left at your dorm (with campus approval), in your friend’s driveway (if your friend agrees to it) or at some other location of your choice.
2. Some companies also offer storage by mail.  Here, you pay a monthly rate based on the size of each box that you store with the company.  You may have shipping charges, also.  This storage option helps you avoid the extra cost of wasted space in a storage unit and protects you from the possibility of family members messing with your belongings.

Organizing Your Unwanted Items

1. Drop off old clothes and accessories at charitable organizations like the Goodwill, Disabled American Veterans thrift store or the Salvation Army.
2. Sell name brand clothing in good condition to for-profit thrift stores.
3. Sell old electronics online, at the local pawn shop or at a swap meet.
4. Host a garage sale with friends.
5. List items for sale or that you would be willing to donate for free to a needy fellow student on your school’s online bulletin board or stick flyers around your residence hall.

Closet Space vs. Storage Space

Here are some tips that can help you efficiently organize your closet:

1. Purchase a closet organizer with divisions that help you separate your professional attire from casual. Many also give you space to hold shoes.
2. Put shelves in your closet (if allowed).
3. Purchase a ‘cube’ system that you can customize to fit your closet space. These are great for any clothes you fold up and allow you to easily see what you have.
4. Keep dirty clothes in a hamper with a lid to help contain odors.

Below are some benefits of self storage:

1. A self storage unit provides you with a nearby location to store your extra things where they are out of the way but may be taken out at your convenience.
2. You can utilize most of the same techniques you used to gain efficient closet space in your storage unit.
3. Having extra storage allows you to rotate seasonal clothing throughout the year without cluttering your room.
4. Your roommate will be happy the room is not cluttered and out of control.
5. You can use the storage unit for the rest of your things when you move out of your dorm room at the beginning of summer break. Already having one rented may ensure that you get a space in your preferred self storage company at this time of your when many students are seeking to rent a limited number of self storage spaces.

Alternate types of storage:

1. Portable storage units may be available in your area. Renting one of these may save you the cost and time of transporting your items to a self storage facility or of shipping them home. When you order a portable storage unit, the storage company will haul a large storage container to your location. You pack your items into it at your convenience. The company then hauls the box back to their facility. You may access your items from there with a little advance notice. If you prefer, you can have the portable storage container left at your dorm (with campus approval), in your friend’s house (if your friend agrees to it) or at some other location of your choice.
2. In some situations it may be best to send things home to mom and dad. This way you will not have to pay a monthly fee for storage. However, it will be more difficult to get something you need if you send it all the way back home.
3. Some companies also offer storage by mail. Here, you pay a monthly rate based on the size of each box that you store with the company. You may have shipping charges, also. This storage option helps you avoid the cost of wasted space in a storage unit and protects you from the possibility of family members messing with your personal belongings.

Student Safety Considerations

• As you narrow down your list of potential storage sites, learn about the neighborhood. If possible, make a visit before renting. Check out crime statistics in the neighborhood, possibly online. You could also call the local police department to see if that area has many assaults or thefts and if that facility has had more problems than it should.
• Check for adequate lighting inside the facility and externally. Ask management if lights are on whenever it is dark or if they are motion sensitive and if hall lights must be turned on when entering the facility. Try visiting at dusk to see for yourself if the unit you are looking into renting will be adequately lit. Will you have to walk down dark alleys or around shadowy corners? Is your unit against a wall that could be scaled by a thief?
• See if the facility is protected by a fence. Make sure it is in good shape, sturdy and tall enough to discourage intruders. Look for trees on the exterior of the fence that someone could climb and use as a means of entry. Look out for plants that could attract vermin or small animals, or hedges where an assailant could hide.
• Find out how the company limits access after hours. Often facilities will have a gated entry that requires the use of key card or code.
• Find out if the company utilizes security cameras. Ask how many cameras are used and where they are at. Find out how they are protected from disruption or breakage. Are the cameras monitored constantly or are they only reviewed after someone has a problem? Make sure the tapes or digital recordings are saved in case your unit is robbed between visits.
• Know what hours the facility is open to the public and what hours access is limited. Find out if management stays onsite only during office hours or at all times.
• Ask if the company employs security guards, how they are trained and if the company does background checks. Do guards or management seem active when you visit, or are they asleep or busy talking to friends without keeping their eyes on what is happening around them? Does security make rounds, guard only doors or escort guests to their units after hours? Will they walk your daughter to her car?
• Try to choose a centrally located storage unit on a main floor that sets in a well lit area near parking.
• Once your child has chosen a self storage unit, insist that she visit it with a friend.
• Teach her to let someone responsible, like one of her dorm's resident assistants, know where she is going when she visits the unit, especially at night, and when she should be back.
• Ask that she keep her cell phone with her, charged. It may even be a good idea to talk to someone on that phone as she rummages through her belongings and walks to and from the car. This may discourage potential threats or allow her to alert someone immediately if she has a problem. Even while talking on the phone, she should keep her eyes open and avoid strangers and darkened areas.
• In addition to a cell phone, she may want to bring mace and a flashlight to illuminate dark corners. A sturdy steel flashlight could double as a weapon.
• Standard precautions should not be forgotten whether the unit belongs to your daughter or to you. Park in a well lit area. Keep car doors locked. Check seats before getting in to make sure no one is hiding inside. Keep keys out and ready so that you can get in the car as quickly as possible. Once inside, lock the doors immediately.