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Storage units are the physical manifestation of a consumeristic society.
Instead of selling, donating, or trashing our extra stuff, we spend more money to store that crap in a dark, cold box that we’ll likely forget about after a month. Who would do such a thing?
Alright…
Confession time: I’ve owned two separate storage units (at different times) in the past two years – all while claiming to be a minimalist (gasp).
At first, my inclination was to feel like I was doing minimalism dirty. It was the secret I stuffed in the closet because it felt like it invalidated one of my identities. As time has passed; however, I’ve come to terms with the fact that sometimes storage units make sense – even for someone pursuing simple living.
With that in mind, how do you determine whether or not a storage unit makes sense for you?
Here are three helpful steps to take as you decide:
1) Declutter again
“Tidy a little a day and you’ll be tidying forever.”
Marie Kondo, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
While Marie’s maxim has some truth to it, from time to time it’s worth reevaluating our belongings and decluttering again.
Why?
- It’s ridiculously easy to accumulate more stuff even when we’re trying our best to live with intention. Free shirts, for example, are given out like candy at conferences, parties, and volunteer gatherings, and they can be difficult to refuse.
- We change. What once brought value or beauty to your life may now be a burden. Clutter doesn’t always fit neatly into a category.
These reasons are why (before we even consider a storage unit) we should take a few minutes or hours to declutter* any unnecessary belongings we’ve stockpiled. After doing this, you may find that space has magically made itself available!
*If you’re new to or struggling with the decluttering process, consider checking out my list of 50 Items You Can Declutter Right Now as well as Goodbye, Things – both can provide momentum for kickstarting your journey.
2) Let go
While parting with broken/unused belongings can be painless, there’s often a point where you come face-to-face with emotionally charged items:
- Those love letters are no longer just paper – they’re the sadness you feel about a failed relationship.
- That shirt isn’t just a piece of fabric – it’s your memory of traveling to Italy.
- That gifted vase is no longer a just piece of glass – it’s the guilt you feel about the idea of discarding that item.
- Those carvings aren’t just pieces of wood – they’re the fear you feel about sharing your art with the world.
Traversing a path of minimalism doesn’t require you to become an Ascetic, but it does encourage the evaluation of what you’re holding onto and why.
Maybe keeping that family heirloom is a responsible way to honor your family’s history or perhaps it’s a burden that reminds you daily of how broken your family is.
Only you can determine what category your things fall into, and because of that, it’s your responsibility to evaluate and act based on what you discover.
3) Consider the purpose
Once you’ve taken an intentional look at the belonging you own, it’s time to decide whether or not a storage unit makes sense for you.
In our case, we first got a storage unit to temporarily put our things in since our apartment wasn’t ready after the move. It was our best option when we had no other choice. We currently* have a storage unit because our 410-square-foot studio doesn’t have the space available for certain items we use on a less regular basis (camping gear, holiday decor, seasonal clothes, etc.).
For us, it’s become a tool for living how we want while still being able to manage a few items we still find value in.
When deciding whether or not it meets a legitimate need for you, consider the following questions:
- Do I have any under-utilized space in my home where these items could be put?
- Can I adjust the timing of my move so that I don’t need a storage unit in the transition period?
- Will organizational improvements free up the space I need?
*We finally found an alternative to the storage unit and moved our stuff out last week!
Final thoughts
While storage units are often unnecessary money pits, they can serve a purpose in the right circumstances.
If you feel like you’ve encountered one of those cases, I encourage you first to declutter again, evaluate your remaining belongings and the unhealthy attachments you might have, and consider whether any other reasonable options exist that fit your situation better.
In the end, if you decide a storage unit is the best option, use it as an instrument to fuel a healthy lifestyle as opposed to a burden that is mentally and financially draining.