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Storage Rental: Perfect for Items You Can't Let Go

by Self Storage

Are you a pack rat? Do you feel a sense of satisfaction when you are able to surround yourself with items that bring you joy, or is it the thrill of the chase that gets you? Whether you are already an avid collector or are thinking about starting a collection, find out how to be a collector without becoming a pack rat. Collecting things can be a very enjoyable hobby. There is nothing wrong with having passion for a particular item and wanting to fill your space with it. There is, however, a fine line between being a collector and a becoming a pack rat.

If your collection of stuff has grown so large that you cannot possibly display all of the items, if you have most of them packed away in boxes taking up all of the storage space in your home and you cannot even remember what these items look like  you have already crossed the line. If you have already begun collecting stuff and are finding that you are becoming overwhelmed with the size of your collection you will have to take action to get things back under control.

First, decide upon a reasonable amount of stuff that you are going to collect. Do you want to fill one shelf, an entire display cabinet or an entire room? Be realistic when making this decision. The size of your collection should match the size of your living space. If you live in a small apartment you should limit your collection to no more than one display cabinet, otherwise you run the risk of making your space look cluttered. If, however, you have the luxury of living in a spacious home and you have the room to spare, by all means, fill up a room with your collection if that is what makes you happy.

If it is impossible for you to follow these suggestions then you might want to think in terms of renting a storage unit. You can decide on a size of a storage unit near your home and start getting organized. Go room by room and make a few separate piles. Stuff that has to stay at the house, stuff that is getting trashed, and stuff that is going into storage. Many people like to literally claim their  stuff and as long as they know that their stuff is still theirs and is accessible then they are ok with it.

Only leave the stuff at your house that is going to make it look nice. If you have a treadmill that you never use then either move it into storage, start using it, or place it up for sale. There is always going to be that  stuff that you just can not part with such as old high school stuff and other things that have been passed down from generation to generation. The problem is that you aren t going to use this stuff but it is taking up valuable space for stuff that you will use. It is filling up closets, garages, and attics that really could be used for something better.

Remember that some stuff is meant to bring joy to your life. If you cannot see the items, they cannot bring you joy. Some stuff is meant to be displayed but other stuff is not. Clutter should never be displayed. Also keep in mind that if you have to move 60 antique pieces each time you dust a shelf you need to weigh that frustration against your enjoyment of the collection. If the frustration wins, it's time to put some stuff in a nice sealed plastic bin and get it into the storage unit.

The term pack rat has become slang for a person who holds on to any item they acquire and has trouble disposing of anything. People known as pack rats typically find some kind of sense of security in material objects. Remember that stuff is just that - material objects. No material object is more important than you and your happiness. Do not let your collection turn you into a pack rat and rob you of your enjoyment of life.

When it seems that your home has run out of storage space and is out of control, maybe even busting at the seams, then it is time to head to the nearest storage company and pay the minimal fee to get things in order. Think of it this way, every few months you can take stuff to the storage unit and bring new stuff back!

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