You know that feeling when you walk past a room in your house and think, “I should really clean that out,” but then you keep walking because who has the time? That’s your storage unit right now. It’s that room, but you’re paying rent for it every single month. And if you’re like most folks, you haven’t given it a real thought since you turned the key and drove away.
Here’s what nobody tells you when you rent a unit: forgetting about it is the most expensive thing you can do.
I’m not trying to stress you out. Really. I’m saying there’s a super simple way to fix it, and it doesn’t involve a whole weekend of back-breaking work. We’re talking ten minutes. Once a month. The same amount of time it takes to scroll through your social media feed or wait for your coffee to brew.
This isn’t about being a perfectionist. It’s about being a smart spender. Let’s break down what those ten minutes actually look like.
First minute: Just breathe and remember
Seriously, don’t even move. Ask yourself: “What’s the one big thing in there?” Is it grandma’s dining table? All your ski gear? Your kid’s baby clothes? Just picture it. This isn’t a test. It’s just reconnecting with what you own. You’d be amazed how many people I’ve talked to who blank on this. If you can’t remember, that’s your first clue that some of that stuff might not be crucial.
Minutes two through five: The phone-list gut check
You need a list. I know, I know, it sounds tedious. But hear me out. It can be a crumpled piece of paper in your glove box. It can be a voice note you ramble into. My personal favorite? A notes app list titled “Storage Crap” because keeping it real helps.
Your job this month isn’t to make the perfect list. Your job is to look at whatever list you have and ask one question: “What can I cross off?”
Did you finally give your old bike to your niece? Cross it off. Did you bring the winter coats back home? Cross it off. Did you realize that box of “important papers” is actually just old manuals for electronics you don’t own anymore? You know what to do.
Every line you cross off is a quiet victory. It means you’re owning your stuff, not the other way around.
Minutes six through nine: The mental space game
Now, think about the unit itself. When you were last in there, could you walk in and find something easily? Or did you have to play a dangerous game of Jenga with boxes?
Here’s the money question—literally: Is it full, or is it feel-full?
There’s a huge difference. “Feel-full” is when things are spread out, disorganized, stacked poorly so they take up more room than they need. “Actually full” is when you’ve packed it tight like a puzzle.
If it’s just “feel-full,” you can probably condense. And condensing means you might be able to move to a smaller, cheaper unit. Let’s say you’re in a 10×10. If you could neatly pack everything into one half of it, a 5×10 might work. That switch could save you forty bucks a month. That’s almost five hundred dollars a year. For what? For taking nine minutes to think about it.
The final minute: The decision
This is where you decide your next move. It’s just a yes or no.
- Yes, I can downsize. Awesome. Your next step is a quick call to your storage spot to ask about smaller unit availability and pricing.
- No, I truly need the space. Also fine! But now you know you’re using it efficiently, and you’ve cleaned up your mental inventory. You’re in control.
Why this works (the real, non-boring reason)
This works because it fights the two biggest money-wasters:
- The “I’ll just buy another one” tax. How many times have you bought a new holiday decoration, or a tool, or a seasonal item because you forgot you had a perfectly good one in storage? Your list kills that habit.
- The “Maybe Someday” fee. We all have that stuff. The project you’ll get to, the clothes you might fit into again, the furniture for a house you don’t own yet. Every month you pay for that “maybe.” Seeing it on your list, month after month, forces you to get honest. Is this “maybe” worth $50 to me this month? Sometimes the answer is yes, and that’s okay. Often, after a few months, the answer becomes a clear no. That’s when you sell, donate, and free up your space and your cash.
A word from our side of the fence
I work with people every day at High Point Storage, and the happiest renters are the ones who are intentional. They know what they have. They use the space they need. That’s why we don’t lock you into crazy long contracts. Life changes. Your storage should be able to change with it, without penalty. If your ten-minute checkup tells you it’s time for a smaller unit, we’ll help you move down the hall. If you need a bigger one for a bit, we can do that too. We’re here for your real, actual life—not the life you had when you first rented.
So, try it. Next time you’re waiting for the microwave, or sitting in a parking lot, take that time. Do your ten-minute check-in. It’s not a chore. It’s you giving your future self a little raise. And who doesn’t want that?
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