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Renting a storage unit is a super convenient fix for anyone who’s temporarily running out of space. However, that monthly rental fee can really do a number on your budget. And lots of folks get it wrong, thinking the only way to save is to just pick the smallest, cheapest unit available.
Actually, it’s the opposite: the real secret to saving is all in how you organize the space. If you use every inch wisely, you can rent a smaller, cheaper unit and still fit all your stuff.
The Art of Packing
The first and most crucial step to making it all work is packing things the right way: a messy, chaotic pile of junk will gobble up your precious square footage in just nada time.
And this’s where modern tricks and old-school methods come to the rescue. Like, take vacuum bags for clothes and bedding – they’re basically magic. They can shrink the volume of soft stuff down by three or four times, which instantly frees up space for several extra boxes.
For bulky items like winter coats or comforters, it’s a total game-changer.
Your choice of boxes matters, too. Try to use same-size boxes made of sturdy cardboard. First off, they’re way easier to stack neatly into stable towers. Second, using standard sizes helps you avoid awkward gaps and wasted space that happen when you mix and match different boxes.
Just make sure everything inside is packed tight, and always seal the box securely with proper tape.
By the way, it would be pretty useful to familiarize yourself with what a particular company offers in order to understand what items they can accept for storage and what they cannot. That said, you can find more information about standardized rental principles here, for example: https://getspacestorage.com/boxes-and-prices/
Strategic Placement
Once everything is packed up nice, the next step is loading it into the unit.
This isn’t a ‘just dump it and run’ kind of situation. Obviously enough.
Your golden rule here is to use the full height of the room: storage units often have high ceilings, and if you ignore all that vertical space, you’re basically just wasting money. If your unit doesn’t come with built-in shelves, it’s worth it to buy or rent some lightweight metal shelving (if possible and allowed). That said, racks let you create multiple storage levels, which makes it easy to grab any box without having to dig through a whole pile.
As for the actual packing process, start loading with the biggest, heaviest items – furniture, appliances, boxes. Place these along the back wall to form a solid foundation. Then stack lighter boxes on top. Anything you think you might need soon should go near the door.
And don’t forget the space inside your furniture itself. Like, you may stash boxes or rolled-up rugs inside dressers, cabinets, or even under tables.
Sure do, it may well be that you’re not allowed to pack anything into the cell yourself. Well… That happens too. Then just cross this one out and let’s move on.
How to Right-Size Your Unit and Avoid Overpaying
Picking the right unit size is like a puzzle you need to solve before you sign the lease. To avoid renting a unit that’s too big (or worse, too small), do a little prep work first.
Consider starting by making a quick list of everything you plan to store. Group things mentally: furniture, electronics, seasonal items, sports gear.
Then, try to eyeball the total volume. A pro tip is to gather all your stuff in one corner of your apartment, shape it into a rough cube, and guess the dimensions (length, width, height).
This little mind exercise will help you ballpark how much space you’ll actually need. And for a visual guide on what fits into different unit sizes, many self storage facilities offer helpful online tools.
Note that when you’re comparing units, always lean toward one with higher ceilings. Even if the floor area is a tad smaller, the ability to stack up will more than make up for it. And don’t be shy about asking the local manager for advice – describe what you’re storing, and they can usually point you toward the perfect-sized solution.
The Bottom Line
In the end, saving money on storage isn’t about finding the absolute cheapest rate, as it’s about using every single cubic foot you rent as efficiently as possible: a few small investments like vacuum bags, strong boxes, and a shelving unit will pay for themselves many times over. They’ll let you rent a smaller (and cheaper, sure do) unit month after month.
Treat it like a mini logistics project, and you’ll be surprised by the results.
More details: https://getspacestorage.com/boxes-and-prices/
