Anyone who spent more time at home this year may find themselves thinking about what to do with some of the clutter around their house. It’s always a good time to clean out your attic or spare bedroom, and you can often wind up with plenty to throw out, store, or repurpose. Still, it can be tricky to make decisions about what to do with your things, even when talking about older stuff you haven’t used in a long time. It can be hard to get rid of anything that you have a personal connection to, but that’s why there are other options like investing in long-term storage. If you’re debating whether to sell or store, keep reading for help deciding what to do with your old belongings.
What’s the best way to sort through your old belongings?
There are a number of ways you can go about sorting through your belongings that don’t just involve taking a trash bag into the basement. If you don’t live alone, you may need the help or permission of other members of your household before you start to organize various rooms and storage spaces. If so, the best idea may be to tell everyone to plan for a whole day off just to sort through what to keep, what to sell, and what to store. When it comes to valuables or antiques, take the time to look up what something is worth or sells for before you decide what to do with it. The last thing you want is to throw out something that’s been taking up space in your attic only to find out it’s a priceless heirloom.
What should you do with items you don’t need at home?
If there are some items you can’t fit in your home but don’t want to throw away, it might be a good idea to look into a mini storage locker. You can find larger storage solutions too if you have furniture or vehicles that need to be stored, but if you’re looking mostly to house accessories and smaller keepsakes, you don’t need to spend money on a lot of space. The security and peace of mind offered by a self-storage facility is definitely a better option than keeping your things in boxes in your basement.
Storage can be a great option especially for items with sentimental value or childhood toys that are no longer needed. While it’s hard to imagine parting with some things, space is a finite resource even in larger homes. Putting older clothes, books, and memorabilia in storage ensures that they won’t get lost or damaged. Your storage unit is the perfect place for anything you don’t have a place for that you can’t bear to throw away.
If you find yourself with a collection of things you’re willing to get rid of, a junk sale might be a perfect solution. Print up brochures or flyers so you can hand them out in your neighborhood in the days leading up to your sale. You can even go to businesses in town or your local library and ask if they’ll put up a brochure for you. Facebook groups are another great option for advertising your event, or for listing items that you have leftover for sale online.
Almost everyone has a surplus of stuff they need to sort through somewhere at home. However, actually dealing with your old belongings can be tricky, especially if you don’t have a plan for where everything is supposed to go. There’s likely to be a lot you’re comfortable throwing away or donating, but sometimes you still have more that you want to keep than there is room for in your house. While there are many benefits to having a junk sale or getting rid of things you aren’t using anymore, a storage unit is a great place for anything of yours with sentimental value or that you may need again in the future. As long as you’re judicious and purposeful about what to keep and what to discard, you’ll find yourself with a cleaner and more productive home.
