Question About Storage After a Move

yes it is worth storing things. Mine was stored two years and to finally have MY things around me is great Keep trying for disability. it usually takes two denials and a lawyer before you get it.

We had to move from a single family house to an apartment years ago. We did have a huge sale before the move. We kept the basics that we knew we'd need, but many of the garage things...lawnmowers, etc, we got rid of. Going to an apartment is quite an adjustment, but you know you won't be able to fit everything from the house to the apartment, so it's probably a good time to clear things out. I'm sure there are a few things you really want to keep..maybe pass on to your kids.

Good luck!

C.,

I know it has to be hard to pack everything up and move. I truely believe that God has a plan for all of us.
My advice would be to simply sell some of your belongings, then you would have less to store, and cash from the sale. That cash could be put away to pay your future storage bills, or go for a deposit on an apartment in the future years. Remember too, that they do rent "furnished apartments". What wonderful children you have. That is the true meaning of "family". My prayers are with you, and yours.
B. D.

I would say to go through all of your stuff, and keep what you need...sell what you don't and won't need later. If you have 20 yrs. worth of decorations and such for holidays, I'm sure you probably don't use them all. Sell off what you can, that way you're not just packing and storing stuff that's of no use to you.
I'm sorry about your troubles. It's rough these days, I know.

I am so sorry to hear about your situation. That is really awful. My husband and I downsized after he had lived in the same house for about 12 or 14 years and that was hard enough. I have to admit that we didn't get rid of anything. I'm just going through stuff little by little now that we are settled. I think for you though it's also a question of finances. I would part with things that I can part with and keep the stuff that I am emotionally attached to. If you're in doubt, you can always take a picture of the item, write down its story and then part with the item. That might help a bit. You don't think you could find anybody that could move in with you and help you financially so you don't lose your house? Just a thought. Blessings to you!

My suggestion would be both. Go through and decide what you think will fit in a one bedroom. Not sure how much to keep? Go to a complex that has one bedroom units and ask for a tour. Then you will know how much you can keep. I did the same thing when I had to down size from a house to an apartment. I kept the best, sold the rest. If you end up keeping too much, have another sale after you move for what won't fit. Now isn't really yard sale time, but a friend of mine had an indoor moving sale and had a great turn out. They moved everything not for sale into two rooms of the house and closed those doors. Everyone was free to walk through living room, dining room, kitchen, and one bedroom for the stuff that was for sale.

This is a hard one. You have explored all avenues? Subsidized housing? I dont know what state you are in but there are attorneys that specialize in disability cases with no fee unless they win for you. I dont know your circumstances as far as medical reasons. All I know is with disability you just have to keep hammering them. It is wonderful your son is there for you and it sounds like you have made up your minds. I would keep the stuff for a couple months and explore more options. Then see where you are. There are assistance programs, if you have paid into the system all these past years then I would intensify my search for help!

Hi C..

I am so sorry about your home. I'm sure it must be difficult for you, however I urge you to keep in mind it is just a house and stuff. You have your family and your memories. I learned 4 1/2 yrs ago when my husband died that material possessions are not so important.

Personally, I would have a sale. Let others enjoy some of the things you already have, and make some money in the process. I'm sure you could really use the money, and chances are that when you do have your own home again, you will realize you don't need nearly as much stuff as you had before. It is refreshing to live more simply and clutter-free.

Best of luck to you and your husband.

L.

I'm so sorry you're going through this! I think my biggest suggestion would be to make sure you keep the stuff that you are emotionally attached to. Those things can't really be replaced, but the material things can ... and there are organizations that might be able to help you furnish your new home for much less than the cost of purchasing new items.

Good luck!

I feel so badly for you. It must be awful to have to give up your home and your privacy! I would suggest this. Weed out the things that you REALLY don't need and keep the things that mean the most and that are the most expensive to replace or that you can't live without when you do move out of your son's home. Then rent a smaller storage unit that costs less money per month. You get rid of unneeded junk that you won't have to move, save money, and simplify your life all in one. Good luck to you by the way. My husband was downsized in October and just two weeks ago started a new job finally! We were on unemployment and for the first time found out what it is like to not be able to pay all our bills and be behind on the morgtage etc...no fun. Playing catch up now!

Although we aren't in the same unfortunate situation, we have been storing stuff that seemed meaningful at one time, but 7 years later, I am beginning to wonder if it has been worth the $75mo-$89mo (keeps increasing) we have been paying.

As first-time homeowner 7 yrs ago, my husband and I had combined stuff from our apartments. Since we bought a starter home (and we're still here by the way), we thought we could use the extra stuff when we buy our big beautiful mansion (sense the sarcasm?)

Since there was a 3.5 yr gap b/w on kids, storing the baby stuff was convenient, but I cannot now remember what the heck else is in there. Now, I am sure if I were to begin going through all the stuff I would have renewed interest in it, but I have to question how special or valuable it is if I cannot remember it as we speak.

I guess the bottom line is that only the items that are heirlooms, items that have sentimental value, or the really high quality household items & furniture (that you know you couldn't live without & you would not want to have to re-purchase) should be kept. You may find that the reduce amount is compact enough to store in an attic or basement of your family member. If not, at least you could rent a smaller unit.

I would sell everything else and keep that money to put towards new stuff, or to pay for the smaller storage unit.

Note: There is no guarantee that the storage unit will keep out mice/insects which could easily destroy those items as they sit there. We had quite a few boxes of mouse turds, chew holes, and chew debris.

I would wait it out for a few months since you say it it short term. Ask around. Relatives or friends with a little extra space to spare would probably be glad to help you in your time of struggle. Good Luck.

Sorry to hear about your health issues!! Best of luck to you and your husband. I will keep you in my prayers.

As to your "stuff". Being a person who keeps too much myself, I am learning to go through things now so that I don't end up a pack rat with a lot of clutter! It's hard for me to let go of things, especially when I know I put good money into them or I may need again. Still, every time the Kidney Foundation calls(which seems to be every 4to 6 weeks) I make myself have at least 2 boxes for them or more. I'm letting go of clothing, coats, toys, baby clothes, kitchen items, lamps, houselhold items, etc. AND it feels soooooooooo good, knowing someone may get some use out of all this "stuff" we brought from our old house and has been living in the basement for the last 5 years. I do have 4 kids, so some of it was worth saving...from my older 2 FOR my younger 2! But it also feels good giving it to someone who could use! I watch a lot of HGTV and am trying to de-clutter our lives, as they suggest. Do hang on to the things that have sentimental value or that you may want to pass on to your children, but I'd say have a sale and get rid of all the rest!! Paying for a smaller storage unit will be much better in the long run and you won't miss most of it I'm sure! GOOD LUCK TO YOU!

You received many useful tips.. and I too would suggest that you sell what you can now instead of store it. Do you have a friend who cna walk throuhg your house and help you see what is worth keeping ang what should be stored? I truly need someone to do that for me - to help me with the clutter.
The reason I spoke up/wrote is to offer my services when it comes to photos and memorabilia. I help people organize and preserve their memories so they can be enjoyed in the future. Check our my mom-owned business link, if you wish. Good luck

This is a difficult situation. My mother came to live w/ us for health & financial reason, too. From that experience......

I say- keep what you would need to immediately replace when you get an apartment, your photos & special things and let the other stuff GO!!!!! and get a little $.

You will end up packing it & moving it to storage. Then moving it to ?? then unpacking it when??? and put it where??? too much work for stuff!

You both have health issue- you know what's important in life. Work smarter- not harder. Spend your time w/ family & friends, not moving stuff.

Good luck to you.

So sorry to hear your situation. Keep hope things will get better. In the mean time, try and edit your things. In other words, you probably have a lot of stuff you can get rid of. Keep what you will need when you get a new place. But remember you won't need as much as you have accumulated. try to be practical, not sentimental.Paring down will help you later when you move as well as help you save money on a smaller rental unit. Plus you can make a little extra cash by having a yard sale. Good luck. I'll say a prayer for your family.

How about both - Big sale and getting a smaller storage unit. You could profit from things you can part with that have just accumulated over the last 20 years from the sale.
In the smaller, less expensive storage unit, keep the things that are irreplacable or that you absolutely love and/or items in good condition (furniture, kitchen items, linens, washer/dryer, garage/lawn items, etc) that would cost a lot to replace. These are items that are usable and do not need replacing if you need them in the future. Think about downsizing. What size of home/condo would you have if you move back into your own place again. What would fit and be a necessity. It will help your family if you sort through and part with things now, with your spouses help, if for any reason something worse happens with either of you in the future.
My parents both lossed a parent within 1 year apart and now their house is overrun with items they do not know what to do with, because they had to sell a home and did not have time to go through personal articles before the home sold and now it clutters their home until they have time to sort through it, slowly, but surely. Best of Luck with your decisions and hope your health improves.

Sorry to hear of your troubles. I would shop around some as far as storage goes becuase you should be able to find a better deal than $100 a month. As far as a sale you might want to get rid of some stuff being that the next place you and your husband may get will probably not be the same size as the house and then you'll end up continuing to pay for storage. Also, keep fighting for the disability for your husband. My mom had to fight tooth and nail to get my dad his disability and eventually had to hire an attorney to help her. She finally got it for him. He had a stroke and heartattack back in 2001 which left him unable to use his right arm and hand, he lost peripheral vision in both eyes he can no longer read or write. He can't communicate very well either anymore. I would not give up on the disability. I am a married mom of almost 12 yrs. with 3 boys ages 10,7 and 4. Good luck to you both and best wishes and may God bless.

I would say the answer to both of your questions is a resounding "Yes!"

It is worth it to store some of the things you'll need when you move out of your son's home... just don't store everything. Have a big sale! Go ahead and store the necessities: the sofa, a few appliances, beds, dressers, and the like, but sell the stuff that isn't necessary.

Think about it this way, if you haven't used it in the last 12 months, you don't need it. Now, I'm not telling you to sell your grandmother's antique china or the dining table you got as a wedding gift, but what I am saying is that you don't need that coat that doesn't fit any more, or that broken chair that you've always meant to fix - but never got around to.

Freeing yourself from the burden of having too much stuff is... well, freeing. You will find that you have the time now to work on getting well, instead of spending that time maintaining all of your stuff!

Oh, and what you can't sell can be donated. The Salvation Army will come and pick stuff up if you can't take it to one of their drop stations.

Good luck to you!

Do you really NEED all that stuff if you do find another place? If you got rid of most of it then the storage would be cheaper. Sometimes we are consumed by all the stuff in our lives. Sounds like you could use the extra money also. Just a thought. Talk to God about it.

C., you have 20 years of accumulation, some which no doubt is memorable and worth keeping and some which is just plain junk. (I speak from experience!) A go-forward plan might include going through your home with a large garbage bag and just start de-cluttering. You know, the note you received 10 years ago telling you that someone appreciated what you did for them, or stacks of papers neatly hidden in that back corner of the closet, or that piece of artwork you never quite finished, etc. Just spend 15 or 20 minutes and go through your house. Do this for several days and you're going to be surprised at what you've accumulated and what can be tossed.

Go through your rooms and determine what you really love and use, what has sentimental value (ex. your mother's hutch or your grandmother's tea service), etc. Prioritze based on those determinations.

You may discover you don't need the size storage unit you originally thought, so your costs will go down.

How about downsizing and you could rent a cheaper/smaller unit.
My husband and I are 24 and he just joined the Navy. You would never believe how much stuff we accumulated in our short lifetime. We didn't keep things because we were attached to them, but because we have never lived in one place long enough to unpack and go through things. With this new venture in our lives, we will be moving a lot more. We've know since October that this was coming so we've been going through things to get rid of. Myself and my 2 boys are moving in with my parents for a few months while my husband is in boot camp. The weekend before we move (next weekend) we are having a garage sale.
I understand that some people don't get rid of things because of emotional attachments (I'm a HUGE fan of clean sweep and Clean House) but if you can it will pay off to get rid of the things you don't need.

It must be very difficult to leave your home after so many years.If you live in an historic home, I am wondering if you have antiques that you may want to keep in the family? I have moved several times and a few years ago we relocated my father from the home he had lived in over 50 years. My suggestion is to really critically review what items you cannot live without due to sentimental value.Some of these items can become gifts to your sons. Upholstered furniture/mattresses, may not hold up well in a storage room. Can your sons use them? Those teens may be going out on their own soon? Items that can be expensive to replace such as really good pots and pans or fine china, you may want to save. Can your son store items that you really want to keep at his home? Otherwise, I would sell everything else especially large items, realizing you may not receive tons of money for it, but it would save you $100 per month. Open a special bank account, deposit what you make on the sale and perhaps add the $100 per month to the account. By the time you are ready to move you will have the cash to reasonably furnish/supply an apartment.

I was injured and lost everything, they forclosed on my home, reposessed my car and I was forced into bankruptsy. I feel your pain. I would keep my treasures, the things that are unreplaceable, that I hold dearest to my heart, my jewelry the family pictures, grandma blanket chest, the family bible, the stuff the kids made you when they were in school etc... I would have an estate sale or a moving sell. The rest of that stuff is just stuff. Have your son open a cd or a federal reserve(no penalty for early withdraw) and rent a $30 dollar or $15 dollar unit. If and when your ready to go to an apartment. Community action offers vouchers to help you replace household item and I am sure your children would be willing to help as much as they can. They have already stepped up to the plate and given you a place to live sounds like some pretty special kids to me. you're blessed. You can also go through metropolitan housing, there is a program that you can apply for a house. you make a monthly paymnt for a government home based on your income. my sister-in-law did that and her house payment was $38 dollars a month. And after so many years it was hers. There is also a program called section 8, contact metropolitan housing authorities in you area and see what is availabe to you. your hospital bills go to the billing department and ask for a HARDSHIP APPLICATION. WITH NO INCOME THEY WILL ERASE THE DEBT AND MAKE IT GO AWAY. WHILE YOUR AT IT APPLY FOR FOOD STAMPS, YOUR SITUATION IS THE REASON WE PAY THOSE EXORBITANT TAXES AND I AM SURE I AM NOT ALONE IN SAYING THIS... BUT IT WOULD NICE TO SEE SOMEONE REAP THE BENEFITS THAT TRUELY NEEDS THE HELP. THAT IS WHAT THAT SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED FOR. GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU AND MY PRAYERS ARE WITH BOTH YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND LUV C.

If you frame it the right way, I think selling many of your belongings could be a very good thing. Sit down with your husband (and sons if they are available) and go through each room, closet, box and bag. While separating them into piles of Keep, Donate to Charity, or Sell, you will relive wonderful memories.

I bet it will be a great bonding experience for everyone and help to put this difficult time into perspective. You'll realize that deep down, all the material stuff is just that--stuff. What's important are the shared memories, the love you have for each other and working together to build your future.

You'll probably find that things you thought you'd never want to live without become unimportant. Take photos of the house, take photos as you go through things and enjoy the family time together--laughing and shedding a few tears.

When you get back up and on your feet, you can buy new-to-you things at resale shops, or live without. Sometimes life throws things at you as a way to make you take inventory of what's truly important. If the house blew away tomorrow, you'd still have a wonderful family!

Best wishes--I'm sure you'll work it out, whatever you decide.