Storage units are an affordable way to store your items instead of moving them home each summer. Check out the guide below on how to stretch your storage as a student.
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Stretch Your Dollar
Storage units are an affordable way to store your items instead of moving them home each summer.
- Consider Location
- Choosing a storage unit that is farther away may be cheaper, but you’ll end up spending more in gas money and time when you need it most. Store somewhere close to your new place in the fall.
- Plan Ahead
- Summertime is the prime moving and storage season so make sure to book your unit well in advance for the best rates.
- Ask a Friend
- Split the cost of a storage unit with a friend or roommate that you trust. You can get more space and share the cost.
- Use Vertical Space
- Your storage unit is measured by the floor square footage, but it includes a lot of vertical space as well! Make sure to pack from floor to ceiling to help boost your overall storage area. The more vertical space you use, the less floor space you’ll need.
Stretch Your Space
Learn how much space you need depending on how long you’ve been at school.
- Freshman
- First year students usually finish the year with small boxes and totes. A 5x5 unit should suffice for the average student.
- Sophomore
- After your second year at school, you probably have added a few larger pieces of furniture to your room. A 5x10 unit should work well.
- Junior
- College students who have rented their own studio or one bedroom apartment have larger items like a bed, couch, and kitchen table. A 5x15 or 10x10 unit should provide enough room for everything.
- Senior
- Congrats on finishing college! You’ll likely need some temporary storage for your items between graduation and finding your first job. A 10x10 unit should be enough for a small apartment’s worth of furnishings.
Stretch Your Boxes
There is an art to packing boxes correctly, as well as efficiently, so that you don’t break your back during the move.
- Check the Size
- Moving boxes come in every shape and size. Make sure that you pack heavy items in small boxes so that they are easy to carry and stack.
- Reuse and Recycle
- Your storage boxes don’t need to be brand new or even the same. Reuse boxes that come in the mail or those that you find in the recycle bin as long as they are still sturdy and not damaged.
- Fill Every Nook and Cranny
- Look for space inside items that can be stuffed to stretch what you can fit into a box. Tuck socks into shoes, dish towels into vases, and plates inside cookware for efficient packing. Blankets, sheets, and clothes can also act as natural cushion around fragile items.
- Label, Label, Label
- You’ll save time and frustration in the future if you label every box well. Write the room that the box should go to upon moving in, like the kitchen, and then label what is inside. This saves on time as well as keeps the boxes from being opened multiple times when you need to find something.
- Think Ahead
- When you open your storage unit in the fall to move into a new space, consider what you will need to move first. Students often need to set up their bed and furniture before they can move in books and kitchen utensils. Pack the smaller items towards the back of the unit and larger ones in front.
- Check the Weather
- Choosing a climate controlled unit is always a good idea over the summer. Mold and mildew can quickly grow in a warm and dark environment. Climate controlled units help items like clothes, books, and electronics stay cool while you’re away.