Does your list of New Year's resolutions include decluttering your home? Are you questioning what you will do with all of the stuff that is making your home cramped and cluttered? Instead of getting rid of the things taking up space in your home, you have the option to rent a storage unit and move those things into the unit. Below, you will find some times for making this process a little easier.
What kind of storage unit do you need?
Think about what you will be storing in it. If you will be storing average household goods like knick-knacks, clothing and soft furnishings, a traditional unit will do. If you are planning to store things like musical instruments, wooden or leather furniture, electronics or precious items, a climate-controlled unit would be best.
Climate-controlled storage units maintain a steady temperature and moisture level throughout the year. You won't have to worry about extreme temperatures and moisture warping wood, causing mildew and ruining the things that you want to keep.
How do you decide what to move to the unit?
As you are completing the New Year's purge, think about how long it has been since you used each item. When was the last time you looked at, or someone complimented the knick-knacks on your mantel? The things that you don't notice, use or enjoy can be removed from the house.
Tip: As you go through the clothing in your closet, turn the hangers one direction. If you wear an item, turn that hanger the opposite direction. When the time comes to change out your winter wardrobe for your spring wardrobe, you can eliminate the clothes that are on the hangers that haven't been flipped around.
Tip: If you have kids, you know very well how quickly their mountains of toys can pile up. Keep an eye on what your kids are playing with. Chances are, if you haven't had to pick it up off of the floor in a while, your child has forgotten about it and it can be removed from the house. Putting the toys in storage for a few months and returning the toys to your kids later will give them a refreshed interest—at this time, you can remove the toys from the house that they haven't used and continue this process for months or even years before those toys can be sold or tossed out.
Start looking around your house now and fill a box every day until New Year's Eve. By that time, you will be ready to make your first trip to your storage unit (like those at 1st Stop Storage) and eliminating much of the clutter from your home.
Share15 December 2015
Tax time comes around every single year. Do you file married jointly or separately? Do you claim your property taxes and medical bills? What about a home office and the expenses for it? Were there any changes in tax laws that you should be aware of? My site is filled with advice for small business owners for tax time. You will learn how to get the most from your return and what could trigger an audit or red flag on your tax forms this year. Hopefully, what I have included on my site will help at least a few small business owners get through tax time with less stress.
