Nobody likes having to work towards a budget. Whether you’re moving house, renovating your home, or making the exiting jump of starting your own business, working to a tight budget is always going to be a difficult task.
We’ve put together some of our top storage unit tips if you are working to a tight budget.
Renting a self storage unit is a great idea if you don’t have enough storage space at home or at your business premises or if you’re a student and need to store your belongings over the holidays.
If money is tight, but you need the extra space, here are some tips for finding self storage on a budget.
1) Rent The Smallest Unit You Can!
Storage unit prices depend on a number of factors, but it’s always the case that the large the unit size, the more you will pay. (Not including any discounts that might be available)
The first step is the make a decision on exactly what you are planning on storing. You should think about how you might arrange your items while in storage, then you can make a decision on the size of the storage unit you need to rent.
Storage units have plenty of vertical space that is often wasted. Think of ways you could use shelves or other items of furniture to make the most of the space at the top of the unit
Some businesses keep their stock in storage units. If you’re likely to need more space at certain time of the year than others (eg. if you’re storing stock that fluctuates with demand, like seasonal products), plan ahead to increase or decrease the size of your unit, so you always have enough space, but never have to pay for more than you need.
2) Be Flexible When Selecting Storage Locations
Storage unit prices are also often affected by where they’re located. Stores that are in highly populated area, such as city centres, cost more to run, so they often cost more to use.
It might be worth considering to look for storage that is a little further afield, like on the outskirts of your town, and see how their prices compare to a storage unit in the city centre. You may be able to save yourself some money if you travel just a few extra miles in the car.
3) Share A Unit
Travelling to a cheaper store may not be an option for you. For example, you may need storage nearby to help support your local business.
If you can’t take a cheaper unit, could you consider sharing a unit with someone? A neighbour, perhaps, or a fellow student?
All of our self storage units are secured with an individual padlock. If you choose to share your unit with a friend or family member, you could simply ensure that they have a spare key!
4) Stay For Longer
You might need storage for;
- A few days / weeks (eg. when moving house, to cover a gap between selling your old house and moving to your new one)
- A few weeks / months (eg. for seasonal items like camping gear, sports equipment etc)
- A few years (eg. for business stock, or general household storage)
You may find that some storage companies offer a discount for the longer you stay, meaning you could spend less money over a longer period of time.
5) Save Money On Packaging
You don’t need to splash out and buy special packing boxes for self storage. There are plenty of places where you can get free cardboard boxes, and you can use spare bed sheets or towels to keep your belongings protected against breakage and free from dust!
If you decide you do want to use proper storage boxes, make sure you don’t buy plastic boxes, instead opt for cardboard ones.
Plastic boxes are more expensive, plus they are known to make some items sweat! Which could lead to damp, mould or condensation. Which you want to avoid. Cardboard boxes cost less, and they are ideal for short or long term storage.
6) Shop Around For Insurance
Whilst it’s unlikely that anything drastic would happen to your belongings while they are in storage, it’s always recommended that you take out adequate contents insurance. To help cover the value of what you’re storing.
Most storage companies offer their own storage insurance to help keep your belongings safe and secure, and some even include it in your price. If you’re working to a tight budget, it’s always recommended that you shop around for the best deal you can find.
7) Check Notice Periods
If you are wanting to empty your storage unit, and end your contract, it’s important that you give the correct amount of notice before doing so. (At RedSpot we ask for 2 weeks notice), otherwise you’ll end up having to pay for your unit even if you’re no longer using it.
We hope you found these storage tips helpful, and you’ll be able to save yourself a bit of money too!
View our latest up to date live prices here>>
