One of the most demanding periods of my life was two weeks before I had to leave my residence. My lease was expiring; everything I owned was packed in boxes; my new apartment wouldn’t be ready for more than a month. The clock was running, cardboard was all around, and I felt overwhelmed as never before. Read here!

I first began lightening the load by selling certain items. Some items, though, you simply cannot part with—my grandmother’s rocking chair, a faded sofa from many movie evenings, and my bookcases loaded with favorites. Friends couldn’t keep my belongings either, and family lived too far away to be of use. Then, frustrated, I looked for storage choices on my phone and came onto renting a small storage facility.

That realization transformed everything. Just fifteen minutes from my future house, I came onto a spotless, safe, shockingly reasonably priced storage facility. For one monthly cost, I had ample room to keep everything vital—much less expensive than leasing many moving trucks or a storage pod outdoors. It also spared me the anarchy of box juggling in vehicles.

Starting to pack into the storage space helped right away. There is no more frantic box balancing in my van or a messy house full of items I cannot yet move. I could drop by anytime with late-night access; the building has first-rate security cameras covering everything.

The savings added up quickly. I just needed one moving truck—not several. nor surprising parking costs; nor missed workdays coordinating transfers. Storage turned out to be less expensive than a great evening in the city.

The fact that these facilities serve purposes other than just movement most shocked me. I met renters keeping odd collections, business supplies, vintage pinball machines, and winter sports gear. Storage is a wise approach to free up house space and guard your prized possessions, not only a band-aid solution.

Renting a small storage space is not something you should ignore whether your situation is downsizing, between houses, or just drowning in clutter. Along with saving me room, money, and a lot of trouble, the mental serenity it offered was priceless. Try it; a small bit of extra space can make a significant difference.