Hey, can I be real with you for a minute? I used to dread seeing that storage unit charge on my credit card every month. It felt like I was just throwing money away for stuff I wasn’t even using.
Then one rainy Saturday, I was at my unit looking for my winter coats when I had what my grandma would call a “come to Jesus” moment. I was staring at a mountain of things I’d been paying to store for years, and I realized most of it was either making me money or saving me money—I just wasn’t paying attention.
Let me share what I started doing that changed everything. It’s not rocket science, and it takes less time than scrolling through Instagram.
The “What’s This Actually Doing For Me?” Game
Once a month, I swing by my unit with one goal: to look at my stuff with fresh eyes. I don’t reorganize everything—who has time for that? I just walk around and ask one simple question about different items: “Are you earning your keep?”
Last month, here’s what I found:
- My kayak—that’s saving me $75 every time I use it instead of renting one.
- All my landscaping tools—replacing those would cost me over $800.
- The vintage dresser my mom gave me—that’s going in my daughter’s room someday, saving me from buying new furniture.
- Three boxes of baby clothes I’m saving for my sister—she’d have to spend hundreds to replace those.
But then I spotted the other stuff—the things that weren’t pulling their weight. Like the set of golf clubs I haven’t touched in two years. And that’s when I started my favorite new habit…
The “One In, One Out” Rule (But Make It Profitable)
Here’s where it gets fun. Every month, I try to find one thing in my unit that I can sell for at least what my storage costs that month.
Last month it was those golf clubs. I sold them for $120—my storage cost me $89. So my storage actually made me $31 that month.
The month before, it was an old iPhone and a box of books I sold to a used bookstore. Made $65. Didn’t quite cover the whole bill, but it sure took the sting out of it.
The trick is to not make it a huge project. I just take a picture right there in the unit and list it on Marketplace. If it doesn’t sell in a month, I drop the price or donate it. No stress.
The “Is This Still the Right Size?” Check
This one took me a while to figure out. For the first year, I had a 10×10 unit that was only half full. I was paying for air! Now I do a quick scan each month—if I see more empty space than usual, I ask myself if I can downsize.
A few months ago, I realized I’d sold enough stuff that I could probably fit everything into a 5×10. I almost didn’t bother making the switch—it seemed like such a hassle. But you know what? The team at Accent Self Storage made it super easy. They helped me move to a smaller unit right next to my old one, and now I save $45 every single month. That’s real money.
The “Sleep Better at Night” Minute
Before I leave, I always do one quick thing—I glance around to make sure everything looks dry and secure. Then I remind myself that my homeowner’s insurance covers my stuff here. It takes about 60 seconds, but it gives me peace of mind that’s worth way more than the monthly fee.
Here’s the truth—my storage unit at Accent Self Storage went from being an expense I resented to a tool that actually saves me money. It protects the big investments I’ve made in outdoor gear and tools, and it gives me a place to slowly sell things without the pressure of needing them gone tomorrow.
The Bottom Line
The monthly visit isn’t a chore anymore—it’s like checking in on a little side business. Sometimes I even bring my coffee and just appreciate having this extra space that lets me live my life without my house being crammed full of stuff.
If you haven’t looked at your storage unit this way before, try it just once. Spend ten minutes there this weekend asking “what’s earning its keep?” You might be surprised at how much value is hiding in plain sight.
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