It is amazing how much stuff a family can accumulate without even trying. If the space in your place is getting overwhelmed, you’ve got two choices to make: downsize – finding your stuff some other place to live, either by selling, donating, or disposing of it; or sending these items to storage. Here are some factors to keep in mind when you’re making your decision:
How Much Do You Like the Item?
Our lives are dictated by logic and emotion. Sometimes items that logically don’t fit in our New York City homes still have a place in our hearts. If you’re passionately attached to an item and are willing to pay storage fees in order to hold onto it, the choice is easy – send it to storage. If your feelings are more neutral, or if you discover upon reflection, you actively don’t like something you own, use this opportunity to downsize it!
Will You Be Moving Soon?
Consider your plans. Will you be moving to a larger home with more space for your possessions in the near future? Or are you really committed to your 600 sq ft in Manhattan? The answer to this question can help you determine if you should hold onto an item or downsize it. If a household move is in the foreseeable future, it can make sense to send larger pieces of furniture, your personal library, workout equipment, and similar items to storage.
Do You Need the Item?
The holidays happen every year. Your kids are going to want their beach gear and outdoor toys. If you get rid of seasonal items, the odds are better than good that at some point, you’ll need to replace them. Choosing storage may make sense. On the other hand, if your kids are in their forties, and you’re holding onto their childhood toys in the hopes that your grandchildren who haven’t even been born yet might someday want them, it’s time to consider downsizing instead.