The Hidden Cost of Clutter: Are You Paying More Than It’s Worth?

Many people hate clutter in their homes but, unfortunately, have difficulty getting rid of it. So they turn to storage units to keep their extra stuff. Unfortunately, this costs them a pretty penny- more than the items are worth. 

Buy More Than They Need

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StorageUnits.com surveyed 1,200 Americans who are current, long-term storage unit renters.

Many storage renters acquire new home decor, toys, clothes, furniture, and food in bulk each month, and 58 percent admit they buy more or way more than they need.

The study highlights how much renters spend and whether they could improve their home’s organization to eliminate the need for a storage unit. Research experts analyzed responses from 1,200 Americans who are current, long-term storage unit renters.

45% Spend More on Fees Than Items Are Worth

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According to the report, 45 percent of long-term renters are spending more on fees than the items are worth, assuming they rent the unit for at least one year. Eighty-one percent of respondents store less than $2,000 worth of items, and 45 percent have less than $750 in stored items. Thirty-two percent of renters say they have less than $500 worth of items in storage.

Survey results indicate that most long-term renters tend to store furniture, clothing, home appliances, and seasonal items. Only 16 percent of respondents say they will likely use all the storage items in the future. Forty-seven percent of renters say they intend to use 75 percent of what they are storing. The remaining third say they’ll likely use half or less of the items they’re storing in the future.

Many Buy Too Much Stuff

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A majority of respondents buy new home decor, toys, clothes, furniture, and food in bulk each month. Fifty-eight percent of respondents admit they are buying way more or more than they need. When it comes to why, 56 percent of respondents say they excessively shop because it brings them joy, and 49 percent believe they need the items.

Many say rooms in their home, particularly closets and the garage, are ‘extremely full.’ Seventy-six percent of renters say they could eliminate the need for storage rentals with improved home organization.

StorageUnits.com commissioned and administered the study via the online survey platform Pollfish. The survey was conducted on October 26, 2022, and appropriate respondents were found via Pollfish’s screening tools. All data found within this report is derived from the survey. 

Get Rid of Your Clutter

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It can feel like a big and overwhelming project when you think about selling your clutter. But it doesn’t have to be!

If you need some extra cash for those bills that keep coming, work on one of these nine ways to get cash for your clutter and make money by getting some cash for your clutter.  Then, sit back and relax as the money starts rolling in.

Hold a Yard Sale

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Holding a yard sale is one of the most obvious ways to get cash for your clutter. Hosting a yard sale is kind of a big project, but if you’re successful, you can sell a lot of items in a short amount of time. Here are some tips for hosting a successful yard sale:

  • First, advertise your yard sale ahead of time with flyers or signs.
  • Price your items low. Yard sale shoppers are looking for bargains, so you’ll sell more items this way.
  • Third, place your yard sale in a highly trafficked area so that most people can stop by to check out your stuff.
  • Finally, place the best items out in front to get people’s attention.
  • Have a good cash box on hand to take immediate payments from buyers. Make sure to have some change, too, so that you can give them back the exact change.

Put Your Clutter on Craigslist

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Craigslist is an excellent option if you’re looking for local buyers, but it involves a lot of coordination and communication to meet up with buyers. You also might have to deal with many “no-shows,” which is a frustrating waste of time. For bigger items, though, it can be effective. Use Craigslist for selling cars, exercise equipment, and other bigger-ticket items. Include clear, bright photos and a thorough description of the item.

People Who Grew Up Poor Share The 20 Ultimate “Poor” People Hacks

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Life’s thrown us a curveball, and our bank accounts might be staging a rebellion, but fear not! We’ve got something up our sleeves- a treasure trove of tips and tricks that will have you grinning ear to ear as you outsmart the very concept of scarcity. Being broke? It’s not a limitation; it’s a canvas for creativity!

People Who Grew up Poor Share the 20 Ultimate “Poor” People Hacks

20 Of The Worst Mistakes You Can Make In Your Life

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Life is like a roller coaster- it’s filled with exhilarating highs, nerve-wracking lows, and unexpected twists that can leave us hanging upside down. We all make mistakes along the way, right? Because at the end of the day, we are only human!

20 Of The Worst Mistakes You Can Make in Your Life 

15 Tips For Frugal Living On A Tight Budget

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If you are looking for tips for frugal living on a tight budget, this post is for you. 

Being on a tight budget means looking for even the slightest opportunity to save money. It could be saving to clear your loans, for a bigger purchase, or even for early retirement. 

15 Tips for Frugal Living on a Tight Budget 

12 Frugal Hacks That Make All The Difference

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A Reddit user who started the frugal journey with his wife a couple of years ago wanted to know the frugal hacks people had that made all the difference.

According to the OP, shopping grocery sales every week and planning their meals helped cut their bill from $250 to $100 per week. Other users shared their stories about frugal hacks they had that made some difference in their lives. Here are some of the best ones.

12 Frugal Hacks That Make All The Difference

14 Frugal Living Tips To Learn From Warren Buffett

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Legendary investor Warren Buffett is one of the wealthiest people in the world and, for a time, was the wealthiest. It might surprise you, then, to learn that Buffett is a proponent and practitioner of frugal living and always has been.

14 Frugal Living Tips To Learn From Warren Buffett