Storage For Your Stuff While Gone - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

twisted_tbar · 03-27-2006, 10:23 PM

Okay... since some threads die off quickly here, I'm gonna have to post this again
Sorry ppl, can't get rid of me that easy

...what are your thoughts on storing your car while ur gone? I am aware of the fact that it's gonna need some maintenance if it's for a long time , and needs to probably be left on jack stands, but would u do it or would u go thru the hassle of selling it and buying another cheap car when back home? The thing is that I pick my cars carefully... look for a month or so 'till I find what I want, not too sure if I want to go thru with this everytime I come back home. I also drive alot and very far sometimes and couldn't rely on public transport (of course i'm a li'l lazy too

) 'N also, what do u do with all ur stuff while travelling? Self storage? do any of u have a self storage place that u'd recommend in lower mainland? How much are they usually anyway?

xanthuos · 03-27-2006, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by twisted_tbar@Mar 28 2006, 02:23 AM
Okay... since some threads die off quickly here, I'm gonna have to post this again
Sorry ppl, can't get rid of me that easy
...what are your thoughts on storing your car while ur gone? I am aware of the fact that it's gonna need some maintenance if it's for a long time , and needs to probably be left on jack stands, but would u do it or would u go thru the hassle of selling it and buying another cheap car when back home? The thing is that I pick my cars carefully... look for a month or so 'till I find what I want, not too sure if I want to go thru with this everytime I come back home. I also drive alot and very far sometimes and couldn't rely on public transport* (of course i'm a li'l lazy too* ) 'N also, what do u do with all ur stuff while travelling? Self storage? do any of u have a self storage place that u'd recommend in lower mainland? How much are they usually anyway?

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Storing a vehicle in a self-storage place is going to cost you a few hundred a month...so you have to weigh the value of your car against whether you're willing to pay that much to keep it. If you're going away for a month, sometimes it makes for an acceptable option (especially places like Public Storage that give you your first month's rent for $1)...however, especially long journeys will be very expensive. As it goes with vehicles, storing it with family or trusted friends is the only truly cost-effective option.

As for personal belongings...personally, I have non-essential belongings in Saskatoon, a suburb of Chicago, and on Long Island in New York...all stored at family & friends'...as for my essential stuff that can't come on the road with me, I have a storage unit in lower Manhattan that costs me a total of $39.00/month. Every location differs...do a little Googling for your local area.

Hope that helps.

**bluepea** · 03-27-2006, 10:46 PM

Yup, did the family/friend option. Stored my car at my parents (planned on selling it, but never did). Stored the stuff we didn't sell at parents and in friends' basement. Worked out well and didn't have to worry about the cost.

twisted_tbar · 03-28-2006, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Storing a vehicle in a self-storage place is going to cost you a few hundred a month

Whoooooooooooooooooooa

maybe not then! The most I'm willing to pay for a car is 5G's. I guess selfstorage is not worth it unless you own a Murcielago!

I think i'll just get my sister to drive it around...she'll be almost 17 by the time I leave

**benna2** · 03-28-2006, 01:47 PM

I stored my car at my aunt's house. Her husband is (hopefully!) good about starting it and keeping it healthy while I am gone. As for the rest of my stuff, it is all in boxes and stored at my OTHER aunts house, in her basement.

I was one of those hopeful girls that had dreams of one day owning my own house and furnishing it with little things I bought through the years. I never did imagine that I would own a place in the Dominican Republic...and all my stuff stay in Canada! I think I am going to start to bring little things to furnish my place here in DR the next time I go home. I have a brand new George Foreman grill just waiting to get used!

twisted_tbar · 03-28-2006, 03:39 PM

I don't have family here in Canada (other than my parents and siblings and trust me, there's barely enough room in our house for me!), lots of good friends tho. I dunno if it would be too much to ask them to store my stuff for a few months. What do u guys think? Maybe i'll bring it up in a conversation see how they react!

xanthuos · 03-28-2006, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by twisted_tbar@Mar 28 2006, 07:39 PM
I don't have family here in Canada (other than my parents and siblings and trust me, there's barely enough room in our house for me!), lots of good friends tho. I dunno if it would be too much to ask them to store my stuff for a few months. What do u guys think? Maybe i'll bring it up in a conversation see how they react! *

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It's easy. Tell them that after one month of storing your stuff, they earn a case. After two months, it becomes a 2-4. After three or four, a Texas Mickey.

That should make them throw open their garage & basement doors, don't you think?

twisted_tbar · 03-28-2006, 03:53 PM

that never occured to me

that's genius xanthuos

xanthuos · 03-28-2006, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by twisted_tbar@Mar 28 2006, 07:53 PM
that never occured to me that's genius xanthuos

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you know, i have my moments

gotta figure in the end, with a 2-4 being around $35...that's like $16 a month, but you can probably store more at a friend's place that has an empty basement than you could in a 5x5 storage unit that costs at least $40 a month.

by the way, since i am horribly bad at welcoming new folks...welcome to travelpunk.

twisted_tbar · 03-28-2006, 10:09 PM

Quote:

gotta figure in the end, with a 2-4 being around $35...that's like $16 a month, but you can probably store more at a friend's place that has an empty basement than you could in a 5x5 storage unit that costs at least $40 a month.

I'll work around that

$16 versus $40... savings of $24 amonth=luxury suit in a hostel for 1 night

Quote:

by the way, since i am horribly bad at welcoming new folks...welcome to travelpunk.

thanx

**bluepea** · 03-29-2006, 08:43 AM

It's amazing where people can find room to store stuff. My husbands parents live in a TINY 2 bedroom cottage - not enough room to swing a cat - and they still managed to hold on to a carload of stuff for us. I didn't realize how much they'd crammed on the front porch! If you can split it up between people, especially if there's basements, attics, porches, sheds, etc, they'll probably barely notice.

**voyd** · 03-29-2006, 09:04 AM

I am in a constant battle not to accumulate more junk and get rid of more nonessentials. I hate useless clutter and I love space. Ebay is my friend...

But sell my car? H3ll NO! It's family!

**SuDz** · 03-29-2006, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jamiepeaski@Mar 29 2006, 11:43 AM
not enough room to swing a cat

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Who swings a cat?

hehe. I don't think I ever heard that expression but I like it. I will try it out at my next PETA meeting.

SuDZ

**MolsonGirl** · 03-29-2006, 02:52 PM

haha swing a cat... totally reminds me of that commercial where the cat grabs a string on the ceiling fan...

Anyways, you can also always ask your friends if anyone wants to rent your car for the time your gone. I'm sure they could get insured no problem.. then the car would be kept running and also be there when you get back...

All my stuff is Ikea as well... so when I go I just pack it up and toss it into my parents garage... we've also used neighbours garages.. we live in a wicked community where quite often people have more space than they need... Like the couple who had a house built and moved into it A YEAR before they sold their old house.... instant storage