Inspired Everyday Living - A Happy Home and Life

April 11, 2013 by Laura and Alison

To Store or Not to Store?

In 2011, the self-storage industry in the US generated 22 billion dollars in revenue. And even though the average house is getting bigger, one in ten households now has a storage unit (an increase of over 65% over the past 15 years)*. Clearly storage is a popular choice, but is it really worth the money, not to mention the time and energy of moving things in and out of storage?

Our answer—it depends. At the moment both my sister and I are contemplating storage—Laura because she is moving and will be living in a temporary house while she builds her dream home and Alison because she lives in a loft that although spacious, has a complete and utter lack of closet space.

As we considered storage we realized there are several things to think about before committing to the time and money required to store:

1) Most importantly, do you truly love the item? Is it useful, beautiful and/or cherished? Is it a reflection of who you are now and does it support your current goals, interests and values? If not, let it go.

2) Have you calculated the cost of storing the item (including time and money to move it) versus the cost of selling or donating the item now and then in the future potentially having to replace it?

Keep in mind, no matter how hard we try, it’s difficult to predict the future. The only thing we can know with certainty is where we are in the present moment, so it make sense to make a decision based on what’s happening now rather than what might happen in the future.

3) Are you in a transition? A time when storage may be appropriate is during a transition or “temporary” period. If you move into a rental to renovate a home, you’ll most likely have things that may not work in the rental but will work in your new home. Similarly, if you take a sabbatical for six months and sublet your apartment, storing your belongings may be a perfect solution for what to do with your stuff.

4) Do you not have space for things you truly USE and NEED? Sometimes the size of our living space really doesn’t meet our needs. If you have an organized and clutter-free home, but still find you don’t have space for items that you use regularly, then storage may be more cost effective than finding a larger home. In this case, it helps to think of your storage unit as an extra closet. Keep it organize and check for clutter periodically. Free up space in your home by placing the items you don’t use often storage. You can even rotate items from storage to your home—this works particularly well for children’s toys and of course holiday decorations.

Also, if you are involved in seasonal activities like skiing, boating, or camping it may make sense to store the stuff associated with those activities. But you may want to weigh the costs and benefits of owning these items versus just renting them each season.

If you do decide to store, keep the following in mind:

- The same rules apply to storage as they do in our homes. Even though these items are out of our homes, they are still part of our lives, taking up time, space and resources. Unnecessary stuff weighs us down and takes up not only physical space, but mental space that could prevent new and better things from coming our way. Therefore only keep things that are beautiful, useful and cherished. If you don’t love it and it is not in alignment with who you are and who you want to be, let it go so you can free up space, time and energy for those things that will support your highest and greatest good.

- You will also want to make sure your storage unit is clean and organized. If your home is an extension of your body and influencing all parts of your life, your storage unit is like your big toe—a less then optimally functioning big toe can still throw the rest of your body out of alignment.

- Take care of the items in storage. We are in a relationship with our things. Items in storage should be clean, in good repair and placed properly. If you are not willing to give these items proper attention, then seriously consider whether they are really worth your time and money to store.

- Memorabilia is often not worth storing. Unless you plan to periodically review college term papers, display third grade artwork, or showcase high school trophies—you can just as easily appreciate these items or trigger fond memories by scanning or photographing them.

- Use it or give it away. Once people move something into storage, they tend to forget about it—out of sight, out of mind. If you haven’t opened your storage unit for over a year, chances are you don’t really need the stuff you’re storing. So if you are going to put something in storage, make a commitment to go to your storage unit and “check in” with each item you’ve stored at least once a year to make sure it’s still worth holding onto.

So what did you decide? To store or not to store?

If you like this blog, you may also like:
Changing Habits That Create Clutter
The Key to Clutter-Free: Making a Choice
Time to Lighten Up!

*From the Self Storage Association

Homemaking Our Way to Happiness…

photo credit: Amy Rachlin

Often in a search for happiness we seek things that are “out there.” It’s easy to imagine that happiness will come from realizing material and external goals. But we believe that true and enduring happiness lies right at your fingertips, in your very own home through a practice called homemaking.

At some point in time, homemaking fell from grace and the role of homemaker was diminished. Chances are that many of us would not comfortably—much less proudly—declare, “I am a homemaker.” Yet the quality of the many moments we have at home—from the mundane to the extraordinary—determine the quality of our lives and our families’ lives. Homemaking is about so much more than cleaning, picking up, entertaining and cooking. Homemaking is about caring for ourselves, our families and ultimately contributing to our communities and the world.

Homemaking is about creating a foundation from which we operate everyday, a sanctuary where we or our family retreat every night, a nurturing place where we feel supported to be who we are and who we want to be. When we create a home that is in alignment with our values and supports our dreams, we can find happiness and peace in the everyday moments that make up the majority of our lives… and those feelings of happiness and peace ripple out and affect those around us. To us, this means if you want to change the world, you can begin at home.

Here’s how…
- Build stronger communities by helping neighbors in need.
- Make the world a kinder place, by raising children who are kind, confident, happy and give back to others.
- Save the environment by recycling, composting, decorating with nontoxic materials and using all natural cleaning products.
- Vote with your dollars by being a conscious consumer and spending wisely.
- Simplify your life so you can focus on what really matters.
- Be grateful for the everyday things, like a good meal, time with friends and family, and a comfortable home.

So are you a homemaker? A homemaker may be single, married with children or without, working outside of the home or not, man or woman—anyone who has a home, is at home within, or makes others feel at home… A homemaker is someone changing the world, one step, one person, and one home at a time.

If you like this blog, you may also like:
More Stuff Doesn’t Equal More Happiness
Redefining Homemaking
Homemaking as an Art and Science

Tips for Clearing Your Child’s Clutter

Childrens Rooms

Last week I posted about the process of cleaning my son’s room, so you know I understand how easy it is to feel overwhelmed by our children’s stuff—the outgrown clothes, artwork, schoolwork, sports equipment, musical instruments, toys, rocks, sticks, party favors and all the other things they get their hands on that eventually end up in our homes. Sometimes keeping up with the stuff by organizing and clutter clearing seems like a full time job. Yet I don’t think anyone would be comfortable with the idea that we’re spending time caring for our children’s stuff that we could be spending caring for our children themselves! Time to get the stuff out of the way so we can be fully present to our relationship with our children—not their things.

This week I thought I’d post some tips for how to clear your child’s clutter as well as list of common types of children’s clutter that we don’t always think about… If you have great tips, please share by commenting below!

Tips for clearing children’s clutter

- Rotate: You may have a closet or area in a garage, attic or basement that you can turn into a toy/book library. When your child is ready for a new toy you can take one from his room and exchange it for one from the “toy library.” This way your child’s environment (and your child) will remain calm and peaceful.

- Take Pictures: It is so much easier to give things away, particularly children’s artwork, when you take a picture of it. With a picture, you will always have the memory of the item.

- Create a ‘things you want to give away box’: Sometimes it is difficult to know how meaningful something is to your child. I think it is important that things that may be meaningful don’t just “disappear.” Keep an opaque plastic box and label it “things I want to give away” and keep the items inside. If your child doesn’t ask about it for a few months, then give it away. Just don’t let him see it because the second he does—he’ll want it back!

- Develop system for outgrown items: Children are growing and changing all the time. Plan ahead for what you will do with outgrown items. This tip will make your clearing so much easier. Have labeled plastic bins ready for clothes and toys you may want to pass on to a sibling.

- One thing in, one thing out: Once you have a simplified, clutter-free space you will want to keep it that way. Before you bring anything new into your child’s world, make sure it is worth it. You may want to take one thing out each time you bring in something new—this way you will keep the space clean and clutter-free.

- Clear with intention: As you’re clearing and organizing, know that the more things you let go of the more space you are creating to truly be with your child.

Common children’s clutter (things to keep an eye out for!):

- Unhealthy items: Get rid of items that are made with PVC or other unsafe plastics (link), or other toxic materials, and of course, choking hazards. Also remove, broken items—if you can’t commit to repairing it within the next week, let it go.

- Unused items: Children are always growing and changing—when they have moved on, move it out.

- Outgrown clothes: Have a system in place for outgrown clothes. If you are saving it for a sibling, friend or relative then have a clear plastic bin labeled with the age the items will fit.

- Developmentally inappropriate items: It’s easy to get excited about what our children can and will do—but don’t rush them. They grow up quickly as it is—store the item (not in their room) for when they really get to that stage and can fully use it.

- Too much stuff: Be realistic about how much volume you and your child can manage. Children are usually more deeply engaged and grounded when they have fewer things around them. You will be much calmer and happier (and have more time for your child) with fewer things to maintain.

- Things without a home: Even if an item is healthy and loved, but you don’t have a place for it—it may as well be clutter. Find the item a proper home, save it in a storage area if you think you may have a home for it in the future, or let it go.

If you like this blog, you may also enjoy:
How to Organize Children’s Art and Schoolwork
Organizing Toys
Slowing Down With Our Children
Ten Do’s and Don’ts When Decorating Your Baby’s Nursery
Tips for Promoting Sibling Harmony at Home

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