With the changing of seasons and the holidays on the way, your home may start becoming a bit too cluttered for your liking. When you think about the holidays, though, don’t limit yourself to just Christmas and Hanukah. I bet you have decorations and other items lying around your house for many other holidays, such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, Easter, Independence Day and more. We have some tips to get your home back to normal now, quickly and easily, so you can reclaim your space!

Here are some easy tips you can follow:

Tip 1:
The first step for you to get your home back is to rent a small self storage unit – something like a 5×10 or 10×10 would most likely be the perfect size for holiday items. There is no reason to keep these items you use just once a year inside your home, wasting space or getting in your way.

Tip 2:
Be sure to use sturdy boxes or totes, and pack your fragile items in bubble wrap or packing paper to keep them safe and prevent breakage. Make sure you tape your boxes shut and secure lids on totes completely.

Tip 3:
Do not stack your boxes too high, or pack them too heavily. Make sure the heavier boxes are on the bottom and lighter ones are on the top. Keep an aisle down the center of your storage unit so you can easily see and reach items you will need.

Tip 4:
Be sure to label your boxes and totes clearly with which holiday items they are holding. If there are fragile items inside, make sure to label as such. Also be sure to write large enough so you can see what is in the box quickly. And, it is probably a good idea to label more than one side of the box, in case it gets turned around, so you don’t have to shuffle through them to find out what’s inside.

Tip 5:
You will want to rotate your holiday items as each one comes and goes. For example, when you put back your Christmas items, move those boxes and totes all the way to the back of the unit and pull your Easter ones to the front. This will save you time and headache and keep you prepared for each holiday as it arrives.

Tip 6:
As for the big holidays like Christmas and Hanukah, use your storage unit to store gifts as you buy them! You can even set up a small table inside your storage unit, and use it to wrap your gifts along the way. Keep a tote full of wrapping paper, gift tags, a couple pens and plenty of tape out front and easy to reach. Also keep a small can or bag for your paper scraps and plastic wrapping paper covers. The last thing you want is trash strewn all about when you are trying to stay organized and wrap efficiently.

Remember to keep a list of everything you purchased for each family member and friend, as well as the money you spent. This will help you stick to your budget and also remind you of what you bought for each person.

It would also be a good idea to put something down on the floor first, like a large piece of cardboard, to stack your gifts on, and keep them from getting dirty. Or better yet, purchase some of our Extra Large boxes from our retail shops and place the wrapped gifts inside as you finish with them. This way, you’ll be ahead of the game when the holiday creeps up on you because you will already have your wrapping done! And, using your storage unit for gifts will prevent spoiled surprises and ruined moments when your kids scavenger hunt through your home looking for their gifts before the big day arrives…which we all have done as a kid.

Tip 7:
You can benefit from using a self storage unit for the other holidays throughout the year as well. Many people decorate for holidays like Halloween, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day and more. A lot of people also host parties or family dinners and cookouts, and need some extra space in their homes for those events. You can keep your decorations and themed tableware in your storage unit until you need them.

Tip 8:
You can also move some things out of your home temporarily to make room for your holiday guests. Let’s say you need to transform your extra bedroom slash office slash workout room into a guest room for extended family. To make it feel more welcoming and give them the more space, move anything that you don’t need daily or weekly into your storage unit. You can then simply move it back once they head home. They will be very thankful for how thoughtful you have been when they come to visit.

Using self storage is a great way to store seasonal items, hide gifts from those prying eyes or create more space in your home for holiday visitors. If you have additional tips, please share them in the comments below so everyone can benefit from what works for you.

When you are ready to start organizing your home and begin your seasonal storage plan, contact us for more information and our property manager will happily answer your questions. If you are ready to start like yesterday, you can reserve a unit or rent a unit online now and get moving!

We all feel that crunch in our wallets at holiday time, right? Have you ever thought about shopping all year as deals crop up to save money, and minimize your stress levels around the holidays? You may be thinking, “Yes, I have thought about it. But, where would I keep all that stuff? I just don’t have the room in my house to store stuff all year. And I have nowhere to hide gifts where the kiddos won’t find them.”

Well, that’s where your self storage unit can come in handy! Just think of all the deals that happen in January after the holidays wrap up, when retailers want to get rid of all that leftover holiday stock to make room for the next season. You can fill some of that empty space in your storage unit with sale items from January through December. Or, you can get an additional storage unit just for these items.

However, don’t limit yourself to seeking out deals just for the big holidays. There are other events all year long where storage can be a huge benefit. Oftentimes the biggest deals on specific items happen in the off season for those items. Here is a quick breakdown of each month and some of the items you can get at deep discounts:

JANUARY.
This is probably the biggest sale month of the year. The holidays are over and retailers want to clear out! This is a great month to buy televisions and treadmills, as well as other exercise equipment and big ticket items. Holiday decorations are at unbeatable prices as well. Get that brand new Christmas tree now, and simply toss (or donate) the old one when you take it down.

How about new toys for the kids? This time of year there are toy sales galore, CHA-CHING! Start stocking up now for next year’s holidays and even future birthdays for the year.

Now is a good time to replace your current mattresses. Along with new mattresses, you will need everything that goes along with them, like sheets and pillows. January is the time for these “white sales”. Bedding, linens and towels can be purchased at great prices compared to the rest of the year.

Winter clothing is on sale after the holidays, too. Buy those “must have” boots you have been wanting or that awesome ski jacket. How about buying back to school clothes now for next fall? Great idea! Buy a size bigger for the kids and store them. They won’t know if you just bought them this week or six months ago.

FEBRUARY.
President’s Day sales are everywhere! You will find great deals on new furniture and awesome deals on humidifiers, too. Grab that newspaper and flip through all the sales flyers to find that awesome deal.

MARCH.
Ahh, March. Leave those harsh winter months behind and buy new sports gear for the next winter season at great prices. This is also the time for great deals on luggage.

APRIL.
We all know those April showers bring May flowers. But did you know they also bring spectacular deals on rain coats? Our rainy season is so short that retailers want to move these items off their shelves quickly.

And, now that winter is officially over, you can prepare for next year’s winter surprises with the purchase of a snow blower at a much lower cost. Lawn mowers and other lawn equipment and tools are sold at great prices this time of year in preparation for the new models to arrive during the summer.

MAY.
Maybe you are buying a house in the near future and you want to stock up on new appliances now. Did you know that statistics show that May is the best time to shop for a new refrigerator? Newer models start hitting stores in the summer, so spring is a good time to get a great deal on an older model.

Now is the time you will find spectacular deals on camping and other outdoor gear as well as patio furniture. And let’s not forget the athletic apparel that’s on sale now. All those Memorial Day sales are there for the taking. Remember, if you don’t need it now, you can store it!

JUNE.
Spring is almost over and June is when peak wedding season is in full bloom. Retailers take advantage of the season by having huge dishware sales, many times at 25 and 50 percent off.

JULY.
Still in the midst of wedding season, July is a great time for hitting sales on more home décor items such as cutlery, throw pillows, candlesticks and picture frames. Furniture can be purchased at lower prices this time of year because retailers want the space to move new models into their showrooms.

AUGUST.
Summer is fading fast, and there will be great deals on swimwear, grills and patio furniture. Maybe even that above ground swimming pool you thought you had to wait until next year to purchase. Buy it now at half the cost and store it!

SEPTEMBER.
What a great time to purchase a range, dishwasher, washer or dryer! Even window air conditioners can be a steal as the hot, sultry days come to an end. Purchasing these items when they go on sale will save you tons of money, and get you prepared now for when you actually need them. It’s also a great time to buy yourself a new bicycle for next year, or get one for your kids for the upcoming holiday.

OCTOBER.
Historically, October isn’t a great month for sales. But what about buying some school supplies that weren’t snatched up before the school year started? These are now on the shelves with big savings. How about a new backpack for next school year? Or a new laptop bag for you? You can also get a new computer at a great price.

NOVEMBER.
The holidays are right around the corner, and you’re not nearly as stressed as last year. You took advantage of the sales all year long and you are reaping the benefits! Because of the holiday season kicking off, there are savings galore to take advantage of on just about anything. You can now go out on Black Friday and pick up some last minute good deals, but not be dependent on it for your holiday shopping. Or, not go out at all! This year you have a choice.

DECEMBER.
There are sales and deals-a-plenty, so stock up on anything you didn’t pick up earlier in the year. Entertaining items like table cloths, decorations and wrapping paper have some good deals, so grab them and get ready for your Holiday party.

These are just a few of the big deals you can look for all throughout the year. If you have some ideas that we didn’t cover, we would love to hear about them! Post them in the comments below. We will be happy to share them with our customers. After all, we all love a good deal, right?

If you are ready to start saving and need to set up a self storage unit so you can get started, you can reserve a unit or rent a storage unit online now. You can also stop in our rental office and talk with our friendly and knowledgeable property manager who will be happy to assist you. Happy saving!