Signs You Have Too Much Stuff and Not Enough Storage

If you've lived in the city long, you know how expensive it is to rent an apartment or loft on your own. If you share your current residence with other people, you have even less space to work with. That doesn't mean that you can't display what you love, though. It does mean that you'll have to be more selective in what you keep in your space and what you choose to put in storage.

Too Many Things to Hold Onto

Here are five signs that you have too much stuff and not enough storage:

You can't enter or exit your area of the apartment or loft without knocking something over. There is a difference between convenience and clutter. If you knew that you could retrieve the storage bin you rented day and night, would you feel more comfortable renting one? What if you didn't have to retrieve your belongings yourself and instead had them delivered to your residence? Could you justify paying $25 a month for storage?

You got boxes stacked on top of boxes of things. You're not sure what's in them but you know you have no room to store the contents unpacked. That's why they remain where they are. You can't part with them but you can't display them, either.

You don't remember the last thing your friend borrowed from you. Whatever it was, it can't be too important. After all, wouldn't you want it back right away? If your friend tells you that they have something of yours but you can't recall the object, you're likely lacking in the storage department and need an offsite bin to help you get organized.

You've filled every basket, bin, and tote that you own. There is not another place to store a thing. You've hidden away nearly everything you own and you just can't squeeze another inch of space out of your living area. You've even rearranged things in an attempt to put another tote somewhere but you're out of luck.

You've got the largest area of the apartment or loft to call your own but you still have no room to work out, study or entertain friends. It's time to prioritize. If having your stuff at hand is more important than having space to move around, that's your choice. If you rather be clutter-free, renting a storage bin is the option for you.

You don't have to get rid of what you own to make more room in your small apartment. City dwellers know just how convenient it is to rent a bin from urBin Storage. For one low monthly fee, they can stow away half a closet's worth of items safely and conveniently. If you're looking to increase the space inside your shared apartment or loft, this is the way to go.

Donate What You Don't Want to Keep

Family Circle suggests donating things that you'd rather not put in storage. It's about blessing others with your abundance. You can give things away to a friend or opt to donate accepted items to a non-profit organization or thrift store.

The point is to only store items that mean something to you. If you're holding onto something because you think it might help someone else, now is the time to give it to them. You don't know how appreciative people are to be given an item they truly need.

U.S. News and World Report notes that certain items are tax deductible when donated to charity. This includes things as large as a sofa and as small as a pair of shoes. Keep in mind that donations must be itemized for them to count on your tax return.