Storage units and opportunity costs
I heard a story on NPR this morning that said one in every three people in the US now rents a storage unit. How is that even possible! The only way I can wrap my head around that factoid is that some people must have multiple storage units, the way the overall divorce rate reflects the fact that some people get divorced multiple times. Statistically it works out to one unit for every three people, but they are not evenly distributed.
The reporter also said the average cost for a unit is $120 a month, which works out to $1440 per year. I get that for some people it's a short-term fix to store their best pieces of furniture and other valuables while they are between permanent housing arrangements, and it makes sense for that purpose - as long as the months don't stretch into years. But for those of you who rent storage units as expandable spaces for all the stuff you want to keep, but not enough to keep it in your house - I'm genuinely curious. Do you really think that stuff is worth what you're paying to keep it? What cutbacks are you forced to make in your lifestyle and activities, because you have to pay so much for an "overflow apartment" where your extra stuff lives and waits to be of use someday?
Speaking for myself, I'm happy to do the hard work of sorting, decisionmaking, and letting go of all the stuff that doesn't fit in my living spaces, so I can use that $1440 per year on things and experiences that are more personally meaningful.