School’s Out! Self-Storage – The Solution for a Third Level Summer Break
WHERE DID THAT YEAR GO?
It only feels like five minutes ago you were gathering up books, laptops, duvets and the odd pot and pan to embark on a brand new college year. Maybe it was your first experience of third level, or maybe it was yet another step on the road to academic glory. In the blink of an eye, however, it’s over.
Summer, such as it is, is here again and there’s months of freedom ahead.
Maybe you’re planning to travel, to head off on a J1, or to stick around home and catch up on some study – as if! However there’s one big thing to sort out before the summer adventure can start, and that’s where to put all your stuff.
WHY SELF-STORAGE?
There are things as a college student that you definitely need – a reliable laptop; many, many different colour post-its and highlighters; even the odd traffic cone. But storage? In the summer? Why?! Well, that duvet, those textbooks and all your winter clothes need to go somewhere – along with everything else you’ve accumulated along the way …
- Many third level institutions require students to vacate campus accommodation during the summer months
- Some students may move out of private accommodation when their academic year comes to an end in order to avoid paying rent while they’re travelling, interning or working elsewhere, or simply taking a well-deserved break.
- Moving costs and hassle: It can be stressful and expensive to organise for everything to be brought home in one go once the term ends – and it all has to be brought back again once the new academic year begins in the autumn so it makes a lot of sense to put it neatly, safely and conveniently away until you need it again.
- “And where do you think you’re going to keep all that?”, says every Irish parent ever when they see six month’s accumulated belongings appear on the doorstep. There’s often just no room to house the college gear at home all summer – and no one wants to get off on the wrong foot with an Irish mammy when there’s 4-5 months off ahead!
A short term storage facility rental can be just the way to bridge this gap in time.
YES – SELF STORAGE MAKES SENSE. SO WHAT NOW?
Everything’s a teachable moment and this one’s no exception! Researching and organising self storage when leaving student accommodation will give you skills for life because self-storage is a great move at any stage. Here’s our helpful guide to some of the top things to consider when making that self-storage decision:
SELF STORAGE – TIPS FOR STUDENTS
Choose a convenient facility. Do some research and find one that suits you best, whether that’s near home, near your existing accommodation, next year’s accommodation or wherever you’re moving to once the summer break is over.
Research short term, flexible rentals. You may only need the space for 2-3 months so read all the fine print and aim for a flexible, fuss-free, short-term arrangement.
Student Discounts. Some self-storage companies will offer special promotions during summer months – well worth investigating to save a few bob.
Hive mind – check if anyone else you know is interested in renting the unit with you. It will cut costs and maybe you could even share the load of transporting your belongings from your accommodation to the unit and back again. Read our helpful advice on Sharing a Self Storage Unit here:
Keep it safe. When doing your research, keep safety and security at the front of your mind. Are there good measures in place such as CCTV, controlled access etc so that your unit is safely locked up? Is the facility itself well lit and safe?
Consider Climate Control. Those textbooks didn’t come cheap, and you don’t want to have to replace all of your winter clothes for next year on your student budget. Climate Controlled Self Storage is well worth thinking about to keep everything in tip top condition for when you next need it.
MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR SELF STORAGE
Pack it Properly. Take the time now to be organised and neat when packing your stuff and you’ll thank yourself in the autumn when unpacking is less chaotic than it could be!
Choose sturdy boxes and packing cases. It’s tempting to sling everything in to flimsy refuse sacks and whatever containers you can lay your hands on, but using sturdy, standard-sized boxes makes it easier to stack once in your unit and keep everything in much better condition. Don’t overfill them to avoid them bursting at the seams.
Vacuum bags are very easily available and a great way to store clothing and bedding without taking up too much space.
Label everything. Mark boxes with their contents and clearly label them with your name if you’re sharing the unit.
Dismantle larger items. Beds, desks, shelving units – unscrew them and save all the little parts in clearly marked sandwich bags and tape them to the item they’re intended to hold together. Then stack the separate pieces of your furniture neatly to maximise space.
Keep the essentials easy-to-reach. You never know when you’re going to fancy a little extra study over the break!
Remember to stick to the rules – here’s our handy guide to what NOT to store in your unit.
AND YOU’RE FINALLY FREE!
So there you have it – all of your belongings safely stored until next term, and off you go to Manhattan, Mauritius or Mayo. Whether you’re working, seeing the world or simply enjoying the comforts of home, have a great summer with the peace of mind that self-storage brings!
Unlock the freedom of extra space. Get in touch with Storage World today or get a quote online.
