Storage Shame: Stories from Around the World..

These stories remind us that storage shame is universal - but so is the joy of turning unused items into opportunities for others. Contact SYS asap to make sure you don’t become your own short storage shame story.. 

Bikes Gathering Rust

The Johnson family in Perth stored their kids’ old bikes, thinking they’d save them for their grandchildren one day. Years passed, and the bikes rusted away, unused. “We felt so guilty knowing they could’ve been ridden by someone who really needed a bike,” they said. They donated the bikes to a community repair program, giving them a new purpose after years of paying for storage that in the end they didn’t need. 

The Suitcase of Body Shame

Hiroshi in Tokyo rented a small storage unit for a suitcase full of clothes he no longer fit into but couldn’t bear to part with. “I thought I’d lose weight and wear them again,” he said. Years passed and with no change to his shape or size, he realized the clothes could be helping someone else. Hiroshi donated them to a disaster relief organization after a major natural disaster in Japan, finally letting go of his storage shame & his storage bill. 

Toys Left in the African Dust

In Cape Town, Lindiwe stored her children’s old toys, believing they held too many memories to let go. Her emotional attachment was the resounding factor for holding on these items in a storage unit. When she visited the storage unit years later, she was horrified to find some items damaged by dust and humidity due to the lack of consistent facilities within the storage unit. “It broke my heart, they could have brought joy to others and yet I left them sitting here for years and years,” she said. She immediately donated the salvageable toys to a nearby orphanage that valued the donations immensely.

The Snow Gear Left Behind in the Mountains

Mark from Toronto loved skiing in his youth but stopped after moving to a city without snow as he progressed in his life and career. His skis, boots, and jackets sat in a storage locker for over a decade. “It felt wasteful, but I kept thinking I’d use them again someday,” he said. After donating them to a winter sports charity, Mark said, “It’s nice knowing someone else can actually enjoy them.” Mark’s hobby ended up costing him over $15,000 in which he did not even use the equipment. 

The American Dream Deferred

Maria from Chicago kept boxes of her childhood mementos in a storage unit, intending to pass them down to her kids. Over time, the rising storage fees and her lack of space at home made her question her decision. “I felt like I was holding onto the past at the expense of the present,” she admitted. Donating her items to a local museum, thrift stores & shelters brought closure and financial relief after years of monthly payments. 

Suffering from storage shame? Contact SYS to relieve yourself of that monthly burden!