Why Storage Facilities Are Just Fancy Junk Drawers You Pay For Long Term

Let’s get one thing straight: storage units seem like a good idea at the time. You’re moving, downsizing, decluttering, renovating, travelling - the list goes. Or you fall into the other category.. you just can’t let go of your high school diary because, who knows, your great-grandkids might want to read it one day.

But here’s the truth and reality - storage facilities are the gym memberships of the stuff world. You sign up with noble and grand intentions, forget about them in three weeks, then get a reminder when you look at your bank account in 3 months and then keep paying out of guilt (or as we call it.. storage shame) and vague hope that it will sort itself..

You’re Paying Rent… for Your Old Lounge & Dining Table

Let’s do some math (don’t worry, I’ll keep it gentle or head to our storage calculator at https://www.shiftyourstorage.com/ for some brutal facts). The average storage unit costs anywhere from $200 to $450 a month in Australia. $2400 - $5400 a year to keep things you literally never use. Would you pay that much for a Netflix subscription where all you get is a static image? No. But somehow we do it, the out of sight, out of mind mentality, it always does win.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind, Out of Pocket

There’s a strange psychology behind storage units and storage facilities. Once your stuff is in there, it’s like it doesn’t exist anymore. Its great, your credit card seems to be the only one who knows of its existence. You even drive past the building and look the other way.. Which is great for your peace of mind, again "Out of sight, out of mind"… until you realize you’ve just dropped over $10,000 over the past two years to store boxes you haven’t opened since the 2000 Olympics.

And let’s be honest: if you haven’t needed it in six months, you probably never will. This is what we find with most of our clients anyway. The disappointment in realizing the goods/items could have had a home is pretty depressing. Do you really think you're storage unit is worth more in a decade? Think about it..

It’s Like a Museum of Regret & Shame

Storage units are essentially time capsules full of indecision & procrastination. That treadmill you swore you'd use again? Well its 2025 - no one has treadmills at home anymore. Lets be serious unless you have a full gym. That collection of VHS tapes & DVDs? Congratulations, you've curated your own personal library of forgotten tech from the past.

Visitors for your museum: zero. Cost: ongoing and increasing.

The Minimalist Ending (Hopefully)

Instead of paying rent on your own past memories and for your past self, consider selling, donating, recycling or (gasp!) throwing away the excess stuff. Imagine the freedom of not needing to remember the gate code, lug boxes & bags in 35-degree heat to a stuffy storage facility, or feeling the burning guilt every time you see that monthly charge hit your card.

So next time you're tempted to store anything really, ask yourself: would future-you thank you for keeping it… or for letting it go?

Storage units: because sometimes, the real baggage is emotional.