Sell, Store, or Trash?

We twentysomethings are a nomadic group. With all the moving around we do, I feel like we’re one step away from throwing on a loincloth and going mastodon hunting. Whether it’s new jobs, relationships, adventure seeking or random opportunities, we’re constantly loading a moving van. I’m about to do it for the second time in two years, and my back already hurts. Every time we make a move—whether across the country or across town—a shocking reality hits us: we have way too much crap and it needs to be dealt with. But at the end of the day, there are really only three things to do with our stuff: We can store it, trash it, or sell it.

Store

During school, most people had an apartment or dorm room full of stuff, the majority of which will be taken to your first post-college digs. This means you're left with the unenviable task of storing all your worldly possessions during the post-college summer: anywhere between a week to several months.

Landlords

Aside from the obvious step of asking your parents, a good place to start is with former and future landlords. Assuming you were a reasonably good tenant, many landlords will cut a little slack with the removal of belongings, or they may rent you a garage or storage space at a handsome discount. Likewise, if you’ve signed a lease to the perfect apartment, but the move-in date isn’t for a couple weeks, a kind landlord may find some space for you to stash some stuff.

Friends and Co-Workers

If your parents coldly shoot you down when you show up with a trailer full of furniture, look beyond the immediate fam. Fifty bucks a month can go a long way in diffusing an awkward situation. Friends and co-workers may be willing to rent out a portion of their garage if they know it’s only going to be for a few weeks.

Self-Storage

Renting a self-storage space should be seen as a last resort (and a sign it’s probably time to trash and sell). A number of factors go into selecting a space, including size, location, security, and access times (some are 24/7; others can be 8am-8pm). If you’re going to be visiting your space every couple of days, location should be the determining factor. If visits will only be a yearly occurrence, shop around and find the best deal, even if it’s well out of town. Keep in mind that you are always entitled to a free storage quote to help weigh you options. And be wary—it’s common to see signs touting “$1 for the first month’s rent,” but such deals usually require a one-year contract.

Once you settle on where to put your stuff, remember to consider how to package it. Believe it or not, there’s actually a right way and a wrong way to store stuff. Following these tips will help you avoid returning to a garage of moldy and broken possessions.

Sell

Yes, we all love our stuff, but hey, money is nice, too. So if you think you can part with some of your more useful items (or even not so useful ones that someone else wants), you should start classifying your possessions into categories and putting them on the market. A little prep work will ensure the best return for your sacrifice.

Clothes

It seems like the clothing you never wear has a way of multiplying and then taking up valuable closet space. This is unacceptable. When you decide to move, it is time to part with those crowding garments and make way for new pretty, hole-free apparel.

Buffalo Exchange is a used clothing store that will pay cold hard cash for used clothing in good condition. Want to update the old wardrobe? Taking store credit in lieu of cash will get you a better return on old jeans, halter-tops, and booty shorts.

Many independent used clothing stores operate under the same basic premise as Buffalo Exchange. Due to their smaller scale, they probably won’t be able to compensate as well, but they’re definitely a viable option.

Finally, if you’re feeling generous, the Salvation Army is always an option.

Furniture

I am constantly blown away by Craigslist. Whatever you need, whether it’s a place to live, a new bicycle, or spiritual salvation, you can find it on Craigslist.

Of all the things that are posted on this incredible site, nothing makes more sense than furniture. Getting someone's used couch or mattress might seem a little unsavory to some, but there’s no way you want to ship an armoire across the country. Because of Craigslist’s local search radius, shipping is never an issue. Along the same lines, Facebook now has a classifieds section – perfect for in-town transactions.

Furniture Trader is another viable option for unloading that clunky coffee table. It definitely gets far less traffic than Craigslist, but a quality listing at Furniture Trader will stand out.

Attempting to unload all your belongings on Craigslist can easily become a full-time job. So those with a dearth of free time (or an aversion to meeting people in the market for a used hookah) should become well acquainted with consignment shops. A consignment shop is essentially a store that will sell your stuff and keep a percentage of the sale price. There are even consignment stores for Craigslist and eBay. And all you have to do is drop off your junk, and they sell it for you (a la 40-Year-Old Virgin).