A Cautionary Tale

The Real Cost of “Stuff Worth Saving"

We’ve all felt it: that tug on the heartstrings when deciding whether to keep Grandma’s wooden rocking chair, the dated but still perfectly functional sofa, or the serving platters reserved for “special occasions.” These are the kinds of items that feel too meaningful, too useful, or simply too nice to let go of.

A common solution for all that “stuff worth saving” is to store it.

Often, all that “just in case” stuff and “I might need that someday” stuff and "too nice to donate" stuff means putting it in the back of a closet or a the corner of an attic or basement.

Sometimes it goes in self-storage unit. Because it feels practical. Sensible. Temporary.

Except that, more often than not, it isn’t temporary at all.

Chances are, once those items go into storage, they sit there for a very long time.

Holding onto things feels responsible and sentimental, even safe. But over time, that feeling can quietly turn into a heavy emotional and financial burden.

Over the past decade, we have worked with families who have rented storage units for years, paying month after month for belongings for which there was no real plan beyond “we may need it someday.” (See a real-world example below.)

We have also witnessed adult children and their parents locked in standoffs over what to do with end tables, dressers, and inherited furniture—battles worthy of their own mini Storage Wars franchise. We have watched the predictable negotiation tactics unfold: “But Aunt Mildred really loved that dining room set…”

The reality is that these arguments are rarely about furniture. They are about guilt, memory, obligation, and fear of letting go. These conflicts are exhausting, emotionally draining, and usually avoidable.

At one point, we even considered starting a Songbird Storage business because so many clients believed storage could solve a problem or postpone a difficult decision. But we ultimately realized that storage was not the solution our clients truly needed.

Our mission is to make downsizing as stress-free and seamless as possible. We help you identify what you truly want to keep by using curation strategies such as selective sentimental value. We help people release, donate, repurpose, or rehome what no longer serves them. We love helping clients achieve what we call the Downsizing Double Win: you gain space, peace of mind, and clarity, while foster youth or another cause you care about benefits from furniture and other household items that still have life left in them.

Don’t get us wrong: self-storage units can be very practical solutions, especially when used intentionally and temporarily. From a downsizing perspective, short-term storage is a practical solution for specific circumstances, such as when construction or renovation issues temporarily prevent you from moving items directly into their next home. We've also helped clients move art and salable items into temporary storage until items can be sold or picked up by a family member. 

In these cases, storage acts as a short bridge between two known points. There is a clear purpose, a timeline and a plan.

Before signing another storage lease here are some questions to ask yourself: 

• What is my specific reason for storing this, and what is my clear exit plan?
• How long do I realistically expect these items to remain in storage?
• What will it cost me to store this for one year, three years, or five years?
• What would it cost to replace the items I am storing if I truly needed them again?
• Am I paying to store items because I plan to use them, or because I am not ready to make a decision?
• Is the emotional relief of “not dealing with it right now” worth the long-term financial cost?

At the end of the day, your storage unit should not be the most expensive closet you own.  It's not meant win an argument with family members or preserve every object that your loved one ever owned. quietly collecting rent while your furniture ages and your boxes grow dustier.

So before signing another storage lease — especially a long one — take a deep breath and ask:

“Do I really need to save this — or am I just afraid to let it go?”

Because the stuff you love shouldn’t own you.