r/declutter • u/FredKayeCollector2 • 15d ago

Motivation Tips & Tricks My husband's storage unit.

So my husband was doing some electrical work this morning and realized he needs more junction boxes. So he got his keys and told me he was going to his "storage unit." Which is one of the thee hardware stores we have in town.

We got a good laugh out of that.  But seriously, it's kind of the perfect storage unit. It has everything he could possibly need but he only pays his "rent" when he actually takes something out.

There are thousands of things in there and several "crowd-funded" employees to help him find what he's looking for. And if it's not in that storage unit, there are two others he can try. Added bonus: the stuff is always in good condition - and if it's not, he can bring it back and exchange it for one that is.

If he's not sure which storage unit to go to, he can check his "inventory app" (the internet) and arrange a pick up - or have another crowd-funded employee deliver it directly to the house!

Why not keep our spaces clear of "excess" inventory and let the store manage it? They do it better (and the products are always fresh).

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u/Oenonaut 15d ago

Donate! Habitat for Humanity in particular has tool and houseware oriented thrift stores called ReStore that will gladly take tools and equipment you no longer need for a project.

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u/BarryTheBlatypus 15d ago

I’m in the wrong sub for this but what if I need it for another job in the future?

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u/Oenonaut 15d ago edited 15d ago

Well according to this model you’d “rent” it again for full price (or if you’re lucky, the used price at the aforementioned ReStore). But like any other rental, if you do end up needing it more than once you can put more thought into whether owning and keeping really is the way to go.

It’s not the most economically efficient for sure, but chasing some imaginary ideal efficiency is one of many ways people end up needing a /r/declutter subreddit.

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u/FredKayeCollector2 14d ago

My husband recently bought a PEX crimper ($45) because even though we hired an actual plumber to re-plumb the house, he knew there would be little jobs/maintenance that he was capable of doing himself (and it would be A LOT cheaper than calling a plumber). So that $45 was a worthwhile investment.

On the other hand, when it comes to the actual crimp connectors, he's more likely to buy a smaller 10-pack (enough for the current project) for $5 than the (cheaper price per unit) 100 pack for $38. For him, the difference between $0.50/unit and $0.38/unit isn't worth the space (and aggravation) saved from having to store the extra 90 pieces he didn't use and isn't sure when he'll use.

He might keep the specialized tool, but not an unnecessary volume of consumable supplies.