What to do with your ‘Dorm Stuff’ for the summer

With the school year coming to a close, thousands of university students across Canada are moving home. Since your parents decided not to convert your bedroom into a guest room or ad hoc yoga studio, you might have two of everything now: two sets of sheets, two desk organizers, extra dishes, and more bathroom and cleaning supplies than you can count. School is over—and even if you’re working this summer, you shouldn’t have to worry about school stuff.

Image courtesy of Vincennes University

Trying to sell it all (or give it away) before you move takes time and effort. Leaving a pile next to a campus dumpster is tough on the environment, makes life harder for the waste disposal team, and loses you money if you need to re-buy everything next year. Instead of overcrowding the house with your ‘dorm stuff’, put your extras in offsite storage so they’re ready for you to access in August or September.

Here are three things to consider before you move your extra things back home:

1. Dorm stuff takes up space. Why bring your fall and winter wardrobe home for the summer? Why not enjoy a clutter-free space for four months? You won’t have to feel stressed out about all the boxes and bins in your room, or deal with your parents nagging you to move your stuff out of the garage. Enjoy having no homework and being able to exhale. Leave your space spotless in August and come back to a clean, open, and breathable room in June.
2. You shouldn’t have to move dorm stuff multiple times. Many students study outside of their home city or province. Imagine trying to drive (or fly) all of it back home, only to bring it to school again in August. The more you move something, the more likely it is for something to get lost or forgotten. Without the extra weight and bulk, you can come home with your basics and summer clothes, and reopen your fall-and-winter life when it’s time to go back to school.
3. Off-site storage keeps dorm stuff safe. “Out of sight, out of mind” is good enough for many people, but some of us sleep better knowing that our belongings will be safe, clean, dry, and protected when they’re under someone else’s watch. Research the off-site storage companies in your school’s city. They should be able to tell you about their available units and their features, as well as the building’s security measures. For example, there are key codes and cameras at Maple Leaf Self Storage, and you’ll also use your own keyed lock–which means no one can access your locker when you aren’t there.

Doubling up on stuff just causes more stress and makes it harder to keep track of things. Balance your home life and school life. Have a clutter-free summer and find a safe place to store that dorm stuff until you’re ready for it.