Retirement

How self storage can help when you retire

Of all the major events in life, retirement is probably the most understated. Everyone gets excited about moving in together, getting married and having babies, and people are generally very supportive if you lose a loved one or separate from a partner. Yet beyond perhaps having a retirement party, there seems to be little acknowledgement of the impact of retiring from a lifetime of work.

For you, retirement might be something you’ve been eagerly awaiting, or it may have been something you’ve dreaded. However you feel about it, though, retirement is a major life event and you’ll need to take time to adjust to it.
 

Short term

In the immediate days and weeks after retiring, you may still feel a sense of urgency and find it difficult to postpone tasks even if they could wait until another day.

This is a good time to get your home organised because you’ll still feel the impetus to get things done within a timely manner and, at the same time, you may be spending far more time in your home than you normally would. Perhaps your loft needs clearing, or cupboards need organising.

You can put any excess possessions into self storage: they'll be stored in your secure unit, and you can still access them whenever you need them back. Things like out-of-season clothing, gardening tools during winter, or even Christmas decorations can be stowed away so they're not cluttering up the place.

Further reading:  The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning - Döstädning​
 

Long term

Once the novelty and enjoyment of your freedom from work begins to wear off, you might start thinking about whether your current home is where you will always stay. Stairs, narrow doorways and sheer size may become impractical as you age. If you have a good deal of equity tied up in your property, you might want to downsize with a view to using some of that money to supplement your pension and allow you to continue to enjoy a decent standard of living.

Further reading:  12 Top Tips for Downsizing

If you do decide to move, you may struggle to know what to do with your belongings. Some may have sentimental value and others may be of practical use to family members. You might have grandchildren who have not yet established a home of their own but who would welcome a bed, a wardrobe, or a chest of drawers when they do. If you think your excess furniture might be of use to someone one day, consider putting it in self-storage until it is needed again. The low weekly cost of self-storage is likely to be far less than the cost of buying those items new.

Enjoy your retirement and make the most of being at home!