San Francisco is a great place to live – it might even be the best city in the world to live in. However, there are still downsides to San Francisco, particularly in terms of the cost of living, which is about 91% higher compared to the national average. Another issue you might be facing in San Francisco is a lack of space at home – compared to other big metros, the San Francisco area only offers about 723 square feet of living space per person on average. And, if you’re living in an apartment, as is the case for many San Francisco dwellers, you will probably have even less space than that.
Fortunately, the local self storage sector can help with both those issues: saving space and saving money. Renting a self storage unit in San Francisco allows you to comfortably live in a smaller (thus, more affordable, space) or save on rent by sharing your apartment with a roommate.
Here are some of the things you can, and should, keep in self storage in order to be able to live your best life in San Francisco:
1. Your bike
San Francisco offers some amazing biking routes, such as the Headlands Loop or the rather challenging Point Reyes Loop. Whether you’re biking during your off time, for exercise and enjoyment, or if you bike to work and other places, storing your bike in a small San Francisco apartment can be an issue. You don’t want to rent a bigger, more expensive apartment solely to hold on to your bike – instead, get a self storage unit as close as possible to home and keep your bike there.
2. Sports equipment
From camping gear to golfing equipment or water sports items, you probably have at least some of them, and for a good reason, as there are plenty of opportunities to engage in sports in and around San Francisco. Using a self storage unit for these items has other advantages, apart from freeing up space in your home: if you rent a unit that’s conveniently located near, or on the way to your athletic favorite club or nature spot where you practice your favorite sport. This way, it will be easier to make time for your passion – you don’t have to get back home after work to retrieve your surfboard, for example, you can simply pick it up on your way to the beach.
3. Hobby-related items
Whether you have a huge Lego collection, you like to knit, make jewelry, or anything else, it’s definitely challenging to store all the hobby-related items at home. Who can afford a hobby room in San Francisco’s current real estate market? Self storage allows you to indulge in your favorite hobby while also being able to properly use your home. Store the bulk of your hobby-related stuff in a storage unit near your apartment – a 5’x5’ storage unit is more than enough for this purpose and keep at home only the things that you’re currently using.
4. Extra furniture and appliances
You might be living small at the moment, but that’s not to say you shouldn’t hold on to your extra furniture and appliances for when you move to a bigger place. Maybe you inherited some good quality furniture or scored high-end appliances at a sale – such items are very expensive, so it’s worth keeping them in storage until you need them. That’s even more important if you plan to upgrade the size of your home in the near future.
5. Clothing and accessories
Not enough closet space is a harsh reality for many, particularly for those living with roommates. If you haven’t yet considered using self storage for your clothing, footwear, and accessories, you definitely should because it’s a very practical alternative to messy, overcrowded closets. Separate your outfits based on season and rotate them between your home and your self storage unit, depending on how you need them.
Are you a San Francisco resident? Let us know in the comments if you’re using self storage!
