Balancing academics, social activities, and personal growth is already challenging enough without the added burden of limited living space. Students in big cities, such as Manchester, will often face spatial restrictions, making difficult to keep their belongings organised. In this article, we will explore valuable self-storage tips specifically tailored to students in Manchester to help you make the most of your living space and ensure a stress-free student life.
Our expert self-storage tips for students in Manchester.
Plan in advance
Before you can start moving your items into a storage unit, it's important that you decide what needs to go and what can stay in your accommodation. You can do so by creating an inventory list to evaluate your belongings and determine what you need to store. Start by making a list of essential items and identify those you can live without or do not need on a day-to-day basis.
This will help you prioritise and maximise your available storage space more effectively, while you can put anything you don't need regularly into a storage unit.
Think about the location
Our Vanguard Storage branch in Manchester is conveniently located on Lowry Mill, Lees Street – just a 4-minute walk from Swinton train station. Our smallest storage locker starts at 10 sq ft, ideal for storage boxes or personal belongings for students outside of term time, with larger storage units (starting from 25 sq ft) for individuals who need to store small items of furniture.
Choosing a storage location that's easily accessible from your university or student accommodation will save time and effort when accessing your stored items.
Pack and label strategically
Possibly the most important of our self-storage tips, invest time in packing and labelling your boxes to optimise your storage experience. Use sturdy boxes and containers that stack well, making the most of vertical space. At Vanguard, we offer a range of professional packing materials available at our storage facilities in Bristol, London, and Manchester to robustly protect your goods. When it comes to packing your treasured and valuable belongings away for storage or removal, only the best packing supplies will do.
Without sturdy, multi-layer corrugated cardboard boxes and bubble wrap, your items are at risk of being damaged in transit.
Organise your storage space
Depending on the unit size you will choose, you might have more or less space to work with. Student storage units are often compact, so it's crucial to utilise vertical space efficiently. Use our sturdy cardboard boxes to stack up your belongings and make the most of the vertical space in your unit. Clothing and bedding can take up a significant amount of space so, to maximise storage capacity, use vacuum-seal bags for items that are not needed immediately. These bags compress the contents, reducing their volume and protecting them from dust or moisture.
Share your space
This is particularly relevant for students, as it might make more sense financially to share a unit with your friends. Especially if you live in shared accommodation, investing in a shared self-storage unit will give you and your flatmates valuable space to store seasonal items – such as Summer sport equipment – and bulky items – such as excess furniture you currently don't need – freeing up valuable space in your home.
Pooling resources and splitting the cost can make storage more affordable and convenient for everyone, just make sure that clear agreements are made regarding access and responsibility for the shared unit.
Stay safe
Safety is important for everyone, particularly for students living away from home. When choosing a self-storage unit, make sure to assess the safety of the unit and storage facilities before committing to it. Our Vanguard Storage units in Salford, Manchester, offer enhanced security and safety to guarantee your peace of mind.
With 24/7 CCTV across our premises, controlled access to the facilities and staff on site at all times during opening hours, you can rest assured that your stored belongings will be safe.
Why should students in Manchester use self-storage?
With limited living space as a student in Manchester, self-storage becomes a valuable resource. By following our self-storage tips, you can manage your belongings and stay organised throughout your academic journey.
If you're in need of self-storage units from a storage company you can trust, look no further than Vanguard Self Storage Manchester. With both short or long term student storage solutions available, you can rest assured that your belongings will be stored safely thanks to our robust access control system, burglar and fire alarms, and 24 hours a day CCTV.
We have also put together a handy Manchester Student Living Guide to help you navigate life as a student in this beautiful city, so make sure to read that too!