Category Archives: dorm storage

Back to School Around the World

Back to School Around the World!

September and back to school is upon us! Here at The Storage Inn of Egg Harbor Township, teachers and students are busy retrieving items from their storage units in preparation for the new school year. This week I saw Mrs. Oglesby, loading boxes of art supplies for her classroom. And local college students are in and out picking up stored furniture for their dorm.

Who knew that school and self-storage went together so well?!?

All of this school centered activity made me wonder what back to school is like throughout the rest of the world. Here’s a look at what students in several different countries are doing to prepare for a new year of learning!

First Day of School in Japan

In Japan, children carry all of their school supplies in a hard-sided backpack called a randoseru. It’s filled with books, origami paper and a special pencil case called a fudebako. For students who bring their own lunch to school, the tradition is to bring a lunch of rice with seaweed sauce and quail eggs. This meal is thought to bring good luck. Also, since outdoor shoes are not permitted inside the school, students bring a pair of slippers.

First Day of School in Holland

In Holland, cargo bikes called bakfietsen, are frequently used by parents to take their kids to school.  These bikes have a large box that sits in front of the rider. Bakfietsen owners love that they are eco-friendly and don’’t require a parking spot. The bikes are so popular with parents that nearly all bakfietsen are used to tote around the kids! On the first day back, students are sure to be rolling up to school in one of these smart inventions.

First Day of School in Germany

For over 200 years now, kids in Germany have been given a Schultuete (pronounced shool-too-teh) on the first day of school. A Schultuete, which translates to “school cone,” is a large, decorated paper cone filled with school supplies, small presents and sweet things to eat. Sometimes they’re nearly as large as the child!

First Day of School in Russia

To celebrate the beginning of a brand new year of learning, the first day of school in Russia is called the “Day of Knowledge.” On this day, children traditionally give colorful bouquets of fresh flowers to their teachers and receive balloons in return.

First day of School in India

In India, kids also get special gifts on the first day of school, or Praveshanotshavan.  The first day of school also known as Admission Day, coincides with the beginning of monsoon season, and the gifts often include a brand new umbrella.

So there you have it – you learned something new and didn’t even have to go back to school to do it! Happy Back to School!

 

College Student Self Storage 101

Summer is winding down here at The Storage Inn in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey. This is right about the time of year our local college students start moving back into their dorms or apartments. If you’ve got a lot of extra stuff and just don’t have the room, consider putting items into a safe and secure self storage facility. Extra space storage can be very helpful. 

Renting a storage unit is easy. And it’s a great option when you’re living in a small, cluttered dorm room or moving out of your apartment between semesters.

Storage Inn units provide college students a safe place to keep their possessions while they’re in school too. Below are ways you can make your college experience better with a self-storage unit.

Buddy up!
If you don’t have enough stuff to fill an entire storage unit, consider sharing with a friend to help split the cost.

Store clothes seasonally
This will help you gain space in your dorm closet.

Store your sports
Keep large and randomly used items like sports equipment in your storage unit nearby. Store your snowboard, surfboard, skis and bikes so you’ll always be prepared for your favorite outdoor activity.

Keep it close
Find a self-storage unit near your dorm or campus so it’s easier to get your personal belongings moved into your dorm or apartment when you come back at the start of the next year.

Leave it local
Keep items that you will use from year to year in your storage unit, rather than lugging them all home between semesters. 

College can be a little hectic at times, but it’s a great experience. So save yourself some unneeded stress and enjoy a little extra space by using a self-storage unit in college. Trust me, your dorm and closet will thank us later. Happy back to school from The Storage Inn! 

 

The Storage Inn offers extra space for when you’re downsizing your living space!

Downsizing and Self Storage

There are plenty of reasons why people decide it’s time to downsize their lives and move into a smaller living space including wanting less house to manage, retiring to a active adult community, health concerns, or the need for assisted living. Whatever the reason, downsizing can be a daunting task, but the The Storage Inn Self-Storage in Egg Harbor Township, and Ocean City, NJ can be a huge benefit for you in making that transition easier especially if you’re one of the following:

Empty Nesters
The kids have moved out! You can finally turn their bedroom into that office you always wanted, the dream craft room, or a guest bedroom. The possibilities are endless! So, what are you to do with all that extra stuff taking up extra space they left behind – bed, desk, dresser, etc.?
The Storage Inn can solve your extra space issues – with over 45 storage space sizes to choose from, it’s the perfect solution! It can also ease the transition for you and your adult kids when they move out. Place their items into a storage unit and give them access to it. This gets their stuff out of the way at home, but still makes it easy for them to access everything when needed. 

Retirees
Congratulations on your retirement! We all dream of that day when we can sleep in with no alarm and do all those things we’ve dreamt of for years, like traveling the world, or finding new hobbies.

If retirement means moving to a smaller home perhaps in a 55 and over community, the good news is no more shoveling snow or cutting the grass!  The challenge is that you now have less than half of the storage space that you had in your old home!

Where are you going to put the 30 years of stuff you’ve accumulated but can’t bear to get rid of yet?
This is where a self storage space can come to the rescue! The staff at The Storage Inn is always happy to offer tips to help you sort and save the items that may have sentimental value to your family as well as the ones that you made need easy access to throughout the year.

Assisted Living
Transitioning into an assisted living facility, or helping a loved one through this process, is a challenging endeavor. How do you deal with a lifetime of personal belongings that very likely will not fit into your new senior living community? Often, time is of the essence, and the need for storing these items must be met quickly! This is where self-storage comes to the rescue! Many times, the best solution is to rent a large to mid-sized storage space until items can be sorted and consolidated into a smaller storage unit for long term storage.

 

Whether you’re an empty nester, happy new retiree, or relocating to an assisted living community, The Storage Inn can help make the transition a bit easier. Here are some of the features that we offer…

  • Award-winning, Local family owned business.
  • Clean Safe and Secure Storage featuring 24 hour Video Surveillance and a Resident Security Manager.
  • 7 day office hours and access.
  • 45 storage sizes to ensure that you don’t pay for more than you need!
  • Climate Control units.
  • 10 foot ceilings / 20% more space than industry standard
  • Full array of packing supplies available in our office store.
  • Free Wi-Fi, Copy, Print, Shred and Fax
  • Senior Discounts
  • Home of the $1 move-in/ Free Truck Rental

Our Storage Inn professionals will be happy to answer any questions you may have – from unit size and features, to arranging a unit for easier access. Stop by The Storage Inn in Egg harbor Township, or Ocean City, NJ today for more information on how we can help with your transition to a smaller living space and keep your lifetime of items organized along the way!

 

Preparing your Dorm for Winter Break

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moving-into-dorm

Now that students have returned from Thanksgiving break, it is time to buckle down and study for finals. For college students everywhere, this time of year is notorious for late-night study sessions, extreme spending at local coffee shops and paper-writing marathons.

After the final exam is taken and the last paper submitted, it’s time to move back home. However, students everywhere should prepare their dorm rooms for the month-long vacancy.

If you are a college student approaching the sweetness of winter break, follow these tips to make sure you can go home in peace and celebrate the holiday season with your loved ones:

 

Store Valuables over the Break

If you are nervous about any of your belongings remaining in the dorm room over your break, consider keeping them in a Self Storage unit. Televisions, cherished memorabilia or other items you want to keep safe can easily be kept in a storage unit while you are away.

The Storage Inn  provides an affordable selection of storage units near local colleges and universities.

Unplug All Electronics

According to Niche, you will want to ensure all electronics are unplugged to save energy. Check everything from your television to your miniature fridge (which only houses pop, right?) In addition, unplugging will decrease the risk of fires occurring in the building, as a small spark may ignite a blaze resulting in substantial damage to the entire building.

You will also want to turn down the heat in your room, but do not turn it all the way off as it may lead to frozen pipes, which would result in major issues upon your return.

Take out Your Trash and Anything You Are Not Supposed to Have

Avoid returning home to a funky-smelling dorm room by joining forces with your roommates and removing any garbage or perishables you might be keeping in the room. Make sure to double-check your fridge for leftover food or drinks as well, and dispose of them properly.

If you happen to have any items that aren’t allowed in the dorm room, such as candles or portable grills, make sure to remove them from your room. Building managers and resident assistants often go through each room to ensure they are ready for a long winter break. If they uncover any forbidden items, you might come back to a fine or other consequences.

“Avoid returning home to a funky-smelling dorm room by joining forces with your roommates and removing any garbage.”

Decide What to Bring Home

Cengage Brainiac noted you will need to properly pack for your time at home as well. Know what clothes to bring and whether you’ll need any school-related materials for class assignments or preparation.

If you and your family are going on a vacation, be sure to pack the appropriate clothing. A cruise through the Bahamas will require slightly different attire than a weekend dog sledding in northern Minnesota.

Make a list ahead of time to ensure you don’t forget the essentials.

Souce – DormSmart.com