Kids' stuff: put it in a storage unit in Zug, sell it, or give it away?

The kids have finally :-) left home. However, they've generously left their belongings behind. What remains: lots of junk and space for a bit of daydreaming. Are you mentally transforming the kids' room into a stylish guest room? Or perhaps a chic yogi oasis?

Whatever you have in mind: first, things need to be sorted. 

Organise into piles: Dispose, Donate, Sell, Keep 

Take a day or weekend and think about what's best to do with the items. Mementos with sentimental value are naturally not things you want to just give away. You can pack them nicely and hand them over to your children on their next visit. 

Donate, sell or throw away the rest. Who benefits from things that aren't important to you or your kids? 

If you're having trouble deciding what to keep, follow our 4-pile system. It makes it easier to decide whether you want to store it, keep it, or give it away. 

Dispose

Whether it's broken electronics or dusty trophies, there is a reason why your kids didn't pack these things up. Follow their lead and dispose of them properly. A recycling centre will accept items for free or for a small fee.  

Donate

Donate unwanted toys, books and clothes. You will free up space at home while making someone else happy. Contact: 

- Second-hand shops 

- Recycling centres 

- The Red Cross 

and ask what unused items you can donate. You will also increasingly find second-hand children's shops that are happy to accept your items. 

The following items are generally welcome: 

- Clothes in good condition, especially branded items 

- Accessories

- Toys

- Books 

- CDs 

- Household goods 

- Children's furniture (sometimes) 

Some places, especially second-hand shops, are happy to accept furniture and even arrange transport. Just ask. 

The following items are usually not accepted: 

- Mattresses

- Clothes with stains or holes 

Sell

Have the kids officially outgrown Pokémon? Brilliant! There might actually be a treasure hidden among those old trading cards and items. If you want to make some quick cash, create online listings on popular platforms like eBay, Facebook or local classifieds sites. Just Google it. 

Alternatively, organise a stall at the next flea market. Selling online obviously has the advantage that you only need to worry about listing the items. However, that can be a bit tedious, as you have to photograph and describe everything. 

At a flea market, you are a bit more restricted because you have to haul everything there and present it nicely. You also reach fewer people, and haggling will soon become second nature to you. On the plus side, potential buyers can inspect the items in person, which boosts your chances of making a sale.  

Store items cheaply in a self storage unit

What about the "special" or "expensive" things? The sooner you pack them up and hand them over to your kids, the better. However, let them decide for themselves what they still want. To prevent this process from dragging on forever, set a deadline by which their favourite things must be picked up, otherwise they'll end up at the second-hand shop.

And if your children successfully argue that their new flat is too small, you can store their childhood things in a storage unit. For example, with us at Selfstorage Cham.