Taking an extended trip can be an incredible opportunity.
Perhaps you’re travelling around Asia for three months, spending the winter somewhere warmer, taking a career break, visiting family overseas or simply taking the opportunity to see more of the world.
Once the flights are booked, however, there’s a practical question that often gets overlooked:
What are you going to do with all your belongings while you’re away?
If you’re keeping your home exactly as it is, the answer might be simple. But if you’re ending a tenancy, moving out of shared accommodation, renting your property while you’re away or returning to family temporarily, suddenly you have furniture, clothes and household belongings with nowhere obvious to go.
That’s where temporary self storage can help.
SecureStore provides flexible personal self storage and Removal + Storage across Bury, Manchester, Failsworth and Salford, giving you somewhere for suitable belongings while you’re away and allowing you to retrieve them when you return.
Limited-Time SecureStore Flash Offer: First Month Storage for £1
If you’ve been thinking about putting belongings into storage, this could be the ideal time.
For the next two weeks, SecureStore is offering your first month of storage for just £1.
That means you can clear the house, organise your belongings and get ready for your trip without the usual first-month storage cost.
2-WEEK FLASH OFFER
FIRST MONTH’S STORAGE: £1
Availability, eligibility and SecureStore’s promotional terms apply. Contact our team for full details.
Call 0161 470 0288 or email info@securestoreselfstorage.co.uk to enquire.
Why Extended Travel Creates a Storage Problem
A normal two-week holiday doesn’t require much planning for your possessions.
A three, six or twelve-month trip can be very different.
You might be:
- Ending your rental tenancy
- Moving out of a house share
- Renting your property while travelling
- Moving back with family before departure
- Taking a sabbatical
- Spending several months overseas
- Travelling without a fixed return address
Paying rent or a mortgage purely to provide somewhere for your furniture isn’t always the most practical option.
Self storage allows you to separate two issues:
Where am I going to live while travelling?
and
Where are my belongings going to live?
They don’t necessarily need the same answer.
Ending Your Tenancy Before Travelling
If you’re renting and planning to travel for several months, you may decide not to keep paying for accommodation you’re not using.
That could make financial sense, but everything needs to leave the property when your tenancy ends.
You might own:
- Bed
- Desk
- Television
- Kitchen equipment
- Clothes
- Books
- Bike
- Small appliances
- Household furniture
- Personal possessions
Selling everything immediately before travelling may seem convenient.
But what happens when you return?
You could find yourself buying many of the same things again.
The GOV.UK private renting guidance provides useful information for tenants in England. Always check your own tenancy agreement and notice requirements before making arrangements.
Don’t Pay for an Empty Property Just to Store Your Stuff
If your only reason for retaining accommodation is that you have nowhere for your belongings, compare the options carefully.
Consider:
- Rent
- Council tax where applicable
- Energy costs
- Insurance
- Other property-related expenses
against the cost of storing the belongings you genuinely want to keep.
The calculation will be different for everyone, but it’s worth doing before automatically paying for several months of accommodation you aren’t going to occupy.
What Should You Take Travelling?
Less than you think.
Extended travel becomes considerably easier when you’re not attempting to transport your entire life.
Depending on the trip, essentials might include:
- Suitable clothing
- Travel documents
- Medication
- Phone
- Laptop or tablet
- Chargers
- Toiletries
- Necessary financial cards
- Travel insurance information
The GOV.UK foreign travel advice provides country-specific information covering entry requirements, safety and other travel considerations.
What Could Go Into Storage?
Suitable possessions you want when you return could include:
- Furniture
- Clothing
- Books
- Kitchen equipment
- Household belongings
- Bikes
- Sports equipment
- Suitcases you aren’t taking
- Decorations
- Collections
- Personal keepsakes
You return from your trip and your belongings are still together rather than spread between several friends’ and relatives’ houses.
Don’t Turn Your Parents’ Garage Into Your Storage Unit
It’s a familiar solution:
“I’m only leaving a few boxes.”
Then the few boxes become a bed, desk, bike, television, clothes, kitchen equipment and half the contents of a flat.
Friends and relatives may be happy to help, but storing an entire household for several months can be a significant inconvenience.
Dedicated self storage means your belongings stay together without occupying somebody else’s spare bedroom, loft or garage.
Renting Out Your Home While You’re Away?
Homeowners sometimes choose to let their property while travelling for an extended period.
If you’re considering this, make sure you understand your legal, mortgage, tax, insurance and landlord responsibilities.
GOV.UK guidance on renting out a property is a useful starting point.
You may decide to leave suitable furniture in the property while removing personal belongings such as:
- Family photographs
- Private paperwork
- Clothing
- Collections
- Sentimental possessions
- Personal electronics
- Items you don’t want tenants using
Storage gives you somewhere separate for those belongings while your property is occupied.
Store Sentimental Possessions Deliberately
Extended travel is a good reason to distinguish between everyday possessions and irreplaceable ones.
Photographs, family keepsakes and sentimental items shouldn’t simply disappear into random boxes.
Pack them carefully and label them clearly.
For example:
PERSONAL – FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS
KEEPSAKES – DO NOT DISCARD
PERSONAL DOCUMENTS
For valuable, fragile or specialist items, always check whether self storage is suitable and whether additional precautions or insurance arrangements are required.
Declutter Before You Pay to Store Anything
Going travelling is an excellent opportunity to reduce what you own.
There’s little point paying to store things you already know you don’t want.
Ask yourself:
Will I want this when I return?
If the answer is clearly no, deal with it before departure.
Suitable possessions could potentially be sold through Vinted UK, eBay UK or Facebook Marketplace.
Other usable belongings may be suitable for charitable donation.
Don’t Leave Selling Until the Final Week
If you’re leaving the country on 1 November, don’t begin selling furniture on 29 October.
Give yourself time.
A simple timetable could look like this:
Six Weeks Before Travelling
Decide what you’re keeping, selling, donating and taking.
Four Weeks Before
Start listing unwanted furniture and belongings.
Three Weeks Before
Begin packing possessions that will go into storage.
Two Weeks Before
Move non-essential belongings into storage.
Final Week
Keep only your travel essentials and anything required before departure.
This makes the final few days considerably less stressful.
Pack as Though You’ll Be Away Longer Than Expected
Plans change.
A three-month trip can become six months.
A six-month career break can become a year.
You might find work overseas or decide to continue travelling.
Pack stored belongings properly rather than assuming you’ll definitely retrieve them on a specific date.
Use sturdy boxes and clear labels.
Number Every Box
A simple inventory can save considerable frustration.
For example:
BOX 01 – BOOKS
BOX 02 – WINTER CLOTHING
BOX 03 – KITCHEN
BOX 04 – BEDROOM
BOX 05 – PERSONAL KEEPSAKES
Keep the list on your phone or cloud storage.
If plans change and you need to locate something, you’ll know where it is.
Create a “Do Not Store” Bag
This is particularly important when travelling.
Before the main packing starts, create a separate area for items that absolutely must remain with you.
That might include:
- Passport
- Driving licence
- Travel documents
- Medication
- Bank cards
- Phone
- Laptop
- Chargers
- Insurance information
You don’t want to arrive at the airport and realise your passport is inside Box 14.
Think About Your Car Too
If you’re going away for an extended period and leaving a vehicle behind, make appropriate arrangements.
Depending on your circumstances, you may need to consider insurance, tax, MOT status and where the vehicle will legally be kept.
Official information about vehicle tax and Statutory Off Road Notification is available through GOV.UK vehicle tax and SORN guidance.
Don’t assume that putting household belongings into storage automatically resolves vehicle arrangements too.
Don’t Forget Your Post
If you’re leaving your existing address, think about correspondence before you travel.
Banks, insurers and other organisations may need updated contact information.
Royal Mail Redirection provides information about redirecting personal mail following a move.
SecureStore also offers a mailbox service from £5 per week for customers who require a dedicated correspondence address. Speak to our team about exactly what the service includes.
Removal + Storage Before You Leave
Preparing for extended travel already involves enough organisation.
Flights.
Accommodation.
Insurance.
Packing.
Work arrangements.
Documents.
The last thing you may want is several days of moving wardrobes, beds and boxes.
SecureStore provides Removal + Storage, allowing you to speak to our team about moving suitable belongings as well as storing them.
This can be particularly useful if you’re clearing an entire flat or house before departure.
What Happens When You Come Back?
This is where keeping your belongings can really help.
You may return and move into:
- Another rental property
- Your previous home
- A newly purchased property
- Temporary accommodation while you search
If you’ve retained useful furniture and household belongings, you don’t necessarily have to start again.
You can retrieve what you need when you’re ready.
What If You Decide Not to Come Back Yet?
That’s another reason flexibility matters.
Perhaps you extend your trip.
Maybe you’re offered work abroad.
Or perhaps you decide to spend another six months travelling.
Having suitable belongings already stored means you don’t need to return purely to empty a property or deal with furniture.
Speak to SecureStore if your circumstances or anticipated storage period changes.
Storage Can Make Travelling Lighter in More Ways Than One
Extended travel is often about having fewer responsibilities for a while.
It’s much easier to enjoy that freedom when you’re not constantly wondering:
Is my furniture still in my friend’s garage?
Did someone move those boxes?
What happened to my bike?
Keeping suitable belongings together in a dedicated storage unit gives you one less thing to think about while you’re away.
Take Advantage of Our £1 First Month Flash Offer
If extended travel is approaching, now could be a particularly good time to organise your belongings.
For a limited two-week period:
GET YOUR FIRST MONTH OF STORAGE FOR JUST £1
Whether you’re clearing a rented flat, making space before travelling or storing household furniture while you’re overseas, contact SecureStore to discuss the space you need.
The flash offer runs for two weeks only, so enquire before the promotion ends.
Promotional eligibility, availability and SecureStore terms apply.
How to Book Your Unit With SecureStore
Getting started is straightforward:
- Decide what you’re taking travelling.
- Separate the belongings you definitely want when you return.
- Sell, donate or appropriately dispose of things you no longer need.
- Contact SecureStore and tell us approximately what needs storing.
- Ask about our 2-week flash offer – first month’s storage for £1.
- Choose a suitable storage unit.
- Ask about Removal + Storage if furniture or larger quantities need moving.
- Label your boxes and keep an inventory.
- Head off on your trip knowing your belongings are organised.
2-WEEK FLASH OFFER: FIRST MONTH’S STORAGE FOR £1
Call: 0161 470 0288
Email: info@securestoreselfstorage.co.uk
Visit: 574 Manchester Road, Bury
Contact SecureStore for promotional terms, availability and eligibility.
Going Away? Leave the Clutter Behind
Travelling for several months doesn’t mean you need to sell everything you own or keep paying for a property simply because your belongings need somewhere to stay.
Take what you need.
Deal with what you don’t want.
Store suitable possessions you’ll want when you return.
SecureStore provides flexible self storage and Removal + Storage across Bury, Manchester, Failsworth and Salford, helping customers keep their belongings organised while they’re away.
And for the next two weeks, your first month of storage could be just £1 under our flash offer.
Call 0161 470 0288, email info@securestoreselfstorage.co.uk, or visit 574 Manchester Road, Bury to enquire.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use self storage while travelling for several months?
Yes. Temporary storage can be particularly useful if you’re ending a tenancy, renting your home out or simply don’t want to leave belongings with friends and relatives while travelling.
What is SecureStore’s current flash offer?
For a limited two-week period, SecureStore is offering the first month of storage for £1, subject to promotional terms, eligibility and availability. Contact our team for full details.
Can SecureStore help move my furniture before I travel?
Yes. SecureStore provides Removal + Storage. Tell our team what needs moving so we can discuss your requirements.
What if my trip lasts longer than expected?
Speak to SecureStore if your circumstances change and you need storage for longer than originally anticipated.
Should I put all my belongings into storage?
Not necessarily. Use the opportunity to sell, donate or appropriately dispose of possessions you no longer want. Storage is most useful for suitable belongings you genuinely expect to need or value when you return.
