By Kristen Curran
Cardboard boxes become a hot commodity. Packing tape is flying off the shelf at the local grocery stores. Deseret Industries gets inundated with winter clothes and old textbooks that couldn”t be sold back. It must be moving season.
As thousands of students prepare to leave Provo for the summer — where will they leave their stuff? From bikes to desktop computers, students can accumulate a lot during the Fall and Winter Semesters. Some students will be staying for Spring and Summer Terms. Others will be going home, studying abroad or selling pest control. Storage becomes a real predicament.
For students who are driving home, cramming everything into their cars may seem like a good idea. According to www.fueleconomy.gov, for every 100 pounds of cargo, fuel economy drops two percent. Roof top carriers drop fuel economy another five percent. The extra gas may not make a big difference for those driving to St. George, but those heading to the East coast can spend over $200 extra on gas.
According to Officer Heninger of the Provo Police Department, as long as drivers can see both side view mirrors clearly, the rearview window can be covered. However, he said even with side view mirrors blind spots still occur. At freeway speeds if a car changes lanes and just clips the bumper of the car behind it, it can cause a rollover or spinout. For safety, travelers should not stack luggage higher than the back seat.
Trailers and rented vans may be necessary for true collectors of stuff, but the cost can be prohibitive. The ride board in the Wilkinson Student Center is a good resource to find other students heading in the same direction and willing to share the costs.
Those students lucky enough to have obliging relatives in the area may store their belongings in basements, garages and carports — Though they may risk leaky basements, roasting hot carports or snooping cousins.
“I”ve got this crazy uncle who lives just down the street and I don”t know if he”s going to sell it [his stuff] on eBay, but he says he will take care of it for me,” said Jon Conley, BYU student.
“I get used as free storage because every time they go home they bring much more back,” said Melanie Mueller, a BYU graduate living in Spanish fork.
Family is not the only storage answer for students exiting Provo. There are several storage facilities near the BYU and UVSC campuses. Storage facilities can offer flexibility and convenience for students who want to store anything from blenders to cars. Most facilities only require month to month contracts and students may find summer specials. Storage units also offer a certain amount of security. Renters usually have their own locks for the storage units.
“About mid-April the students start coming in, and moving in and by the end of April we are usually 100 percent full,” said Sheree Cardon, the resident manager at Lockbox storage in Provo. The earlier students get a storage unit, the better their chance is of getting what they want. According to Sheree, students can share storage units with friends, get more space and split the cost.
Some students just can”t bear the thought of packing up and moving their stuff for four months. Annie Pousard will be returning to her apartment after working at home for summer term. She decided to leave her stuff in her apartment.
Side bar- Tips on Storing your stuff
At a storage unit
1. Cover everything with a plastic sheet around the top and sides — Utah is dusty in the summer.
2. Put everything up on a pallet — it protects boxes from water and unfriendly rodents.
3. Fold all of your winter clothes — wrinkles can fade even in a box and clothes will be ruined.
4. Store books flat on their backs if you want them to last.
5. Put lighter boxes on top of heavier one – seems obvious but it may not be.
6. Take batteries out of electronics and store them in a separate container, they will last longer and they can leak and ruin everything in the box.
7. Some food can be stored but a lot can”t. Make sure to check expiration dates and suggested temperature storage. Medicines expire too, so check everything from cough syrup to pain relievers.
8. Plastic bins are reusable, easily stackable and make nice furniture when covered with a sheet. Save a tree and start using them.
9. Wash your linens, towels and blankets-if you don”t you will regret it
10. Girls and Guys — call your home teachers, that”s what they”re there for!
