You asked:

I live too far away to move all of my things home for the summer. What should I do with my stuff?

Yeah, storing stuff can be a problem when you’re away from school for the summer. But first off, decide if you even want to keep everything! This is a great time to clean out your things and decide what to keep and what to get rid of.

• Make some money. If you have some bigger items, try listing them on online marketplaces. You can also take some of your things to secondhand shops and try to sell them there. You’ll pad your pockets and you won’t have to worry about moving it or storing it anywhere.

• Donate some things. Also, check with your residence hall to see if they have any programs where you can donate items. Many college campuses do these programs and then donate the items to organizations that help people in need.

If there are a lot of items you want to keep, you have a few options:

• Ask your university about storage. Some universities have on-campus storage spaces. This is especially true of schools that attract mostly out-of-state students. Ask the housing office if they offer this service and whether fees are involved.

• Ask your friends. Chances are you have at least one friend who is from the area. Ask if they would be willing to house some of your things over the summer. If you have a lot, try splitting it up between a few friends. Be sure to remember who has what, though.

• Rent storage space. The safest (but priciest) option is renting a storage space. Research your options and see what’s available in the neighborhood. Find a place that will allow you to pay month-to-month. Try asking around to see if you have friends who would want to share the space and split the cost with you. A lot of storage and moving companies also give discounts to college students, so be sure to ask.

Name: Jonathan Fieweger
School: New York University
Major: Arts Administration and Cultural Policy
His deal: Jonathan is an R.A. for sophomores at NYU. He is tour guide in the undergraduate admissions office on campus and is also president of a food rescue and sustainability club on campus. Currently, he works at DreamWorks Theatricals as a press and marketing intern.

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