Storage Tips for Tax Season

 

Tax season is a stressful time of year for many people. Navigating the laws, collecting the right forms and trying to get everything filed on time can be quite an ordeal. With so much paperwork, it can be difficult to determine what to keep and what to discard of your tax documents.

What to Keep

It is recommended that you keep tax returns and supporting documents for at least seven years. The IRS has three years to challenge information in your return and six years to conduct an audit, so the ‘seven year rule’ is a good practice to play it safe.

However, all that paperwork can add up and create clutter and disorganization in your home or office. A BudgetSelf Storage unit is a safe and convenient way to store those extra tax files. A small storage locker is an ideal, cost-effective document storage solution for many people. However, we offer storage units up to 10x30 square feet in size.

Stay Organized

Before placing your tax documents in storage, you will want to create a filing system so you can easily find things if you need them later. A stack of randomly scattered papers is not going to help you in a pinch! You can purchase inexpensive file boxes from an office supply store or boxes at your local Budget Self Storage to hold your documents. You will want to organize your files by the year. Other potential categories for filing may include:

·         Income (pay stubs, W2’s and 1099s)

·         Medical bills

·         Donations

·         Business deductions

·         Child care costs

·         Student loan payments

·         Completed tax returns

These are examples of helpful ways to organize your tax documents, but you can customize your filing system in a way that makes sense for you. There are also pre-made kits available for tax document storage that can make this process even simpler.

Protect your Information

Once you have organized and stored away your needed files, you will want to properly dispose of extraneous documents. Identity theft is a serious risk with these types of documents, since savvy thieves can potentially glean enough confidential information about you to open a line of credit. Last year, about 16.6 million Americans became victims of identity theft, and consumers lost nearly $57 billion to this crime.

You can protect yourself, your finances and your identity by simply shredding any sensitive documents. Budget Self Storage now offers on-site shredding at nine locations. Shredding is not just for documents – we can shred computer hard drives, x-ray film, CD’s, DVD’s and old floppy discs. Watch our video to learn more about Budget Self Storage ShreddingServices.

When you are ready to store, shred and put the 2013 tax season behind you, find a Budget Self Storage location near you. Budget Self Storage is open 7 days a week, requires no set up fees or security deposits, and protects your belongings with video cameras, CCTV and electronic gates. Tax season is stressful enough! With Budget, self storage doesn’t have to be!

Budget Self Storage Country in the Park March 15, 2014

 

Spring has sprung and we here at Budget Self Storage are excited to partake in the fun outdoor events in our community. Most recently, we joined the Pinella Park Chamber of Commerce for the annual Country in the Park Expo on Saturday, March 15^th. Fair weather blessed the event and thousands of locals and visitors came out to mingle with local businesses, crafters, and non-profit organizations while enjoying live country music.

 

We were proud to display our booth at the event and showcase what makes Budget Self Storage such a great company to store with, interact with and work for. Our marketing coordinator Robin Emanuel was present, along with the store managers from our St. Petersburg facilities, to interact with attendees and give away prizes. Two lucky raffle winners received Budget Self Storage gift cards, and one winner received a Visa gift card, both courtesy of Budget. We also gave out free reusable totes to visitors, perfect for groceries, beach gear and transferring small items to and from storage units.

 

The Pinellas Park Country in the Park is a wonderful event that we anticipate all year long. Budget Self Storage always enjoys meeting our customers and neighbors in the communities we service. Now that spring cleaning season is upon us, we are eager to assist in your spring storage needs. Contact a Budget Self Storage facility in a location near you and let us help you achieve better organization or assist with a successful move.

 

We hope to see you at the next event!

 

 

Mini Storage Has Big Benefits

 

What do you do when you find out guests are coming for the weekend but your guestroom is full of odds and ends that have no place to go? Are your office file cabinets full of papers that you are required to keep? A simple solution is to rent a mini storage unit to safely store files, clothing or household goods that are in the way but may be needed for the long term.

Mini storage units are about the size of a closet and measure 225 cubic feet (5 by 5 by 9 feet) and are good for storing boxes, small furniture, clothing, sports equipment or other household items. Lockers, measuring 3 x 3 x 3 or 5 x 5 x 5 feet, are perfect for storing files, documents and other small items. With prices ranging from $15 to $40 per month, self storage is an affordable and convenient storage solution for keeping clutter out of your home or office.

With Budget Self Storage, we make self storage easy. You rent the space you need, fill it with your household or office items, lock it and leave the rest to us. Insurance coverage is required and it is available for as low as $5 for your protection. Climate-controlled storage units are available if you need to keep sensitive materials, photo and keepsakes safe from the elements. You can rent space for a year, a month, or even just one week, depending on your needs.

Budget Self Storage offers several convenient locations in the Florida communities of Bradenton, Brandon, Sarasota, St. Petersburg, Tampa and Valrico. We have provided safe, affordable storage solutions for residential and business needs since 1985. We are a member of the West Florida Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating, which means that our length of time in service and commitment to customer care gives us the highest rating possible.

Reserve your self storage unit with Budget Self Storage today and free yourself from clutter!

 

Budget Storage Now in Brandon, FL!

We are excited to announce that late in March of 2014, Brandon residents will have their own Budget Self Storage! To celebrate our new addition, we are offering up to 50% OFF the first 3 months’ rent at this location. Budget Self Storage in Brandon is perfect for those who need extra space to keep their belongings. Self-storage is perfect for businesses and individuals who want to get organized and free up some space in their homes, garages and offices.
 

Our new Brandon, Florida storage facility has over 600 storage spaces. From large to small spaces in the Climate Controlled building and standard garages to Parking and RV Spaces. Conveniently located on 607 E. Bloomingdale Ave. just west of Bloomingdale Plaza. We invite you to Come and See the Difference!

As with all of our locations, Budget Self Storage in Brandon provides professional service. We want to make a difference in your self-storage experience by providing the easiest and most stress free storing solutions at affordable rates. We are open 7 days a week and provide extended gate access hours for your convenience.

 

Get organized for the New Year with Budget Self Storage in Brandon Florida. Reserve your unit today at Budget Self Storage in Brandon Online or by calling (813) 655-1199.

Budget Self Storage Florida is a leading and trusted provider of self-storage with 9 locations throughout Tampa Bay. Established in 1985, Budget Self Storage provides affordable self-storage solutions for personal, household and business needs. Most Locations have parking and RV spaces and over 30 different sizes of units for your convenience. You only pay for the space you need!

Six Smart Tips for Storing Holiday Decorations

 

It’s never too early to start thinking about putting away all those beautiful decorations you’ve just put into place. Wouldn’t you just love to organize your holiday decorations for storage this year so that next year’s decorating is quick, easy and fun? Here are some handy tips to help you do just that!

1.      Safe candle storage. Wrap candles in old socks or stockings to prevent scratching. Store candles in a climate controlled Budget Self Storage unit to prevent melting.

2.      The dinner party has ended. Pack holiday napkins, tablecloths, towels etc. in a suitcase to reduce the risk of moisture damage. Don’t forget to include moth balls to keep away pests.

3.      Saying goodbye to the tree. Sure your artificial tree came in a box that seems like the perfect one to repack it in, but cardboard boxes begin to deteriorate after sitting for long periods of time. Look into investing in a tree bag to keep your decoration looking fresh year after year.

4.      Those tins aren’t just for cookies! Store items that require special protection, such as handmade items, in empty Christmas cookie tins. The hard sides of the tins protect your precious items from getting accidentally crushed in storage.

5.      Dispose of the damaged ones. Make sure to get rid of any Christmas lights that aren’t working properly. You will save yourself storage space and hassle next time you need them.

6.       Label that first box. Label the first box to be opened next holiday. For example, this box could contain your advent calendar, tree stand, Menorah, or anything you need at the beginning of the Holiday season.

 

Budget Self Storage wishes you happy packing and a safe new year!

 

Choose the Right Item for the Job!

 

Bet you didn’t know that Budget Self Storage provides a complete array of affordable packing supplies! Choosing the right supplies for your needs will ensure your precious items are protected. Why risk a disappointing chip, ding or break? Our quality supplies are affordable and easy to pick up at any of our 14 locations! To help determine what supplies you might need, check out our handy list below:

·         Padlocks, disc locks and combination locks

·         King, queen, full and twin size mattress bags

·         Packing tape for securing moving boxes

·         Professional grade tape gun

·         Packing peanuts

·         Blank newsprint for wrapping up breakable items

·         Bubble wrap

·         Mildew and tear resistant tarps

·         Ratchet straps to secure heavy loads and secure large items

·         Damp Rid pouches to help reduce moisture from the air inside your storage unit

 

You don’t have to sleep with the coffee table: Storing furniture for the holidays

 

 

The holidays are approaching faster than you can say “Ho! Ho! Ho!” That means moving furniture around to accommodate large family gatherings, dinner parties, and a big beautiful Christmas tree! Instead of cramming large sofas into the garage, or sharing your bedroom with an unwelcome coffee table, why not rent a Budget Self Storage unit for the holiday season? Minimizing the amount of clutter within your home will save your sanity during this stressful season. Here are several things to consider when preparing your furniture for storage.

Choose a Budget Self Storage unit that is climate controlled. Temperature control helps prevent damage to your furniture from moisture, fungus and leaks. These units also help reduce humidity.

Try to disassemble as much of the furniture as you safely can. Storing parts individually instead of as a whole will help minimize potential damage within unit. Packing individual pieces in thick plastic sheets or in boxes will also help prevent scratches or chipping.

When storing glass, such as a glass table top or mirror, use paper tape and mark a big X over the whole piece. This adds support to the glass and will help prevent cracking or shattering.

If you are storing a sofa, cover it with a sheet or clean tarp. This will keep the dust from settling in the upholstery and will save a whole lot of coughing later!

Finally, purchase Tenant Insurance to safeguard your property.  Budget offers insurance for $9 a month, which comes out to $0.26 a day! A little pocket change now is worth avoiding a big headache later!