Jet-setting off for a year of travel: what to do with your belongings before you leave

Collaborative Post | Planning on exploring the world? Before you set off on your adventure, you need to get everything in order. Where will your possessions be kept while you go on your voyage? What can you sell to help fund your trip? Is it time to declutter? These top tips will help you get shipshape and footloose, ready to explore the world without worrying about what you left behind.

Photo by Dino Reichmuth on Unsplash

Sell, donate and recycle

Going on a year-long travel adventure can be a great opportunity to reassess your belongings and streamline your lifestyle. It’s time to go through your possession and decide what to donate to charity, recycle, or sell to help fund your journey.
 
Selling your possessions through online marketplaces like Facebook, eBay, or Gumtree, can be a very effective way to boost your travel budget. Donation is a good option for things that don’t sell well online. Gently used clothing, books, and household goods can benefit someone else and your chosen charity.
 
Recycling is a more environmentally responsible way to dispose of items than throwing them away. You can recycle more than just paper, cardboard, and glass too. You should be able to find an electrical, furniture, and even mattress recycling point at your local refuse centre

Smart and safe storage solutions

While minimalism and simplification can be liberating, there are always some possessions that hold a sentimental or financial value that you would not want to part with. This is where long-term self-storage can be a good solution
 
Renting a storage unit can provide a safe, secure home for your treasured items while you’re globe-trotting. Look for any of the personal storage units across the country for you to use. These storage units are the perfect solution for long-term secure storage while you go on your voyage. Make your packing and unpacking simple by following these three principles of self-storage:

• Make a detailed inventory of what you’re storing. This will not only help you keep track of your belongings and track what is being stored where.
• Pack smartly. Use sturdy boxes, bubble wrap, and other protective materials to avoid damage and make transportation and stacking safe and simple.
• Choose climate-controlled storage if you have sensitive items like electronics, wood furniture, or important documents.

 
The goal is to find your items exactly as you left them when you return from your epic journey, so keep a list of storage items up to date. Make a map of your storage area and label boxes to make finding things easier when you return. Unpacking is just as important as packing, so plan ahead to save yourself time and stress.

Go digital

Turning some of your important documents and media into digital versions can help you travel a little lighter while still having everything you may need at your fingertips. Digitising documents before you travel can save your bacon when you’re abroad.
 
Begin with your paperwork. Scan important documents that you may need while you are away. This could be copies of travel documentation or medical records you could need on your journey. There are numerous ‘cloud services’ that offer ample online storage that you can access from anywhere. Include a copy of your passport just in case. Through digitisation, you can reduce your physical footprint without sacrificing access to your cherished items and memories.
 
Get yourself travel-ready with these simple tips. Don’t let life’s baggage slow you down. Take an inventory of your belongings and see what can come with you, what can be kept safe for your return, and what you can donate, sell, or simply throw away. Without these bits and pieces tying you down, you will be free to fly high and far and spend a year exploring the world.


​Disclaimer: this is a collaborative post.