vB Easy Archive - anyone ever consider living in a storage unit?

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anyone ever consider living in a storage unit?
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Posted by: chemikaldreem

this seems kinda random, bu i think it might be a way to save big on rent....its climate-controlled, clean, and very quiet at night. 24hr access, plus i can pay for a parking spot too. there are showers at this beach not far from the unit, where alot of people actually shower.

just wondering because rent is out of control here on oahu, and a storage unit is only like 100 dollars a month for a decent size one. hmmm, maybe thats why they keep building storage units......on second though, there are showers at my school, and two huge storage buildings right near it...

anyone done it before?

Posted by: shadowman714

You'd probably get booted out of there pretty quickly if/when the owners find out. It probably violates some zoning laws or something.

Here in Ontario most cities have building codes for things like smoke detectors, sufficient entrances/exits at far enough spaced locations, door frame sizes, steps and railings, running water, sewage, etc. I don't think a storage unit would meet all these.

Though I suppose you could always try... Let us know how it goes.

Posted by: Big Calhoun

You'd have to figure that most storage places are made up of mostly concrete, so they're not exactely the warmest places. Plus some might have security; cameras, dogs, alarms, yadda yadda. Plus, what are you going to do with a chick? Take her into someone elses unit and use their sofa? Never mind the constant visits from other people.

Go get an efficiency apartment or stay in a boarding home, or a homeless shelter. Hell, go pitch yourself a tent somewhere.

Posted by: rip

Wirelessly posted (Samsung-SPHA900 AU-MIC/2.0 MMP/2.0)

If you know of others doing it, then sure but first check the facilities's rules on using it as a resident.

Posted by: wirelessdude04

pretty crazy idea i mean if u gotta live then u gotta live you know

Posted by: Al_In_Utica

I haven't used a storage unit but I got kicked out of my Mom's house and I had to live on the street for two weeks, once. I found this hotel that all the prostitutes use and when they're done they just left the room key on the teller window of the front desk. Usually the attendant would be away from the desk so I'd take the key, get some rest, three S's, then leave the next day.

Posted by: rip

Quote:

Originally Posted by uNiX[gL

I haven't used a storage unit but I got kicked out of my Mom's house and I had to live on the street for two weeks, once. I found this hotel that all the prostitutes use and when they're done they just left the room key on the teller window of the front desk. Usually the attendant would be away from the desk so I'd take the key, get some rest, three S's, then leave the next day.

didn't any of them want to stay with you?

Posted by: Al_In_Utica

No but they were kind enough to leave the used profilactic in the bed sheets.

Posted by: Junglizt1210

hey... its more comfiortable than under a bridge.

ive slept at an airport once.... but not sure about showers etc. they have them, but i am not sure where.

Posted by: rip

Quote:

Originally Posted by uNiX[gL

No but they were kind enough to leave the used profilactic in the bed sheets.

aaaahhh...night-time snacks lol

Posted by: rip

Quote:

Originally Posted by Junglizt1210

hey... its more comfiortable than under a bridge.

ive slept at an airport once.... but not sure about showers etc. they have them, but i am not sure where.

other than the VIP lounges...washroom sinks

I like Singapores Changi, you can get a shower and massage before exiting the terminal

Posted by: Junglizt1210

Quote:

Originally Posted by rip

other than the VIP lounges...washroom sinks

I like Singapores Changi, you can get a shower and massage before exiting the terminal

i gotta check Changi out some time then

Posted by: rip

Quote:

Originally Posted by Junglizt1210

i gotta check Changi out some time then

It's really one of the nicest airports i've been too in Asia, i'd say even better than Hong Kongs, though i really didn't explore theirs as extensively...

Narita you could do laundry...lol

Posted by: lordtrader

Quote:

Originally Posted by chemikaldreem

this seems kinda random, bu i think it might be a way to save big on rent....its climate-controlled, clean, and very quiet at night. 24hr access, plus i can pay for a parking spot too. there are showers at this beach not far from the unit, where alot of people actually shower.

just wondering because rent is out of control here on oahu, and a storage unit is only like 100 dollars a month for a decent size one. hmmm, maybe thats why they keep building storage units......on second though, there are showers at my school, and two huge storage buildings right near it...

anyone done it before?

thought about it when I first go laid off. I figure I put my bed and dresser in there. it had an outlet for my tv, small fridge and a microwave. I have a gym membership and was planning on using that for shower and when nature called. The cheapest climate controlled storage I found with an outlet is around $170. Meant saving on cable since no cable can be run there. about $700 savings on rent. I would probably end up spending more on food though since I would have to eat out more.

If I lose my temp gig, I may still do it.

Posted by: NukuCamui

I thought about it, but here in Texas, you cant live in them. I had always thought about living in a shed though. I know I can get electricity and plumbing for it, but I dont have enough room in one for all of my crap.

Posted by: Hawaiian Boy

The closest I know is that a company works out of one. They've been lucky so far because they haven't get caught.

Don't you have friends to stay with?

Posted by: MO3iusONE

Damn dude, that really blows that have you to resort to living in a god damn storage room. Just like Hawaiiboy said, dont you have any friends that you can stay with? Or maybe share an apartment with?

I knew this one guy who was living in his van and he also had a memebership to 24hr fitness so he would go workout every morning and take a shower so he was good to go.

Posted by: jase88

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry7250/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/109)

Are there any social housing agencies in your region?!

Posted by: chemikaldreem

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawaiian Boy

The closest I know is that a company works out of one. They've been lucky so far because they haven't get caught.

Don't you have friends to stay with?

haha, i work for a company that works out of one.....thats what gave me the idea in the first place.

as for my freinds, they are living like 3-4 to an efficiency already, no parking, no space for my stuff.

and @ calohun, hawaiian boy can tell you this too, efficiencies out here are around 12-1500 per month, and every shelter is maxxed out due to the huge homeless population out here. they have also closed most of the beach parks to keep the homeless off of them, and overnight camping is outlawed just about everywhere now. i can really see why there are so many homeless here, i mean, alot of these people work 2-3 jobs, and still cannot pay for a place here. but hey....at least it wont get too cold, and the storage place even has a/c!!!

its probably not legal to live there, but at night there is one security guard, and i dont think he notice if i came in and didnt go out. also, its a 24h access place, with a passkey to get in after hours. there is a bathroom downstairs too......but i think no outlets in the units. its a very big place, 4 floors, covering a whole block in the warehouse area....

oahu is a tough place to live........but i think once i get my tuition refund check in feb ill be allright...

Posted by: k1ngp1n

buy a cargo van or something similar, get a membership @ a 24/7 gym, and park the van beside the gym.

Posted by: SuperCM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Calhoun

Plus, what are you going to do with a chick? Take her into someone elses unit and use their sofa? Never mind the constant visits from other people.

Well, if he manages to find a chick who has a fantasy of doin' it in a storage unit...

Posted by: chemikaldreem

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Calhoun

Plus, what are you going to do with a chick? Take her into someone elses unit and use their sofa? Never mind the constant visits from other people.

hey, if a chick cant accept that i live in a 5x5 concrete box, then i dont want to know her anyway!

Posted by: chronic_8731

yeah one of my friends lived ina storage unit for a semester.. it was cool cuz it was right next to his school, and he got wifi from the school, there was food places around him.. and he hardly spent any nights there cuz he would crash at friends houses.. he would park his car at school. there was a carls jr. 2 buildings down that he used for a restroom.and payed $44 a month. on top of that it was gate accesed. so u need a card in order to get into the place..

Posted by: lamplighter

Why not just gather up some wood and build yourself a great treehouse. Nobody will be looking for you up in a tree, it is the perfect solution.

LL-

Posted by: Uncle Bill

Quote:

Originally Posted by chronic_8731

yeah one of my friends lived ina storage unit for a semester.. it was cool cuz it was right next to his school, and he got wifi from the school, there was food places around him.. and he hardly spent any nights there cuz he would crash at friends houses.. he would park his car at school. there was a carls jr. 2 buildings down that he used for a restroom.and payed $44 a month. on top of that it was gate accesed. so u need a card in order to get into the place..

That's actually pretty cool. He saved money and it doesn't seem like it was too bad after all.

Posted by: Al_In_Utica

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperCM

Well, if he manages to find a chick who has a fantasy of doin' it in a storage unit...

If there's a wierd, odd, uncomfortable, and basically incomprehensible fantasy, there's a girl that wants to do it.

Mo3iusone, I have to scroll your posts as close to the bottom of the screen as possible otherwise I'd watch your sprint commercial all day

Posted by: NineToez

You'd have to be broke as hell, dumb as hell, or mooch of the year to consider something like this.

Posted by: MO3iusONE

Quote:

Originally Posted by chemikaldreem

hey, if a chick cant accept that i live in a 5x5 concrete box, then i dont want to know her anyway!

No chick will accept not. Not even if it was a 10x10 concrete box. I'm not trying to be an *** but if you find a girl that doesnt car what cardboard box you live out of, and you send her *** to me! lol jk.

Posted by: Al_In_Utica

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mo3iusone

Still watching your image and laughing my arse off

Posted by: shadowman714

Trade your car in for a motorhome and drive it to RV parks and camp grounds.
At least you'll have water, electricity, a shower, throne, and possibly get 802.11 wireless internet.
If you ever get chased away, you can always drive it to a shopping mall parking lot for the night.

Stay mobile!

Posted by: NukuCamui

Dude, RV's/motor homes are expensive. My dad used to sell them, and its impossible to get one unless you drop a lot of cash down for one or have stellar credit. Id suggest a popup maybe. Theyre maybe 1/4 the price of a RV, and youd have enough cash left over to maybe buy a scooter or a used car (if you sell your car that is.)

Posted by: shadowman714

My parents bought a class-C motorhome, used, for $2000. It was based on a 1977 Dodge SportWagon chassis. Needed a little fixing up, but after that, it worked ok.

If you don't have the time and inclination, then sure, go for a small pop-top trailer. Just be sure you have access to a toilet and shower somewhere, like a gym or fitness club or something.

Posted by: saveyour

Storage Unit As Shelter Not Unique, Workers Say
Girls Found in Md. Shed Spotlight Housing Woes
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dy...-2004Nov23.html

Posted by: Cellular Stan

I havent read through the thread, but most storage places state, in the lease you sign, that you cannot live there, store food, yada yada.

Posted by: Marcster

Quote:

Originally Posted by NukuCamui

Dude, RV's/motor homes are expensive. My dad used to sell them, and its impossible to get one unless you drop a lot of cash down for one or have stellar credit. Id suggest a popup maybe. Theyre maybe 1/4 the price of a RV, and youd have enough cash left over to maybe buy a scooter or a used car (if you sell your car that is.)

Along those same lines... Build a Skewly!
http://www.walterstribe.com/skewly/index.html

Posted by: Pepsi Man

Wonder how much it cost him the build that ?

Posted by: dot_null

Did anyone notice that this thread is just a few months shy of being a year old?

Posted by: Pepsi Man

I knew it was old when I see the title.

Posted by: dot_null

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pepsi Man

I knew it was old when I see the title.

I kind of got a deja vu feeling too when I read it.

Posted by: jPoD

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pepsi Man

Wonder how much it cost him the build that ?

It said ~$14K.

That was ridiculously cool. He did a sick job.

Posted by: xxmandaxx

I've thought of the fact of living in one, but i've never considered it. Nor would i ever, i don't know about other places, but alot of storage sheds i've been too, in southern california, and parts of Oregon...they have a ton of cockroaches and mice. You peronsally may not have cockroaches, the person who is storing stuff next to you may, and could get into your storage. Kinda nasty.

Posted by: Marcster

Quote:

Originally Posted by jPoD

It said ~$14K.

That was ridiculously cool. He did a sick job.

Yeah, I would've put in more windows, and that paint job looks like a prison bus, but pretty cool otherwise.

Posted by: live_strong

the McDonald's by Wal-Mart where i live had a mini van parked outside of it 24/7 for almost 4 months...the windows were all blacked out and it was plugged into the electrical box all the time...either the van had a really bad battery or someone was living in the van

Posted by: PhonePimpBill

I'd like to build a home in one of those Nike missile silos the military was selling a few years back.

Posted by: saveyour

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhonePimpBill

I'd like to build a home in one of those Nike missile silos the military was selling a few years back.

i bought one, stocked up on canned goods for the coming apocolypse, moved my **** in and jus as i was getting comfortablethe entrance caved in. now all i can do is post on howardforums all day

it sounded like a good idea thou8gh

Posted by: Marcster

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhonePimpBill

I'd like to build a home in one of those Nike missile silos the military was selling a few years back.

I think my wife and I watched an episode of "Extreme Homes" or something along those lines where a family did just that. My wife is glued to those HGTV and TLC channels.

Posted by: wrathofpyro

You guys just dugg up an old *** topic...

Posted by: holaDude

Quote:

Originally Posted by NukuCamui

I thought about it, but here in Texas, you cant live in them. I had always thought about living in a shed though. I know I can get electricity and plumbing for it, but I dont have enough room in one for all of my crap.

Yep, it's illegal to sleep in one in Texas. My neighborhood association caught and reported a storage place for renting out units and sheds to bums to the city. The storage place paid a hefty fine and the place was condemned and torn down.

The majority of the bums moved about a mile away to an open field and no longer hang out around my neighborhood.

Posted by: e90fanboy

My 650 sq foot apartment is essentially a storage unit and I'll be paying it off until I'm 62 years old.

gg vancouver.

Posted by: Extraordinary

If you gotta do it, do it. Beats being homeless I guess.

Or you could live out of your car or whatever, I see people doing it.

Some people who work/go to school most of the day and only need like 5-6 hours of sleep do this more often.... Why spend $600-$3000+ a month rent if you dont need to ($600-$3k based on prices in my area, $600/mo would get you a 1 bedroom in a very bad area)?

Posted by: walkguru

Wirelessly posted (Walkguru's: MOT-RAZRV3xx/96.71.95R BER2.2 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; 11063081) Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 Opera 8.00 [en] UP.Link/6.3.0.0.0)

get a shipping container.

Posted by: Marcster

Quote:

Originally Posted by walkguru

Wirelessly posted (Walkguru's: MOT-RAZRV3xx/96.71.95R BER2.2 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; 11063081) Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 Opera 8.00 [en] UP.Link/6.3.0.0.0)

get a shipping container.

Yeah, like one of these?:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcster

Quote:

Originally Posted by walkguru

Yeah, like one of these?:

yep like that. just find a place to put it.

Posted by: pinks1983

hahaha... thats ^ funny pod...what a name...

I had a friend who lives in Colorado that was going to do that at a public storage...

I think that he said you could live there as long as the people running the joint doesnt know you are living there...
personally if it were me, I would go with finding a roomate or one of those student dorms that rent out rooms pretty cheap...i live in southern california so believe me i know what high rent does to your wallet...its not pretty LOL

Posted by: ibrwrng79

I'm done with the roommate thing. My lease is up at the end of November, and I've seriously considered getting a storage unit to live in! It is against housing zoning laws and the management can't find out about "tenants." But it may be worth it. I'm out of town 3-6 days per week, and for the past two years I've been splitting rent and utilities right down the middle with my roommate...which is a pretty sweet deal for them but a costly one for me! It's not about me being cheap either...I barely gross 20,000 a year. I qualify for low income housing...but that would put me in a high crime area...considering I'm out of town most of the week, my place would be bound to get broken into. Plus, it's still out of my budget considering it's still +$600/month. A co-worker rents a place in a re-habbed community...it used to be low income housing but the places were put up for sale, so he rents from the owner. His place was broken into while he was out of town...and his community isn't even a low-income community. Besides, a storage unit would provide a quiet place to sleep...and that's all I need for the few days I'm in town. My friend offered me his boat which he's using as a crashpad, because the boat is not sea worthy...it just sits at the slip with an extension cord running to it for lights and the portable heater and AC unit. It's in pretty bad shape, but it does provide a place to sleep. I would just need to pay the slip fees which are slightly less than $400/month...but does include access to bathroom/showers...which the boat is lacking a functioning head. If the offer is still on the table by November, that may be an option. The only thing would be, is that I would have to sell all my stuff or wind up getting a storage unit anyway to put my stuff until I'm in a better position. Oh yeah, and the marina is right down the road from the self-storage so a bathhouse is close by.

I do belong to the community center which has showers too.

I just started blogging about my current roommate http://theroommatechronicles.wordpress.com I started the blog so I can stop turning to friends and family to vent about the roommate and possibly give others a good chuckle.

Posted by: jase88

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8830/4.5.0.127 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/109)

I still don't think it's a good idea. As mentioned, a used travel trailer could be had for a minimal investment. At least that would afford you windows, cooking facilities, etc.

Posted by: ibrwrng79

I've definitely considered living in an RV or a boat...I just don't have the money to get either and my financial situation doesn't make a loan possible.

My previous roommate lost her job and I had to cover 100% of the rent and utilities for a few months and then it took a few more months to find my current roommate. Not to mention that the roommate prior to both of them quit their job and got behind 6 months on the rent before paying me back. I haven't had the best of roommates and my once pristine credit reflects that!

Posted by: Agent22

hey man gotta do what u gotta do to survive

Posted by: codenamextreme

Just get a van, get it furnish with a sleeping bag, a cooler box, bottle water, cigarette lighter adapter for electricity, extra flashlights and batteries, and you are set. You can always shower at the gym or school. And if you have an overnight parking permit you can park on the street all night depending on the city..

Posted by: AshtrayV3

Quote:

Originally Posted by ibrwrng79

I'm done with the roommate thing. My lease is up at the end of November, and I've seriously considered getting a storage unit to live in! It is against housing zoning laws and the management can't find out about "tenants." But it may be worth it. I'm out of town 3-6 days per week, and for the past two years I've been splitting rent and utilities right down the middle with my roommate...which is a pretty sweet deal for them but a costly one for me! It's not about me being cheap either...I barely gross 20,000 a year. I qualify for low income housing...but that would put me in a high crime area...considering I'm out of town most of the week, my place would be bound to get broken into. Plus, it's still out of my budget considering it's still +$600/month. A co-worker rents a place in a re-habbed community...it used to be low income housing but the places were put up for sale, so he rents from the owner. His place was broken into while he was out of town...and his community isn't even a low-income community. Besides, a storage unit would provide a quiet place to sleep...and that's all I need for the few days I'm in town. My friend offered me his boat which he's using as a crashpad, because the boat is not sea worthy...it just sits at the slip with an extension cord running to it for lights and the portable heater and AC unit. It's in pretty bad shape, but it does provide a place to sleep. I would just need to pay the slip fees which are slightly less than $400/month...but does include access to bathroom/showers...which the boat is lacking a functioning head. If the offer is still on the table by November, that may be an option. The only thing would be, is that I would have to sell all my stuff or wind up getting a storage unit anyway to put my stuff until I'm in a better position. Oh yeah, and the marina is right down the road from the self-storage so a bathhouse is close by.

Probably safe to assume you've never posted on a message board before so here are a couple tips....

1) Do you have a return key on your keyboard? Use it...for you know, paragraphs.

2) Don't write in threads that have been dead for over a year.

Posted by: Amw3000

Quote:

Originally Posted by AshtrayV3

Probably safe to assume you've never posted on a message board before so here are a couple tips....

2) Don't write in threads that have been dead for over a year.

Who cares? its not like its a 1st gen iphone release thread. This thread has really good information.

Take the stick out

Posted by: chemikaldreem

Quote:

Originally Posted by AshtrayV3

long live my thread!!!!

-OP

Posted by: Goelz83

Quote:

Originally Posted by chemikaldreem

long live my thread!!!!

-OP

So did you ever end up living in the "5x5 concrete box"?

Posted by: chemikaldreem

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goelz83

So did you ever end up living in the "5x5 concrete box"?

nope, ended up living in a 1br apartment with 5 other people!!! it ended up being even cheaper than the storage unit hehe.....

Posted by: Goelz83

Quote:

Originally Posted by chemikaldreem

nope, ended up living in a 1br apartment with 5 other people!!! it ended up being even cheaper than the storage unit hehe.....

...at least it worked out for you...

Posted by: Evil Ernie

How are you going to lock the storage unit at night...?? There's no way to lock it from the inside from what I can tell from most storage units. Once security observes that the lock is off the unit he will either a) lock it or b) know what you're up to. I'm pretty sure they design them that way...

Posted by: Marcster

Quote:

Originally Posted by chemikaldreem

nope, ended up living in a 1br apartment with 5 other people!!! it ended up being even cheaper than the storage unit hehe.....

As long as the other five were hot chicks, I don't see a single problem.

Posted by: Cellular Stan

wow, talk about a huge bump on this thread.
nice that you were able to find a place to live, instead of a storage unit ^_^

Posted by: walkguru

Wirelessly posted (Walkguru's: SAMSUNG-SGH-A837/A837UCHH1 SHP/VPP/R5 NetFront/3.4 SMM-MMS/1.2.0 profile/MIDP-2.0 configuration/CLDC-1.1 UP.Link/6.3.1.17.06.3.1.17.0)

sounds like fun.

Posted by: Telegraph

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cellular Stan

wow, talk about a huge bump on this thread.
nice that you were able to find a place to live, instead of a storage unit ^_^

see heres what i don't understand about certain posters....

1. They ALWAYS nag about posters who need to use the search function for X and X.

2. They complain about old threads being bumped because a poster used the search function...

Posted by: dayzwasted

i am glad to hear that things worked out for you. but have you considered moving? living 5 people to an apartment has to suck! it seems like living near a beach would mean a higher cost of living. you have access to internet so apply for a job a few hours inland. once you find one then move. i know moving and leaving your friends is a big decision for anybody, but dont you want to get back on top of your financial situation (my credit sucks btw, by that i mean able to pay your bills without relying on 4 other people) before you end up on the street? i was in the same situation as you a few years ago and i moved from atlanta to virginia to follow work. now i rent a nice little house and have a 03 mustang. its not like i am living it up, but i have come a long way in the past 5 years. anyway, hope everything works out for you. all the best!

Posted by: Virbility870

Quote:

Originally Posted by Telegraph

LOL'd Ironic isnt it?

Well if it wasnt for nagging this or that, most people would only have 3-5 posts over the last year