An OE (Overseas Experience) is a Kiwi rite of passage. Whether you’re off to London, Asia or beyond, it’s the chance for many to swap small-town routines for big-city adventures, all whilst creating unforgettable memories and maybe collecting a few cringe-worthy travel stories. But before you jet off, there’s often one thing to sort – what to do with all your stuff.
Your surfboard, uni textbooks and sentimental keepsakes can’t come with you, and asking your parents or mates to store it for you may not necessarily be an option. That’s where Safeguard Storage comes in. With secure, flexible and affordable units of all sizes, we’ll keep your belongings safe while you’re taking on the world. Let us handle the logistics so you can focus on the important things – like deciding where to head first.
Ready to simplify your OE prep? Let’s get started!
The Common Storage Struggles of an OE
Preparing for an OE is like trying to fit your entire life into a suitcase, whilst still trying to maintain a sense of dignity!
The first hurdle is downsizing.
If you’ve been living at home or flatting, there’s a good chance you’ve accumulated a fair amount of stuff that you no longer need, but can’t quite bring yourself to part with. We’re talking old textbooks, questionable kitchen appliances that “might come in handy again” or that weird lamp you got on sale. Deciding what to do with your sentimental items can be even tricker. Do you keep the childhood teddy bear? The box of old letters from that friend back in primary school? It’s a serious emotional dilemma.
Then there’s the looming dread of last-minute decluttering.
We’ve all been there – you’re only a few days away from flying out, but you’ve got a whole heap of stuff that you know needs to be dealt with before you arrive back home again. You’re not going to have time to throw it all out – so what can be done?
And let’s be real, storing stuff with family or friends might seem like a safe bet for some – but you know it’s never as simple as it sounds. Mum’s gonna keep asking if you’re sure you don’t want to keep the old bike, your sibling will “accidentally” walk off with those clothes you were saving for a special occasion, it’ll quickly fall into mayhem. Prepping for an OE is a balancing act of dealing with emotional attachment and a lot of “what was I thinking?” moments.
You’re going to need a solution – the answer is a high quality storage unit.
How To Pack Your Storage Unit Ahead Of Your OE
Keen to streamline your packing process? Here’s some practical steps to help you take full advantage of a self-storage unit, in order to pack away the right belongings and declutter before the big trip.
1. Sort Your Belongings
Start by going through everything you own and break it down into four simple categories – Keep, Sell, Donate and Toss.
It’s kind of like a spring clean (but with the added pressure of sorting it before your plane departs). The “Keep” pile are the essentials you can’t live without, the “Donate” pile is for stuff that’s still in good knick, but you don’t really need anymore and likely wouldn’t fetch more than $15 on TradeMe.
The “Sell” pile is for items that might have a little more value – think furniture and electronics. And finally, the “Toss” pile for the stuff that has definitely served their time.
2. Sell or Donate Unused Items
You’ve probably got some stuff in decent condition, why not make a bit of extra cash to spend on your trip?
List your items on TradeMe or a local Facebook Marketplace group, you’d be surprised how quickly someone could snatch up that couch you swear you don’t need anymore. Work through the “Donate” pile and once you’re sure the items would benefit somebody else (and it’s not just junk that nobody needs), drop by your local op-shop or Salvation Army and offer it up for use.
You’re not just decluttering, you’re now helping others too – win-win!
3. Protect Your Valuables
For the items you’re holding onto, it’s critical to ensure they’re packed correctly. Invest in some solid packaging materials – quality boxes, bubble wrap and plenty of packing tape. It might seem like a hassle, but you’re only one broken vase or torn jersey to immediately regret not taking your time and packing with more care.
Plus, if you’ve ever had to sort through a random box of items and found everything in a tangled mess, you’ll understand the importance of a little extra care.
4. Label Everything
When people say “I’ll remember where I put it”, they’re lying to themselves. Every time. You’re gonna have the time of your life overseas, come back and completely forget where certain things are – so take the time to methodically list everything in each box. Trust us, when you return and need that winter coat or gaming console, you’ll be so relieved to have a system that helps you quickly locate it.
You don’t need to be fancy, just put in the extra work to create a simple organising system to help you locate your stuff. Colour-coding is always a safe bet to make things more efficient.
Using Safeguard Storage To Support Your Storage Woes
Now let’s talk about why Safeguard Storage is your new best friend when it comes to your OE preparations.
First off, we’ve got flexible storage units that suit whatever level of chaos you’re trying to deal with. If you’ve only got a few personal belongings, we’ve got smaller units that are cozy – but not cramped. On the other hand, if you’re the flatmate who’s been dumped with all the flat furniture and shared appliances nobody wanted – and you don’t have time to sort it out – we’ve got units that could fit the contents of a five-bedroom house!
Then there’s security. We’ve definitely got that covered – our facilities are gated with 24/7 alarms and CCTV footage. You can head off on your OE knowing your stuff is safer than being in a suitcase under the bed. Plus, we know what OE’s are like – they start with a two-month trip through Europe, suddenly you’re eight months into working the skifields in Switzerland with no intention of returning anytime soon. We’ve got a solution for that.
Safeguard Storage offers both short and long-term rentals, which is perfect when you don’t know exactly when you’ll be back. Want to extend your storage while you live it up overseas? No problem. Because we’re based in so many locations across New Zealand, it’s super easy to find one of our facilities and store your things away with zero hassle, which saves all the stress of last-minute packing.
Get in touch with our team or visit our website, we’ll help you choose a unit that’s right for you!