Question

I have a small apartment with no storage so I have rented a climate controlled storage for about 5 years. Over the past 12 months they have raised my monthly payment twice. I am now paying almost $400 for what started out as $175. I have tried talking with the manager and corporate and they wont go down. I want to move my stuff to a smaller more affordable storage. I have about 15 large bins of photos of my kids when they were babies. I would like to scan them so I can then toss the bins instead of moving them. This will also give me better access to the photos. Does anyone have a recommendation of a photo scanner that wont break the bank or another affordable option?  

Answer 1

If you think about how much you are paying for the storage, you could spend that on probably a top of the line scanner. A one time payment instead of a monthly payment.  

Comments

@kibbutznik I just wont really need it after, it would go into storage lol

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No, you won't have a storage and sell it after?  

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@marceau you could start a side hustle scanning pics for other people.  

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@kibbutznik I have other things in storage. Holiday decor and seasonal stuff. I have only 1 small closet for clothes in my room and no storage area in my apartment. I will have to keep a small storage always.  

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@marceau if you need storage you have too much stuff. Why not just get another apartment since you are already spending $400 on stuff you don’t even use on the regular.  

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@woollyheaded1 if you read I have 5 people in a 750 square ft apartment. My children's pictures, my family holiday decorations are not just stuff. And another apartment would be 1400. If it were 400 I wouldnt have any problems. No one said they are not used. Please make sure your comments match the situation. I'm asking for scanner options. Thanks!  

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@marceau you didn’t say you still have young children or that you live in 750sf. And you didn’t say how much your apartment cost now. I had to make a decision about how much stuff including pictures & decorations I kept. I’m guessing you have different priorities over what’s really important. I’m not spending $400 on storage. Good luck on kind journey you’re on.  

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@woollyheaded1 thanks for the scanner recommendations! By the way my children's pictures and my deceased grandparents holiday decor that I put up seasonally is important. My home size or children's ages were not the topic. I will continue my journey in a group that is supportive and not judgmental.  

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@marceau you’re right.  

Answer 2

My local library has a digital studio where you can book time for free. Look into that. Or renting one/ buying one for future pictures.  

Answer 3

Our library has a program to do it, so might check with yours.  

Answer 4

My $90 printer scans photos and they come out very well.  

Answer 5

Price Costco and there are a few mail order options I see from time to time.  

Answer 6

Don’t know about scanning but $400/monthly? With that money you could probably find a bigger place to live and get rid of the storage.  

Comments

@wardlaw if I had the credit and savings I would  

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@marceau gotcha! Totally understand.  

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@wardlaw that's why I'm in this group  help!  

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@marceau same! Good luck with scanning!  

Answer 7

Costco does it very reasonably priced

Answer 8

Kodak scanner 99 and can scan a laundry size basket of photos and save to Shutterfly free. My scanner does 1 in to 8x 12

Answer 9

Can you store the bins in your place for two months? Yes, it would be tight, but then maybe you can take that $800 and put it toward the bigger space?  

Comments

@twenty100 I have a 750 sq ft apartment 2 bedrooms no place for storage and there are 4 people in the house. I have no room. I just renewed my lease as rent in the area is about 1300-1500 for what I have, all require a credit score of atleast 620 (I dont have)and first, last and security which I also dont have saved yet.  I'm in a pickle!  

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@marceau I hear you. We have 6 people and 5 pets in 1600 sq ft. I have bins in every room, just waiting for a bigger space, but I want to be debt free other than the mortgage first. I downsized several years ago and then the kids moved back in! It’s okay, I love having them here .  

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Under the beds! I am sure there are things but the bes risers from walmart are like 20$ you might be able to cut them in half with a new scanner and store the other half.  

Answer 10

Depending on the type of phone you (good quality camera and lots of storage), can you take photos of each photo and then save them to google docs?  

Answer 11

Do you have any friends or family that may want to make some extra money to store your stuff for you? I would certainly store someone else's stuff for a small payment, lol. Actually I would do it for free. Maybe you could cut that payment down low by asking around.  

Answer 12

The best scanner I have found is a ScanSnap. Get the latest model. It is expensive but less than you are paying for storage.  

Answer 13

For scan quality, you are going to want to look For the feature called "DPI" -dots per inch. the higher this number is, the better the quality. Think of it sort of like pixels on a camera

Answer 14

I would find a place to live for the two totals combined with more storage.  

Answer 15

Mine went from 150>180>200 over a year and a half. Absolute robbery

Answer 16

There’s an app you might like. Google photos is really good at categorizing.