It's always good when people in their communities unite. If you live around East Tremont and Bronx, NY, you can make a difference in the lives of those who live around you. Safeguard Self Storage has the scoop on green living and how it can benefit you and the community in which you live.

A Guide to Make Your Community Green

Why make your community green?

Let's face it: Nothing lasts forever. So why not make things last as long as they can by helping others in our community embrace the green initiative? By reducing paper consumption, turning off the lights when we're not in the room, and recycling materials for reuse, we can save our world's natural resources and make the Earth a better place for future generations.

How you can help make it happen.

What better way to make your area green than to create a community taskforce? Think about it—everyone working together to work on green initiatives like growing a community garden or cleaning up the litter from the streets and alleyways. Start by gathering like-minded people and creating a community organization. You can make daily, weekly, and monthly plans for recycling, decluttering, garden tending, and performing community cleanups.

What are the benefits of green living?

Green living benefits everyone in your area and the world, as it helps to conserve natural resources and prevent the damaging effects of climate change. You can help save the environment by making small changes at first, such as using less water and electricity or recycling bottles—all of which help offset your carbon footprint. If you get everyone in your community to do the same, you'll make an even greater impact.

Safeguard Self Storage Leads the Green Initiative

Safeguard Self Storage knows how important it is to live as green as possible in East Tremont and Bronx, NY. We've implemented eco-friendly storage facilities using solar panels to reduce our overall carbon footprint. If you're looking for an environmentally friendly storage facility that has you and your community's best interests in mind, check us out on East Tremont Avenue and reserve one of our storage units today!

When your neighborhood is unkempt, it can be tough to be prideful of where you live. From litter on the streets to excessive yard clutter, a messy town can leave you feeling defeated. But what if you could take the revitalization of your neighborhood into your own hands? Thankfully, you can make a difference in how your neighborhood looks, acts and reacts to the things around it. If you want to transform your neighborhood, Safeguard Self Storage Garfield, NJ, has five ways to make it happen.

5 Ways to Revitalize Your Neighborhood

Clean up the litter.

Litter hurts everyone and everything—especially the planet. It's an eyesore and not only damages the landscape but paints a negative picture for those visiting the area. Do your part by cleaning up the litter and keeping your neighborhood clean and beautiful.

Start a neighborhood watch.

Want to help with crime prevention? Get your neighbors together to form a watch group. With more eyes on what's going on, you'll deter criminal activity in your neighborhood.

Take time to meet your neighbors.

Not enough neighbors take the time to meet up and introduce each other. Taking the time to greet your neighbors not only creates a union with those around you but also makes the community stronger and more capable of dealing with misunderstandings as they occur.

Be active in neighborhood associations.

You can sit in your home doing nothing on a Wednesday night—or, you can take part in a community organization. If you take the time to be part of your neighborhood's function, you can make a greater difference and help the community grow and flourish.

Keep yard clutter to a minimum.

Keeping the community clean starts by reducing the clutter in your own yard. If you have old tires propped up against your house or toys thrown about the side yard, clean it up. You can even put old clutter in a storage unit for safekeeping if you don't want to throw it out. Transform your yard into what you hope your community can be, and everyone else may follow suit.

How Self Storage Can Help

Transforming your neighborhood for the better not only helps with the overall aesthetic but also crime prevention. Our team at Safeguard Self Storage wants to help make Garfield, NJ, clean with affordable, secure self storage units that keep clutter stored away. Whether you're keeping your yard or neighborhood park clean and clear, we can work together to make a positive impact on the entire city.

It's getting so close to spring break that we can feel it in the air. Whether you're into shopping on Ocean Avenue or enjoying walks and sunbathing on Rockaway Beach, now's the time to start thinking ahead about all the things you plan to do once school's out for break. Safeguard Self Storage has a few things to keep in mind as the spring season hits East Rockaway, NY.

The Ultimate Spring Break Checklist

Get your tan on at Rockaway Beach.

What's the point of spring break if you're not spending those days on the sand catching some waves and rays? You don't have to spend the entire time lying on the sand, especially if it's still too cold to hang outside in a bathing suit. You can join a volleyball match, walk the shores, or play Frisbee with friends. You can also catch some deals at the local shops to break up the monotony of sunbathing the days away.

Be a part of the nightlife.

It's not spring break if you're not out on the town for a few nights. There's shopping to do, bars to visit, and food to eat. You can get a tattoo at one of the local shops, taste the offerings at one of the many restaurants and sip some of the finest cocktails the East Side has to offer.

Don't forget the Queens County St. Patrick's Day Parade

You're not embracing March if you skip the Queens County St. Patrick's Day Parade. It's perfect for people of all ages, giving you a place to spend a few hours watching floats and entertainers while also listening to good music and partaking in the local cuisine and drinks.

Spring Break Storage With Safeguard

You might not think about spring break storage when you're busy shopping, sunbathing and living the nightlife, but it's an important part of the season for students and out-of-towners. Safeguard Self Storage is conveniently located on Ocean Avenue in East Rockaway NY, giving you an affordable spot for keeping your things protected while you're busy with other things going on in your life. Reserve a unit today!

Home organization doesn't have to be a challenge. It shouldn't be something that stays one step ahead of your best intentions. You can conquer it. You just need smart strategies, clever organizing tricks, and convenient self storage. These seven simple tips from Safeguard Self Storage in Metairie, LA, keep even the busiest home organized and clutter-free.

7 Items That Are Great for Organization

1. A Stop at the Door

Start decluttering the house at the front door with decorative hooks and shelves for bags and jackets. Toss keys, sunglasses, and phones into a big, bright bowl on a small entryway table.

2. A Dresser in the Closet

Move an unused dresser into the closet. Position it against an open wall or slide it under hanging clothes. Fill it up with anything that doesn't have its own place.

3. Self Storage Under the Beds

Keep home organization easy and out of sight with rolling under-bed storage. Gliding trays can hold everything from seasonal clothes and bedding to the kids' toys.

4. Drawer Baskets Under the Sinks

Stacked, mesh basket drawers are a perfect storage fit under kitchen and bathroom sinks. Their open construction keeps humidity at bay, so feel free to fill them up with countertop clutter.

5. Restaurant Kitchen Rails

Take a decluttering tip from commercial kitchens. Mount simple, space-saving rail organizers on walls or inside cabinet doors. Hang sliding hooks on the rods and fill them up with kitchen stuff.

6. Ottomans With Room to Spare

Make home organization fashionable, inviting, and comfortable with a cushy storage ottoman. The functional furniture seats extra guests while it keeps clutter tucked away. Storage ottomans are great in the kids' playroom, too.

7. An Easy-to-Use Scanner

Once a week, convert papers that pile up into digital files. Transfer invitations, receipts, insurance documents, and general paperwork to your computer or cloud storage. Be good to the planet by recycling your scanned papers.

Expand Home Space With Self Storage

Now that you're in control of general clutter, give yourself room to spare. A storage unit is perfect for expanding your organizing strategies with these simple tricks.
• Free up kitchen cabinets by storing seldom-used pots, pans, and countertop appliances in your unit.
• Seasonal decorations stay safely out of the way in climate-controlled self storage.
• Set up clutter bins in the unit to catch things you plan on selling or donating.
• A small file cabinet in one corner keeps important papers and documents safe until you need them.
• Give the car room to breathe by moving garage clutter to your unit.

Congratulations on Conquering the Challenge

It feels great to be on top of home organization. We're happy to help with affordable storage solutions that work hard for you. When you need extra space, Safeguard Self Storage in Metairie, LA always has plenty of room.

You probably have friends who do it. They let someone else handle the driving. Think about the advantages of using public transportation in Chicago and suburbs like Hermosa, IL. Combine those benefits with secure vehicle self storage at Safeguard, and it can all add up to a cheaper, safer way to navigate Chicagoland.

What Are the Advantages of Ditching the Car?

It's great to come and go on your own schedule. Driving a car gives you personal convenience. However, using Chicago's public transport system offers solid advantages over staying behind your own wheel.
• Say goodbye to commuter headaches because you're not driving through rush hour traffic.
• Statistically, you're less likely to be involved in an accident riding the bus or train.
• You save money on parking, gas, and tolls for roads, bridges and tunnels.
• The time you spend riding is also free time to spend on working, reading or just relaxing.

How Does Chicago's Public Transport Work?

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) makes it easy to catch a ride with different lines serving downtown and the suburbs. CTA also makes it easy to buy different public transport packages with its Ventra card.

An unlimited Ventra card pass works best if you plan on frequent rides with CTA. You can also buy single-rider cards good for up to 30 days. One-time ride tickets are always available, too.

If you decide to go with car storage and transition to commuting, CTA gives you plenty of public transportation choices. Chicago's L lines all converge on the Loop with free connections between stations. Metra train lines and more than 120 Pace bus routes cover the rest of the city and suburbs.

Is It OK to Park the Car in Self Storage?

Many drivers enjoy the best of both worlds by combining public transport with affordable storage for their cars. The arrangement moves you around town on CTA lines while you enjoy these car storage perks.
• The security of not leaving your car parked in an open lot or on the street
• Flexible leasing arrangements for short- or long-term storage
• Online management tools with convenient payment options
• Professional, on-site staff with answers to all your storage questions

We're Just Around the Corner

You don't have to give up your wheels for easier city driving. Park the car with us. Leave commuting headaches in the rearview mirror. Safeguard Self Storage is at your service with seven locations across the city, including Hermosa, IL. Wherever you are in Chicagoland, Safeguard car storage is just around the corner.

The start of every new year means new beginnings. From revitalizing your home to give it a fresh look to giving yourself more breathing room by simply getting things out of the way, downsizing your space can help you achieve bliss. Here at Safeguard Self Storage, we can show you how living with less can lead to more, including eliminating waste especially in the already crowded neighborhood of East Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

A More Popular Solution

According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) the average size of new houses fell for the third straight year in 2018. The average square footage of a single-family home has dropped from over 2,500 square feet in 2015 down to 2,320 in 2018. Furthermore, most New Yorkers live in spaces much smaller than that (as anyone who has ever lived in a tiny studio understands).

Combine this with the trend that Marie Kondo and others have popularized—a trend towards minimal living and cleanliness—and it's the perfect storm for downsizing to become popular. As a result, if downsizing sounds like something you want to do, you won't be the only one. You'll have plenty of help and advice in achieving your downsizing dream.

Of course, a smaller space means less work to work with, and you can't keep everything you had in your previous home. That's where self storage comes in.

Assess Your Needs

When downsizing, you should always take a moment and figure out what you actually need and what you can get rid of. It's a task that is easier said than done, though. It's easy to not want to get rid of anything, even if it's probably the most meaningless item in the house. Try not to fall into the trap of "I might need this later," which, let's be honest, can be applied to almost everything. 

If you're having difficulty making decisions on certain items, ask a third party—like a friend or family member—to help you decide if you need an item or if you're unreasonably attached to it (we've all been there). They'll ask how often you use the item, when the last time you used the item was, and why you've been keeping it around if you haven't.

Less is More

There are plenty of benefits to downsizing. A smaller home is both less expensive to purchase as well as less expensive to heat and cool. That extra money can go towards upgrading your new home the way you want it or towards a larger storage unit.

Another benefit? More free time! With a smaller home, you will spend less time with everyday tasks around your house. In addition, less space almost means less of a reason to buy things you don't need, giving secondary savings. If you don't have anywhere to put it you're less likely to buy it.

Downsize With Safeguard

Downsizing is a popular way to save money and simplify your life for a reason. No longer is it seen as a step down in society, but instead as a more efficient way to live. You can't keep everything, but for the things you need to keep but don't have room for in East Williamsburg, reserve a storage unit at Safeguard Self Storage in Brooklyn, NY, to keep your belongings safe. 

It's the same wonderful dilemma every year. The kids love their new Christmas toys. You wish Santa could stuff more floor space in your stocking. This season, handle Yuletide overload with ideas that include self storage for the kids in your Valley Stream, NY, home.

Tips for Taming Christmas Toys

The best way to organize their things is to reorganize their space. Get the kids on board before the holidays by getting them involved in the process. Ask them to help you set up play zones in their rooms.

Suggest different areas for favorite activities like playing games, sharing action figures and creating original art. Define the new layout with small tables and bookshelves. These kid-friendly storage tips make it easy.

• Get their things off the floor with bright hanging baskets, decorative wall hooks and over-the-door shoe racks.
• Slide stuff under the bed in low-profile wheeled bins with divided compartments.
• Design kid-sized storage units using folding hampers, corner bookshelves, and wall cubbies.
• Fill the cubbies with mini-storage options like mason jars, small baskets, and lidded plastic bins.

The Gift of Giving Things Away

As you work with the kids reorganizing their room, ask them where they'll put their new Christmas toys. Explain that they'll need a plan so that they don't run out of space for everything.

Help them sort and box items they don't mind giving up. Tell the kids they get to play Santa this year by donating their extras to local charities. They learn to appreciate helping others while you teach them how to declutter their rooms.

Storage Units Just for Kids

This Christmas, surprise the kids with their own corner in your storage unit. Introduce them to the idea of bringing one new toy home and moving two old things into their personal self storage space. It's a great way to keep them involved in turning their extras into donations.

Make your storage facility a year-round destination. Save space at home by filling up three or four bins with extra playthings and keeping them in the unit. Rotate one bin each month so that old favorites enjoy a fun reboot.

Sharing New Traditions

This year, give the kids the gift of handling Yuletide overload with room to spare. Put a big bow on your Safeguard storage unit door and make sharing it a new Christmas tradition. Self storage is a special kind of holiday present that everyone can enjoy year-round. Looking for more holiday storage? Reserve a unit today at Safeguard Self Storage in Valley Stream, NY.

You plan and enjoy different celebrations every season, but this one is extra special. New Year's Eve always brings out the resourceful side of your hospitality. This year in Edison Park, IL, keep everything fun, simple and safe. Join friends in retrieving seasonal supplies from storage units as you make your party plans.

Create Your Own Decorations

Why spend money on expensive New Year's decorations? Put your creative talents to work crafting originals that express your personal style. It's so much more fun to do it yourself when you start off with these ideas.

• Repurpose your Christmas wreath with tiny noisemakers and miniature New Year's hats.
• Decorate interiors with confetti by pinning the walls with brightly colored paper circles.
• Add excitement to every room with pretty string lights around mirror and picture frames.
• Put sparkle on champagne bottles with a light spray of gold glitter paint.

Build a Beautiful Buffet

An enticing New Year's Eve buffet encourages guests to mingle while they graze. It also helps balance cocktails with plenty of food. Get those chafing dishes out of self storage and put these ideas on your serving tables.

• Ask friends to help by bringing their favorite holiday appetizers and sweets.
• Save your time for your guests by keeping the buffet simple and easy to refill.
• Use tiered cake stands, napkin-lined baskets, and bright colanders as unique serving dishes.
• Avoid buffet bottlenecks by making sure each food item has easy-to-reach serving utensils.
• Stock your champagne cocktail bar with strawberry, lemon peel, and sugar cube garnishes.

Make It a Safe Celebration

Cocktails, wine, and beer help ring in New Year's Eve, but too many drinks can put a damper on the festivities. Don't try to manage it all by yourself. Discuss plans with several friends a few days before your celebration. As a group, you can agree on designated drivers in advance.

Keep rideshare numbers handy throughout the evening just in case. Encourage your guests to keep their plates full between cocktails. Offer them non-alcoholic beverages with lots of sparkle and taste. Stay upbeat, but don't let anyone get behind the wheel after too many drinks.

We're at Your Service Year-Round

Everyone at Safeguard Self Storage wishes you a safe and Happy New Year in Edison Park, IL. It's our pleasure to be at your service with the best storage units available. We're here for you year-round, and we thank you for your business.

You're finally planning that well-deserved holiday vacation from Ozone Park, NY. You want to make sure things stay safe while you're gone. Storage units are perfect for securing valuables, but how do you winter-proof things back at the house?

10-Step Winter Proof Checklist

Start Inside

Have the furnace inspected by a certified HVAC technician. Change the filters and program the thermostat before you leave.

Use Surge Protectors

If winter weather knocks out your home's electricity, a power surge could damage your valuable gadgets. Use surge protectors to minimize the risk to TVs, computers, and stereos.

Close the Damper

Cold air seeping down the chimney chills the house and fires up the furnace. Keep out winter humidity and save money by closing the fireplace damper and doors.

Pull the Drapes

This is another easy way to keep freezing temperatures from creeping into your home. Close the window blinds and pull and secure the drapes.

Declutter Your Garage

If it's vulnerable to winter damp, it's not safe in the garage. Move boxed belongings and lawn equipment to secure, climate controlled self storage (heated and air conditioned).

Wrap Outdoor Pipes

Don't let frozen burst pipes ruin your holiday vacation homecoming. Keep exterior plumbing from freezing by wrapping it with foam insulation sealed with weather-proof tape.

Protect Hoses and Faucets

Disconnect and drain garden hoses. Use faucet cover protectors to shield the fixtures from snow and ice. You can also wrap them with the same insulation you use on the pipes.

Check the Gutters

Winter storms can overflow gutters and leave the roof edge covered with ice dams. A little time on the ladder now can save expensive damage to shingles and soffits while you're on vacation.

Keep Critters Out

Squirrels, roof rats, and opossums love to nest in warm attics. Keep them out of your house by making sure gables, vents, and flashing are secure.

Trim the Trees

High winds can snap bare branches and send them crashing through windows. Cut back limbs so that trees don't bang against walls or scrape the roof. This helps keeps critters at bay too.

You're Ready to Go

As you hit the holiday vacation road, enjoy taking peace of mind with you. It feels good to know your things are safe in self storage and your home can handle the coldest winter. Here at Safeguard, we're glad to do our part with secure storage units that always make it easy to head out the door. What are you waiting for? Rent a storage unit in Ozone Park, NY, today!

The environment you work in can have a big impact on your job performance and productivity, and the same goes for homeschooling and your child’s ability to learn. A messy homeschool space in NYC can lead to a distracted educational experience. From Brooklyn, NY, to the other New York City boroughs, your kid’s homeschool classroom can be organized and distraction-free, no matter what size of space you have to work with. Follow these five tips to keep your homeschooler’s classroom organized!

1. Look to Pinterest for Homeschool Classroom Organization Ideas

If your homeschool classroom needs a complete makeover, look no further than Pinterest for inspiration. You’ll find a plethora of ideas for organizing and decorating your at-home classrooms so they’re clutter free while being a fun environment to learn in. Begin your design journey by building your own Pinterest board of ideas. Once you have a solid start, take notice of any overarching themes in your pins—maybe a certain color scheme, storage system, or desk type. Make a list of all those similarities and use that list as a jumping-off point for reorganizing and redecorating the space where your kids spend most of their learning days.

2. Move to Digital Homeschool Programs

The fastest way to clean the homeschool clutter is to move to digital homeschool programs in lieu of traditional textbooks and curriculum. From i-Ready to Kahoot!, a quick online search will pull up a plethora of results to research and compare. These digital curriculums are powerful learning tools, and some are even used by teachers in traditional classrooms. Most programs are easily accessible from a tablet or desktop computer, which means you can pass along those space-eating textbooks to another homeschooling family or donate them to your local library. Freeing up that bookshelf space can leave room for a storage system for tools, crafts, and other supplies.

3. Reuse Organizational Tools You Already Have

If you find too many learning tools and craft supplies are left scattered throughout your homeschooling room without a place to call home, look around your home or apartment for baskets, mason jars, and buckets. Baskets are a great way to corral flashcards, DVDs, and CDs. Mason jars are perfect for keeping colorful craft supplies and learning tools like beads, marbles, and dice, while buckets make the perfect place to store scissors, stencils, pencils, and other creative materials.

4. Keep the Clutter at Bay Daily

Use each day as a learning opportunity to show your homeschoolers the importance of keeping their learning spaces clean and free of clutter. If you’ve already spent time and worked hard to pare down what’s in the room, encourage your homeschoolers to help keep the room clean by putting everything back in its place before they leave the room for the day. Getting them into this habit not only instills the importance of organization in them for the rest of their lives, but it also saves you from having to clean up at the end of a long learning day.

5. Create a Storage System for Extra Homeschool Supplies

If you can’t go fully digital or need to stash textbooks until your youngest child reaches a different grade level, the easiest solution to creating a more organized space is to rent a storage unit near you in New York City. Being able to store those out-of-season supplies can keep your child’s learning atmosphere clean and free of distractions. Our guide to keeping your storage unit organized is the perfect starting point for creating a functional storage system for those extra homeschool books, décor, and supplies.

Follow These Five Tips for an Organized Homeschooling Space

To provide your homeschoolers the best learning environment, the space in which you homeschool should be organized and functional. By searching Pinterest for organizational inspiration, moving learning to digital programs, reusing organizational items you already have, cleaning your homeschool space at the end of each day, and creating a practical storage system, you can have your homeschoolers’ classroom space in tip-top shape in no time.

Need additional space in Brooklyn, NY, to make room for a homeschool classroom makeover? Find the nearest storage unit near you and reserve online to take advantage of our internet specials!