To digital nomads, the concept of "home" can be fluid.
Some nomads have home bases, others don’t.
Moving places every few weeks or months poses some unique logistical challenges. It’s not the same as packing for a 4-week holiday, where you’ll return home to all your personal items and property.
For new digital nomads, packing light can be hard. Even people traveling for years can end up with too much stuff, despite embracing minimalism. This creates a problem: what to do with all these things that now feel like extra weight?
Traveling light is the mantra of many digital nomads, but it's not always feasible. The trade-off for packing light is unspoken: forgoing lots of creature comforts.
Many nomads give away, throw out, and donate items as they leave places. Others will buy and leave items throughout their travel trails. At some point, sticking to one (or two) backpacks to travel light and avoid check-in luggage fees gets tiring.
💡 Good news: you can choose the right unit size for your items (don't pay extra for nothing!)
Some items are best left at “home”, especially if they are not easily replaced (or irreplaceable).
Difficult, risky, or expensive to bring around:
Digital nomads who regularly come back to a certain city are often called "seasonal" or "semi-nomadic." They have a set travel pattern and usually return to a chosen location that acts as an on-and-off home base. Some nomads juggle more than one home base even! The reasons can vary from work obligations to family ties, seasonal hobbies, or a love for the city.
Some people move around to pursue an endless summer. But in their travels, they’re unsure where to leave their winter equipment and end up dragging it all with them to a tropical destination. The same goes for surfers who may want to avoid lugging their boards back home for the holidays.
While storing these items does have a cost, it's often more economical than the combined expenses of extra travel fees, replacements, repairs, or rentals.
📦 With friends or family
📦 Rental apartment or flat
📦 Self storage solutions
Traditional storage options like leaving things at a friend's house or in a family member's garage are an option. It can be a great way to store things temporarily for free (if they don’t mind!). Some nomads lack long-term storage options from friends or family and want to avoid the emotional strain of inconveniencing others.
Those who are keeping their apartment leases can store their items while they travel. Otherwise, nomads rely on self storage facilities. Self storage spaces are available in most cities and can be affordable since you only pay for the space you need, with various storage unit sizes for different needs.
The average cost to rent a storage unit starts from $60 monthly in the US, and €20 in Europe. Prices vary depending on the location, type of storage space, and any additional amenities (e.g. climate control).
When comparing whether or not you should store your things, nomads should keep these things in mind as unforeseen costs:
💸 Check-in or excess luggage fees
💸 Oversized baggage fees (for sports equipment)
💸 Renting a larger living space
💸 Keeping your apartment to store items
💸 Buying or renting gear, seasonal equipment and clothing
If you’re storing something, it is likely important to you. Keep these tips in mind as you choose a storage facility and keep your items safe.
If your travel plans change or you can't access the storage facility, you can:
Thankfully, there doesn’t need to be a hard line between a nomadic lifestyle and owning worldly possessions. Self-storage offers a balance between comfort and mobility for digital nomads. Achieve a clutter-free life, save money, and travel with ease by finding the extra space you need.
Jocelyn is a content strategist and writer fascinated by systems thinking and the intersection of technology and human behaviour. She is passionate about empowering people and helping companies grow.
