How Long Do You Need Storage?

Almost every RV storage facility will require you to sign some sort of contract and so having a good idea of how long you want to store or RV is important.  As with any contract you often times get a price break for signing a longer contract, but if you think you may be moving sometime, will take your RV for a long trip soon or want to do a trial run with the facility then you should try and sign a month to month contract.  Usually they require a 30 day advanced notice prior to ending your contract with them and if you sign a long contract and terminate early they could hit you with some hefty fee’s.

Outdoor or Indoor – That Is The Question

This is important because if you choose an outside RV storage unit then your RV will be subject to all the elements in your area such as the sun, rain, hail, snow and wind.  If you live in a nicer climate where the elements are not much of an issue then it may not be of a concern.  You can always purchase a nice RV cover if you choose to store it outside.  Inside storage has a few more benefits such as climate control as well as keeping your RV out of the elements.  Outdoor storage facilities are often times cheaper than indoor however you should check with your insurance company to see if there is any sort of price break you can get for storing it indoors.  Sometimes the savings you get from your insurance company will make up for the difference.

Amenities

You will find that some RV storage facilities offer additional amenities such as battery charging, water, electricity, trash and a few others which are great if you want to just grab your RV and go! It is important to find out if these amenities are included in the price or can be purchased separately so you know exactly what you are paying for.  If you do not want all these additional items and they are included then you may be able to find a better deal elsewhere.  If they are additional then its nice to have the option to pick and choose what you want.  You just want to make sure that you don’t have a padded price for amenities you will not use.

Location And Access Capabilities

Often times the location of the facility can play a big part in price.  If the location is out of the way or in a lower traffic area then you may get a better deal.  You also want to make sure that it is not in a bad area. It is also important to think about how often you will need to visit the storage place because if it is far it may not be worth the hassle. It may be better to store it closer for a little more money.  You also want to ask if they have set hours as to when you can access the facility.  If flexibility is important to you then this is a good question to ask.   If you have friends or family that also have an RV you could ask them for personal references and be sure to take a tour of the facility as well.

Check With Your Insurance Company

Make sure to talk to your insurance company to verify that they will cover your RV while it is in storage. Ask them if they have any requirements such as indoor or outdoor and if they give an price breaks for either.  It is important that you communicate with your insurance agent so that you do not break any terms of policy.

Security

Obviously the security of your RV is of high importance so be sure to ask each facility what kind of security they offer.  Is it just a simple high wall or fence? Do they offer 24 hour surveillance? Do they have a guard on-site at all times? Where you store your RV is an important decision and you want to make sure that it stays in the same condition as when you brought it there.

That’s pretty much a run down of what you should ask each storage company before making your final decision.  Make a list of what is high on your priority list and compare prices and make sure to ask the same questions to each facility.  To help keep you organized, get a sheet of paper and write all of your priorities down the side of the paper and the companies you’ve called along the top and put an X next to each priority each facility provides. This way you know you’re comparing apples to apples.

Don’t forget that the internet makes it even easier.  Take a look around online at the various storage places and get some quotes online right now!

Once you have decided to have a sale, you will need to decide on a date to have your sale. A good day to have your sale is on a Saturday because that is when most people are out and looking for neighborhood bargains. Once you have a date in mind, you will have to check the weather forecast. Nothing will ruin an outdoor sales event faster than inclement weather. Strive for something neither too cold nor too hot and avoid rain at all costs.

After you have a nice day set aside, you will need to let people know about the sale. Word of mouth should be the first method you use to spread the news. Tell all of your friends and co-workers and ask them to do the same. With that done, you can make some fliers and post them about town (after you have checked your local laws to ascertain the legalities of doing so, of course). If there are any community bulletin boards, put them to good use as well. Lastly, pay to run a small classified ad in your local paper.

Before the big day comes, plan out how you will organize everything you are selling. It is wise to group all related items together. If you have clothes to sell, group all of them into one area. Furniture, if there is any, should be put with other furniture. Think of how a department store is setup and try to mimic that. Also, you should keep the cashbox (never unattended!) beneath the carport along with other expensive items. This will help protect those running the “register” from the sun and other elements while allowing them to keep an eye on the more valuable items that may otherwise disappear without compensation.

Once you have met these three conditions, then you should have a successful diy carport sale under your belt that you can be proud of. In fact, don’t be surprised if you find your friends asking for help in setting up theirs!

Here are some pointers on what to prepare in the case of an emergency:

• For your disaster supply kit, you should have enough essential water, non perishable food and supplies to last for a minimum of three days.  The more days you prepare for, the better.  This kit should be in an easily accessible and designated area in case you have to evacuate your home quickly. Ensure everyone in the home knows where the kit is kept.

• In addition to food and water, you should set aside some items for sheltering.  Something that will last for about one to two weeks.

• Set aside some clothing determined by your climate for each member of the family.  If you live in a colder climate pack warmer clothes.  I believe you should have at least 2 changes of clothing available. One set for warmer weather and 1 set for colder weather such as long pants, a sweater, socks, shoes, a jacket, hats, gloves and mittens. You do not have to spend a lot of money on these items.  You can find this type of clothing at any thrifty store, as you will not be too concerned about your appearance as much as you are its usefulness. Also, store a few blankets and some sleeping bags for warmth and/or bedding.

Here are some of the other basic items you should have on hand:

• Battery powered flashlight & radio – extra batteries as well
• First Aid Kit
• Matches
• Cooking Utensils (aquire at the dollar store or thrift store)
• If possible, have documentation available such as ID’s, passports, VISAS, anything that you will need to prove who you are.
• Money
• Medication – prescribed medication, hearing aids
• Infants/Babies – forumla, diapers, baby bottles, blankest

Think about the necessities your family will need on a daily basis.  As I said, you do not need to spend a lot of money on these items.  You can find a lot of them at the dollar store or any thrifty store.  You do not need to buy all the items at one time, but make sure you set a deadline for when to complete your preparation. Buy some storage boxes to store all the items in such as plastic storage boxes that are deep and sturdy. Don’t overpack anything as you do not want it to be too heavy to carry.  If need be, buy 2 boxes.

One of the biggest misconceptions about playing the market is that it is easy money. Sure you may luck into a monster trade and hit big, but for most of us success requires work. In order to work productively you need to have a plan. Organizing your days dedicated to trading stocks will make a world of difference.

The first step to better organization is to plan out when you will be researching, and when you will be trading. If you have the availability to trade any day of the week that can easily turn into a disjointed mish-mash of trading on whims. Pick out certain days of the week to practice stock trading. Look at your schedule for work and home life and make a plan to dedicate a certain time to stock trading. Every trader is different, and has widely varied times available to trade stocks. If you find that you don’t have much time available during market hours then you will have to plan to do your research and put in orders the night before. The whole idea here is to set up a schedule that you will religiously put in time to become a better stock trader. If you can’t keep a set day every week then choose a day (Sundays are usually good) to spend a few minutes planning out when you will be concentrating on your investments that week.

I’m a big believer in using pen and paper for my time management activities. There are many great electronic calendars that offer good functionality, but I like to work with a daily planner on my desk. All of my stock trading takes place on the computer, so I find that being able to organize when I’m going to trade without ever touching the computer is a great buffer. Use whatever tool suits your personality, but don’t be afraid to experiment with alternatives that you haven’t tried. You may just find one that works for you.

The organization techniques that I am describing are useful for more than just stock trading training. Anything that requires you to set aside time for an activity can benefit from a little planning. Whether it’s a picnic with the family or a night at the pub watching the game, if you plan out your time you will feel like you are in more control of your life.

You have heard the phrase “time is money” – I’d certainly heard it all my life – but it wasn’t until I started my own home business that I realized just how difficult it was to stay focused now that I didn’t have a boss asking me what I was up to – or even a separate place of work!

Initially I started my business part-time – and oddly – while I was fitting my business in around my social life and a job it wasn’t too bad. But once I went full-time my productivity plummeted – too many choices, too many hours – suddenly the only thing that was urgent was checking my favorite forums or email!

I suddenly realized that I had to get my self organized and needed to apply some principals of time management. I am generally not the most organized person in the world – but I suddenly had lists and list of “to dos”. Unfortunately I then forgot about the lists and kept on wasting time of Facebook and Twitter!

This year though I really have made a serious effort and to learn how to improve my Time Management. I scouted around and came across an Italian technique called the “Pomodoro Technique”.  Pomodoro means tomato in Italian, and is the name of a common kitchen timer there. The idea is basically time boxing – you work solidly for 25 minutes on a single task and then give yourself a five minute break.  After 2 hours you take a longer break. While you work the ticking of the “pomodoro” (or in my case the software equivalent) will either drive you crazy – or, somewhat to my surprise, actually help you focus. The system is deliberately low-tech and all you need is a pen, paper and some form of timer. The interesting thing is that while I thought I was working around 10 hours a day – the reality was a whole lot different … The trick is – while you are working and suddenly a very urgent item springs to mind (organize the kitchen cupboards, check the email) – you don’t act on it – you write the item down and keep working on what you are doing. At the end of the 25 minutes – you either give the “urgent” interuption its own pomodoro, do it (if its really quick) – or often find that you don’t “need” to do it any longer!

Its not rocket science, it doesn’t cost a cent, and the Pomodoro method is certainly helping me organize my time better – maybe it will help you to?