A spacious room leads to a spacious mind

Introduction: Realizations after 7 years of living alone

　After living alone for seven years, I realized that storage cases are unnecessary. I reached this conclusion after encountering the concept of "minimalism" as a working adult. I have no intention of becoming a minimalist, but I do use the mindset as a reference. In short, I have adopted a lifestyle of keeping only the things that are truly necessary for me (it might be closer to call it simplism in terms of feeling).
　In the process of keeping only what is necessary, I let go of storage cases. Honestly, I used to buy storage cases without thinking, just tossing things in. I was convinced they were necessary items for living. However, once I actually let them go, I found I wasn't inconvenienced at all.

　I hope this will be helpful for those who are worried about whether to buy storage cases or those who already own them—even though this is an article written after the Prime Sale...

The cost involved is not just the price of the item itself

It costs both money and time

　When you think about the cost of storage cases, they are surprisingly expensive. You should consider not only the price of the item itself, but also the travel costs to the store and the disposal fees. Even if you buy them online, shipping costs are usually involved.
　Since they bear the name "storage case," they have a certain size. You cannot put them out on burnable trash day; they must be disposed of as oversized garbage. You also need to buy oversized garbage disposal tickets. Even if I understand it logically, I cannot accept it emotionally to pay money just to throw something away. It feels like throwing away the money for the disposal tickets.

　Beyond the financial costs, you also need to consider the time cost spent buying storage cases and the effort of measuring sizes and calculating. Today, when comparing and considering is the standard way to choose items, the various costs spent on buying just one item have increased.
　I watch videos to get an idea and read buyer reviews before purchasing. That said, it doesn't mean I don't fail at shopping. It's a common occurrence to buy something only to find it wasn't what I expected, and this article embodies that. After all, I'm writing this because I think buying storage cases was a mistake...

Utilizing your current space is the way to go!

　Rather than overthinking and buying storage cases, it is overwhelmingly easier to make things fit into the storage spaces already provided in your home. However, you must not buy storage cases just to put things away. Let's counter that with ingenuity on how to fit things into the storage space.
　I won't say "just throw it all away!" like a minimalist. It's fine as long as it fits in the storage space. So, I think it's fine to stuff it into the closet until it's bursting, just like in manga.If it fits, it's right. If you can solve it with brute force, there's nothing better! After all, you can do it for 0 yen!

Cannot be used repeatedly

　You probably won't live in the same place forever. Due to some circumstances, the opportunity to move will surely come.
　When packing for a move, you have to put things into cardboard boxes (that is what packing is, after all). It would be nice if the storage cases could be transported as they are, but it seems they have to be put into cardboard boxes. You have to buy cardboard boxes that fit the storage cases. Am I the only one who thinks, "What's the point of storing storage cases?"

　Now, let's arrive at the new home safely and start unpacking.
　When you take the storage case out of the cardboard box and try to put it in the storage space... it doesn't fit... You either put the case that didn't fit in the storage space somewhere else or dispose of it, buy a new case that fits the storage space, and transfer the contents.
　You have probably experienced this. If you have ever moved, you have definitely experienced it. What a cruel fate, to be unable to use them at your new home despite having paid so many costs to buy them!

They don't fit in every space. I recommend foldable containers

　Storage cases only "fit the room you were living in when you bought them", they do not "fit in every space." Well, there is no such magical case anywhere in this world. If there were, it would be selling like crazy all over the world.
　Just as items designed for a specific purpose lack versatility, storage cases also lack versatility. In that case, it's better to buy items that have versatility, or not buy them at all. If you want a versatile storage case, I recommend foldable containers. They are convenient for stocking daily necessities, and above all, you can fold them up and put them away when not in use.

For event attendees, paper bag storage is recommended

　By the way, for those who go to Comiket, I recommend using the paper bags you get when you buy merchandise as storage. I put towels in them and hang them on the bathroom door. It's also recommended because you can be in contact with your favorite characters in your daily life.

A life without storage cases

The room is spacious

First, the room feels spacious. Since there are fewer things in my field of vision, the room looks tidy. To be precise, I have postcards and such displayed on the walls, so it is not the entire room, but rather the floor is kept tidy state. I feel happy living surrounded by my merchandise, so I keep only the walls cluttered.

The point I want to convey is not that you should get rid of storage cases because the room looks cleaner, but rather that you should get rid of them because the effort spent on storage cases is disproportionate. Part of it is also that I find it troublesome to think about things in a cluttered way (which is why I recommend the brute-force method of stuffing things into the closet), and I think it is more beneficial to spend that effort on other things rather than on storage cases.

Be calm when buying things too

Another benefit gained from getting rid of storage cases is that the hurdle for buying things has become higher. I have started to feel resistance to buying storage cases themselves, and impulse buying has also decreased. I can think calmly that even if I buy it, I have no place to put it, and the damage to my wallet has been reduced.

Conclusion: Create some margin and try thinking

If you are worried about whether to buy a storage case, please calm down and think about it first. It might fit in the storage cases you already have. If you already own storage cases, try getting rid of one as a test. You might be able to put the cases that are out in the room into storage.
A life without storage cases is not actually that bad. It is a trade-off with having less space to display merchandise (which is the most painful part for an otaku).

Text: Yura