Whether you're heading off on a J1 visa, taking a gap year, relocating for work, or just travelling long-term, one of the biggest practical questions is: what do I do with all my stuff? Keeping an apartment just for storage is insanely expensive. Shipping everything abroad is impractical. You need storage — and ideally, something affordable and flexible.
How Long Are People Typically Away?
Irish people going abroad tend to need storage for:
- 3–4 months: Summer J1 or internship
- 6–12 months: Working holiday (Australia, Canada, etc.)
- 1–2 years: Work contract abroad
- Indefinite: Emigrating but keeping some possessions in Ireland
Storage Options & Costs
For someone going abroad who needs to store a bedroom's worth of belongings (furniture, boxes, personal items), costs look like:
- Commercial self-storage: €120–€250/month (€1,440–€3,000/year)
- Packhood peer-to-peer: €50–€100/month (€600–€1,200/year)
- Leaving stuff at parents' house: Free, but goodwill has limits
What to Store vs What to Sell
Before you pack everything into storage, be ruthless about what's worth paying to store for 6–12 months:
- Store: Quality furniture, sentimental items, documents, electronics, winter clothes
- Sell: Cheap furniture (IKEA flatpacks), old electronics, books you won't re-read
- Give away: Anything that would cost more to store than to replace
Managing Storage Remotely
When you're abroad, you can't easily pop in to check on things. Choose a Packhood host with good reviews, take photos of everything before storing, and give a trusted friend or family member your booking details in case of emergency. If you're a college student heading away for the summer, our college move-out storage guide has tailored advice.
Heading abroad soon? Find affordable long-term storage on Packhood before you go.