The Storage Tax
Paying for physical space to store unused possessions. Old items kept out of sight at the expense of compounding growth.
A box is taped shut and moved to a rental unit. The monthly $80 fee is paid automatically, too small to notice on a bank statement.
Over thirty-five years, the cost of storing unused furniture and old files reaches $33,600 in out-of-pocket cash. Compounded at seven percent, the space costs $142,000.
The storage unit is rarely visited, functioning as a paid delay for decisions about what to keep. The possessions sit in the dark while the opportunity cost compounds in the light.
One clean-out weekend avoids the fee entirely. The $142,000 stays compounding in an investment account rather than paying for commercial square footage.
Keeping items out of sight is convenient. The price of that convenience is paid in years of retirement security.