The CASTER GROUP

Military Storage Tips

excited young american family welcoming military father returning home

Did you recently receive deployment papers? Depending on your military unit, you may only have a very limited time to prepare. Don’t panic yet! Here at A-1 Self Storage it is our job to give deployed military personnel peace of mind knowing their vehicle and other items are in a clean and secure facility.

Here are important tips and questions to consider prior to deployment:

  • What items will you be storing? A few boxes or entire household? Before you decide how much space you will need, you need to organize the items you intend on putting into storage.
  • What size and type of self storage unit will you need? It’s important to get the right size because it means you aren’t wasting money on space you don’t need. Check storage facility  website and see what they offer. Many local facilities offer promotions, deals, and discounts on storage. It is very important to do your research on all the options in your area. Prefer to see some units in person? Store mangers would be happy to give you a tour of their facility.
  • Will you need climate controlled unit? Climate controlled storage units keep items in a constant set temperature. If you are going to be placing valuable items in storage, you will want to consider a climate controlled unit. You may not know the length of your deployment, if you suspect it be longer than a year, climate control is recommended.
  • Will you need to store your vehicle? What about your car or boat? Unless you have a family member or friends who plan to use these items during deployment, you may consider vehicle storage.
  • Did you ask about move-in specials & Military discounts? A-1 Self Storage offers Military discounts. Be sure to stop by the office to get more information about Military discounts.
  • Did you ask about payment options?  A-1 Self Storage provides you with easy payment options: auto-pay, online payment, pay-by-phone, etc.
  • What car storage options are provided?  In some cases, you may be able to store your vehicle and household items safely in a large storage unit.
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Get Organized This Tax Season!

iStock_000034510198_Small

iStock_000034510198_Small Getting organized ahead of time to file your taxes can alleviate a lot of the stress involved with meeting the April 18th deadline. Now is the time to start on this year’s taxes if haven’t already started on your 2016 tax return. Below are helpful tips and  reminders to make sure you have all the information you will need when its time to file your taxes.

  1. Designate a space for tax organization –  Whether it be your home office, kitchen table, or even a storage unit, make sure your tax record keeping has a designated spot.
  2. Decide on a filing system –  If you use paper clips, accordion folders, color-coded post-it notes, or some other filing system, decide on how your going hold together important paperwork and documents. If you do everything online and decide to do paperless, be sure to keep electronic records.
  3. Gather all income statements and documents (including receipts)  – Group together all sources of income, including W-2, 1098, or 1099 forms, as well as paid invoices or any other evidence of income you have received in the past year.  Keep your receipts in a separate folder.
  4. Plan ahead – To limit last minute stress, create a calendar to plan your tax time to-dos, and aim to have your taxes filed in advance. You will want to have a schedule for keeping your documents organized. Is it that you will file the proper items at the end of the work week? Create a habit, use alarms, and set reminders to help you create this habit.
  5. Decide how you will file – Will you be using a tax filing software program, give everything to your accountant, or just file the paperwork by yourself? Whatever you decide, make sure you have everything in order prior to the deadline.

Tax season doesn’t have to be stressful. Stay organized and plan ahead of time. With these simple tips, tax organization should be simpler!

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Holiday Safety Tips

Holiday Safety Tips Santa

Holiday Safety Tips Santa

The holiday season is upon us! Turkey, Christmas lights, and shopping are all holiday traditions that bring great joy. Here are some tips to keep you safe and enjoy the holiday season.

Turkey Safety

Fried turkey can be very tasty but pose a potential hazard. The hot oil can spill causing a fire or skin burns. To avoid accidents, don’t overfill the fryer and always thaw the turkey prior to cooking.

Christmas Light Safety

Candles and Christmas lights are a fire hazard, especially near a Christmas tree. Christmas trees can become dry and extremely flammable. It is important to keep candles in a safe place away from children and decorations. Check holiday lights for any frayed cords and keep tress well watered to prevent drying. Always remember to turn off lights when you go to bed or leave home.

Shopping Safety

Higher cases of theft happen around the holiday shopping season. To prevent theft try to shop during the day, or shop with a friend or family member at night. Never leave shopping bags or purses visible in your vehicle. When shopping always be aware of your surroundings and never leave your purse or wallet unattended. Always report any suspicious activity.

Additional Tips 

  • Keep your travel plans off social media
  • If you are traveling out of town notify a trusted neighbor who can keep an eye out
  • Secure all valuables
  • Leave a television on so it looks like someone is home
  • Ask a neighbor or friend to pick up your mail if you will be gone for a long period of time
  • Consider shipping your packages to work office or amazon locker to avoid thieves

We hope you have a happy and safe holiday season. For more safety tips, visit your local police department website.

 

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How To Clean Your Refrigerator In 6 Easy Steps

Organized refrigerator

Organized refrigerator A clean refrigerator is important in order to  keep your food safe to eat! A thorough cleaning of your refrigerator should be done periodically, especially with the holidays around the corner. Below are steps to help you clean out your fridge!

 

  1. Unplug – If your fridge needs some serious scrubbing down, unplug the fridge so you don’t waste energy while you clean.
  2. Empty The Fridge – Take everything out of refrigerator and place it aside. Throw out old and expired food. Group and categorize items together to make it easier when you put everything back.
  3. Wash Shelves and Drawers – Wash and scrub shelves with warm soapy water by hand.
  4. Sanitize Inside Of Fridge – Spray and wipe down every part of fridge with a multipurpose cleaner. You can even use an old tooth brush to remove the gunk in any cracks or crevices.
  5. Eliminate Odors –  Fresh coffee grounds on a tray inside fridge will help eliminate bad odor. You can even keep a box of open baking soda in your fridge to prevent odor as well.
  6. Wipe Down Exterior – Wipe down outside of fridge with a damp cloth. If you have stainless steel fridge you may also use a special stainless steel cleaner.

How do you keep your refrigerator clean? Leave us a comment and let us know if you have any additional tips to share.

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Car Organization Tips

Mother driving car and child sitting on back seat, woman turns back

 

Mother driving car and child sitting on back seat, woman turns back

Keeping your car organized doesn’t need to be too time consuming or costly. You just need to implement a few car organization tips and tricks!

  1. Use pouches to store tissues, hand sanitizer and other travel-size necessities this will help alleviate clutter in your center console.
  2. Use silicone cupcake liners  in your cup holders, this is a great way for an easy cleanup.
  3. Make on the go meals much less of hassle with a plastic basket from the dollar store.
  4. Expand your cup holder space with a basket and muffin pan. Perfect for holding large groups of drinks!
  5.  Keep a car log to stay on top of your car maintenance.
  6. Keep your loose change in a gum container. This will help prevent miscellaneous coins from ending up all over the ground of your car.

How do you keep your car organized? Leave us a comment if you have additional tips to share.

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