Good Uses for Extra Space

Most folks fill their space as soon as they have any that is free, but there are all sorts of reasons why a homeowner could find themselves with extra space. If that space is behind a garage door, there are all sorts of ways to use it well.  First think about the car. Has the car always been outside? What kept it out of the garage? Perhaps a hobby car that was going to be fixed someday finally was fixed or simply found a new garage to be stored in.

If there space isn't needed for a car, there are all sorts of options. Is there a messy hobby like painting or furniture repair that could use a space that is easy to hose down? With the garage door up heavy duty sanding work can be done, with the garage door down a heavy cloud of sawdust can take over. In either case, cover with a drop cloth or old sheet, any tools or household items stored in the garage. It is much easier to shake off and perhaps even wash the cloths than clean all every tool and dust every box.

Woodworking is only one option. Many folks have found second jobs buying and selling old objects. A box of miss-matched china is a hassle to move, but with storage space and patience it could be worth a lot more to someone who needs a specific platter. Ebay has been great for these folks. Some children's toys that are in good condition can be resold either in sets or for the detail oriented piece by piece. Grandparents in particular with more time to post and visit the post office have found a great extra income selling off their grandchildren's old toys. Parents are generally happy just to get them out the door.
If the hobby is knitting or making doll clothes there are a number of sites specializing in selling handmade objects. There is no reason that objects once photographed and then bagged and tagged can't be stored in bins in the garage. Perhaps the extra money earned can be used to refit the garage door itself as a business expense.

If cost cutting has become a priority, remember that space is money for groceries. Buying in bulk is often more economical, but storing extra peanut butter or large numbers of snack sized chips is only a bargain if they will be eaten. Extra large quantities of items like medicine can go to waste if not used promptly.

If space is truly not a problem consider buying a deep freeze. Freezer preserves have become a much easier way to store the bounty from an apple picking expedition or a bumper crop of black berries. Even buying an extra turkey the day after thanksgiving can make Christmas one bit easier.

A final option is to look around the neighborhood. Does a neighbor have an extra car that won't fit in their garage? Offer an extra parking space in exchange for lawn mowing help.

There is always something to be done with extra space behind the garage door. It doesn't have to fill with boxes of stuff, but can still hold an amazing array of possibilities.