I think we main goals of moving are efficiency, easiness, and cost-effectiveness. Sometimes, paying a little bit more (or even a lot more) for a moving company to take care of the details is the right move for you and your family. For the sake of comprehensiveness, though, we’re going to focus on another option today: using portable storage.Portable storage containers are large, “stand-alone units that can be grouped together on a truck for bulk transit,” as an article at Apartment Ratings explains. Each container locks separately and is usually resistant to the elements, so a filled container can be left outside in your garage or even in your lawn. The containers can then be transported in bulk for a lower cost than a dedicated moving service would charge.PODS is one example of an accredited portable storage service in the United States. They offer three sizes of containers with dimensions of approximately 8x7x7 cubic feet, 8x8x12 cubic feet, and 8x8x16 cubic feet. Only the two largest sizes are used for long-distance moves. PODS offers both the containers and the transportation, and if you would like to transport some units before your arrival, PODS offers more than 250 storage centers around the country. This trio of services makes PODS an easy choice for someone who wants to take advantage of portable storage without searching around, but there are many other options as well.There are some things to consider when choosing portable storage as an option, though. One is that the containers will not protect against extreme temperatures, so fragile items should be transported in a different way. Some portable units will obviously have higher levels of quality than othersdepending on where you will be storing the units after they are filled, you should be sure that the containers are made of a strong, durable material.There are almost as many ways to move as there are destinations (well, maybe not quite so many), and portable storage units are just one of many options. Is it right for you? That’s a question that only you will be able to answer.