Updated 2026
Answer Capsule
Leaving your belongings for RTW travel feels overwhelming but breaks down into simple decisions: sell the valuable stuff, store the sentimental items, donate/discard the rest, and handle the legal paperwork. Paying storage unit rent for a year costs thousands while your possessions depreciate. The better approach: before leaving, be ruthless about what actually matters and find homes for everything else. Most RTW travelers discover they didn't miss 95% of their stuff and end up selling more on return.
Your Apartment or House
If you're renting, your lease will end naturally. If you own, you have three options: keep and maintain it (pay mortgage/taxes/insurance), rent it out (massive responsibility, requires management), or sell. Keeping an empty house while paying utilities and maintenance costs thousands annually that could fund your trip instead. Most people either rent their place or sell for travel purposes.
If renting your place, take new photos, list on Airbnb or long-term rental sites, price competitively, and line up a property manager if you won't handle it remotely.
Your Car
Sell it. Seriously. Insurance, registration, parking, maintenance for a parked car costs $1000+ yearly. You won't have it when you return and depreciation kills value. Sell pre-trip, pocket the money, and buy a replacement when you return.
Furniture and Non-Valuable Items
Host a "everything must go" party or post items on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or OfferUp. Price low and move it fast. You'll be shocked what people want (even that ancient desk). Whatever doesn't sell gets donated to Goodwill, Salvation Army, or local charities. Free removal of donations is an option.
Sentimental and Valuable Items
Family photos, heirlooms, jewelry, documents - these go to trusted friends or family or into climate-controlled storage. Spending $50/month on a small storage unit for items that actually matter is fine. Storing junk furniture and old clothes isn't.
Important Documents and Financial Records
Before leaving, organize:
- Tax documents (7 years minimum)
- Medical records (take copies)
- Insurance policies
- Bank account information
- Property deeds
- Passwords written down securely
Give copies to a trusted person at home or a lawyer. Seriously. You need access to this information while abroad for tax purposes, legal issues, or emergencies.
Utilities and Bills
Cancel or put on pause: gym memberships, subscriptions, insurance on parked vehicles. Transfer utilities or cancel them. Set up automatic payments for anything you can't cancel (property tax, mortgage).
Mail and Banking
Update your address with your bank, insurance company, IRS, and any regular mail. Forward mail to a trusted family member or mailbox service. Some travelers use virtual mailbox services ($100/year) for important correspondence.
Medical and Dental
Get prescriptions filled for your journey. Schedule dental cleanings before you leave. Collect medical records. If you take regular medications, research whether they're available internationally or if you need to bring a full supply.
What NOT to Do
Don't pay storage unit rent on items you don't care about. Don't keep a house or car you're not using. Don't leave important documents unsecured. Don't forget to change your address with financial institutions. Don't leave subscriptions running. Don't postpone organizing - do it 2-3 months before departure when you can actually sell things rather than rush-donating.
The Bottom Line
Sell or donate 80% of your belongings. Rent out or sell your property. Keep only sentimental items or legally necessary documents in storage. Update financial institutions with a home address (trusted family member's place). Organize medical records and prescriptions. This takes 2-3 months but saves thousands in ongoing costs and eliminates the stress of returning to a storage unit full of forgotten junk.