So what are some safe places to put your stuff.

Ive been using the containers in the Arch Mage's quarters and it seems it be working so far

I like my cozy house in Whiterun. The chest near my bed is for my goodies. When upgraded it has even more places for your stuff.

I have been using the mine next to Riverwood. All kinds of sacks and chests and I've never had it repopulate. It is time to sell everything and move tot he city though

For me personally, yes. But I am also quite the pack rat and tend to stock up on special/enchanted items for later use. I also tend to carry around an absurd amount of ingredients, food and books. I find having your own home a nice benefit as they have plenty of room for stockpiling as well as cool features like a book self (that can be activated to place books in your inventory on it), weapon racks, a bed that you own (giving a greater rest benefit), chests for storage and even a cooking pot!

All in all, I'd say they're worth ever cent (or gold/Septim)

Edit: it's also beneficial for your spouse and any permanent companions to stay put.

After about level 9 I realized I needed a house pretty quickly. But I'm a bit of a pack rat, especially when it comes to books. I bought a house in Whiterun -- nice central location, and it puts me close to Aela and Lydia. Someday I'll invite them both over

In an unrelated note regarding your comment, I LOVE your signature!

Thanks! :3

I am also a pack rat and have been using the mine near Riverwood for the time being. It has been working out well as I wait for the house in Markath.

I've never used any containers until now (because of a quest).

I recently bought the House in Solitude, I wasn't going to buy one anywhere else as I am playing an Imperial Soldier turned Mercenary. Obviously, I didn't buy the house until after I did some mercenary work, a Legion Soldier wouldn't be able to afford the house on their wages!

But yeah, houses are definitely worth it, especially from a roleplaying perspective, I mean, you can't live in a camp or inns for your entire life can you? Unless you're a bandit/raider/naturist type character, in which case, go ahead

Get $5000 and you can by the house in whiterun.

Is the White run house the best first house to buy?

I'm in the house in Whiterun with my Nord character, but I've also been playing a Wood Elf and I found a great big hollowed out tree (not a container) where I drop stuff inside...and it's fairly close to a fast travel point.
I've dropped all kinds of stuff behind War Maidens also...
Ingredients are another problem though...I found one of those round burial things with a Alchemy stand, so I drop ingredients all over the floor inside there...which is not too convenient.

I'm looking for a better house in a more remote location instead of one of the bigger towns. In the meantime, I'd love to find a safe hollow stump container like they had in OB; and knowing Bethesda there has to be one in the game somewhere...that would be perfect for my Bosmer.

Can't wait for the construction set to be released so we can mod containers.

Buy a house, duh. Also you can use the house you are invited to stay in at Riverwood, whichever family it is depending on who you follow at the beginning.

The house in Whiterun is my base of operation.
In one cabinet I stored all my ingots, ores and leather for if I want to go smitting.
The bookcase is for some random books I might have in my inventory.
The chest near the alchemy table is for ingredients/food that I don't need carrying around all the time.
A cupboard on the second floor is for amethysts and all that good stuff.
And the chest next to my bed is for the dragon scales, dragon fangs and weapons and armor I want to keep.

lol. Did you really need to ask?

Love owning the house in Whiterun, great for storing all my accumulated loot I don't want to sell! I just wish there was a way to add more book shelves as mine are completely full!

If you have a lot of stuff, buying a house (and furnishing it) is worth it because you can sort things out and put different things in different places. The house in Whiterun is incredibly convenient. I have all the food in the dresser (or whatever that is) right next to the cooking pot. Stored books in the various bookcases. I've got my ingreedients in a chest in the alchemy room, the potions in the cupboard outside of it, and the scrolls in a barrel opposite the cupboard.

If you're so inclined, you can also split out the crafting material and put it in a sack right by the door, since that home is right next to Warmaiden, which has everything you need to smith anything.

The miscellaneous stuff goes in a bedstand, and the weapons and armor go in a chest and dresser in the bedroom. I've also got special weapons hanging right by the front door (Axe of Whiterun and Lunar Sword or whatever it's called).

Or... you could store everything together in a big-ass bucket and have to scroll through half the world every time you're looking for something. I know which one I prefer, and you can make money hand over fist going on some random dungeon