I have been playing a few hours and I have a lot of stuff I want to keep especially food items and misc items to use later for crafting...but they are heavy.

I am afraid to just put stuff in any old container. if you have looted a container, or if you put stuff in one, will it stay there? or will the game eventually overwrite that container making you lose stuff?

stuff respawns in 3 days right? i put a book in the docs footlocker and waited 4 days, it was still there. also i remember in F3 safes were safe. ive gone back to safes months or years (in game time o'course) after first opening and they were still empty.

but i never put anything in them, they just stayed empty after i took the loot.

I haven't played the game yet (damned 22nd release date!) but I think I read somewhere that you can store stuff in the dungeon under the school in Goodsprings.

u got a source?

Once you hit a town called Novac, you can buy a hotel room... Once you hit New Vegas, you can get suites.

how much is the room?

Sorry, I don't. I've done a search but I can't locate where I read it. I'm sure it was in the cheats forum, but I've read so many threads that I can't recall where it was. I only mentioned it so the OP, yourself or someone else could have a look - I'd like to use it.

yes, my friend is playing here right now, and sunny smiles just told him/us about a safe under the school. im pretty sure safes are safe for storage, anyone know for sure?

if they are, then thats where you should store ur stuff op

Dunno, if you help out people in novac, the room is free.. in new vegas, free aswell if you talk to the right person.