Using an asterisk

I'm doing a SUMIFS function and one of the criteria I want to set down is that I don't want to include any cells in a column that contain the word "storage" (e.g., "used as storage", "storage space", "storage").

My formula so far looks like this...

=SUMIFS($E:$E,$G:$G,"=",$C:$C,"<>"&"VACANT",A:A,"<>"&"Total Current"

then if in column C I didn't want any cells that included the word "storage" I would put into my equation.... --> ($C:$C, "<>"&"*storage*")

Correct? Or do I only need one asterisk?

Kind of nitpicky, but any help would be greatly appreciated.

That would be correct with the * on both sides of storage.

If I might ask then, what is the point of using "&" in a function?.... I think I have been using them unnecessarily in many functions now.

The purpose of & is to 'join' 2 text strings into 1 text string.
It's a shortcut for the CONCATENATE function.

"<>"&"*storage*"

You have 2 text strings there
"<>"
"*storage*"

The & joined them together to make one text string, "<>*storage*"

It wasn't 'wrong' persay to use it in your formula like you did. Just not required.