Not Ready to Commit? Rent!

The word “rent” evokes images of a house or apartment. But in reality, there are so many different things to rent! Choosing to rent rather than buy can help you save space and save money; plus, participating in the sharing economy is great for the environment and your local community.

Ready to become an even more conscientious citizen, with more money in your wallet? Check out these unique things you can rent instead of purchasing – including some ideas on items you might already own and can rent out for extra cash!

Entertainment

If you haven’t visited your local library recently, you may be missing out on a whole range of entertainment you can rent – for free! Libraries give you access to not only a plethora of books, ebooks, newspapers and magazines, but also free streaming services for movies and TV shows. Love audiobooks? Download the Libby app and rent audiobooks for free with your library card.

Sports Equipment

Been wanting to try out a new sport but unsure if purchasing the equipment is worth the investment? Just rent it! Many new businesses are popping up to offer rentals on sports gear like skis, golf clubs, fishing poles and more. Rental equipment is perfect for seasonal sports, occasional activities, and anytime you simply don’t want to store all that stuff. If you can’t find any good options in your area, consider starting your own sports equipment rental group on social media, where people can lend and trade gear.

Transportation

Depending on where you live, it may feel like owning a car is a necessity. However, there are ways to live without a car and rent one when you need it. Zipcar lets members reserve a car rental in advance or instantly book a nearby vehicle, while Turo is a peer-to-peer car sharing service that connects people with cars to people who need to rent one. With the cost of car ownership coming in at around $5,200 per year, car sharing can be a more economical option – and if you’ve got a vehicle you don’t mind renting out, it could be making money for you.

Fashion

Subscription fashion services like Rent the Runway make it easy to get ahold of the right outfit when you need it, without spending top-dollar for an item you’ll never wear again. While some people take advantage of fashion rentals for special events like a black-tie wedding or an important job interview, many also use these services to regularly refresh their wardrobe – so rather than shelling out cash for a shopping spree, you’re spending a set monthly amount to explore different styles.

Storage Space

If you’re feeling like there are too many people and too much stuff inside your home, you might need a bigger place to live – or you might just need to rent more space! Before buying a house, consider if some items in your current home could go into a rental storage unit. Renting space can help to clear up the clutter or extend your homebuying timeline if you’re not quite ready to make that investment just yet. Then again, if you’re in a big house with extra space – why not rent it out to someone in need of storage?

Everything Else

Many cities now have a “library of things” where you can rent all kinds of non-traditional library items: from guitars and ukuleles, to ladders and power drills, to knitting needles and flower seeds. Check out the Massachusetts Library System for more information on what might be available in your area, and the next time you’re decluttering your house, consider making a donation so that someone else can rent your stuff.