Save on cash and clutter by renting the things you need

Some call it “rentalism”, it is the idea of having what you want, when you want it, but not having to pay full price for it, or watch it collect dust in your closet. New businesses are popping up online, promising to save you money by renting.

“I think renting really is a concept that makes sense in this day and age for people who are on a budget and people who are trying to save money,” says Daniel Solworth of Boston.

EXCERPT FROM KEBA'S BLOG:
" I'd love to hear from you....would you consider renting over buying? Are you already on the rent bandwagon? Or do you prefer ownership?"

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Babyplays.com lets your rent toys, on artrentandlease.com the same goes for artwork. Check out blingyourself.com if you’re looking to rent some jewelry. You can even get that home improvement project done with borrowed tools. But what is you need a fabulous dress, but can’t afford the designer price?

“This is actually a Vera Wang runway collection piece. It retails for $1880. We loan it for 5-10% of retail value,” says Madeline Passarelli, who is the founder of weartodaygonetomorrow.com , who launched her site less than a year ago. “As a former fashion editor, I came up with the idea because we used to have the ability to borrow clothing the way celebrities do.”

So for 5-10% of the retail of the dress, along with a $10 dry cleaning fee, and a shipping fee, you can borrow one of these dresses, and return it in a week.

“So you’re spending the same amount of money and often much less, but the quality is definitely better,” Passarelli says. And weartodaygonetomorrow.com offers jackets, tops, and skirts too. Trendier items that will really make people notice you.

“I register the can online or by my phone. I just pull out my zipcard and here’s my connection to get me into the car,” says Denise Clancey, a zipcar member.

Living in the city no longer means living without a car. Starting as low as $7 an hour, you can have wheels when you want them, with zipcar . Since 2004, its membership has grown 100% annually, and zipcar is also making it’s way to the suburbs and colleges.

Boston zipcar general manager, Dan Curtin says the environmental and economic benefits to it’s customers are huge, “when you think about owning a car in the city, a lot of folks don’t use it that frequently, but you pay for parking full time, pay insurance full time, you pay for repairs, you pay for gasoline, and it gets to be expensive, it adds up.”

Denise Clancey has been a zipcar member since 2003. Denise lives in the North End, and travels throughout the city for work. She says zipcar has made her a more efficient driver.

“I think zipcar lends itself to thinking differently about your life. It certainly has reinforced for me the concept of recyling, and re-using and the environment, because I feel like I’m not putting another car on the road full time,” Clancey says.

But before you stop buying and start renting, consumer expert Edgar Dworsky of consumerworld.org says you have to weigh your options carefully, ”you’ve got to do your homework. Does it really make sense for you? Rentals make sense when it’s really an expensive item that you couldn’t afford and you wouldn’t use very often,” Dworsky says. And if it’s worth renting, then just imagine the space and money you could save.