(uconn)
Budgets Are Sexy argues that people throw their money away on many items they’d normally buy without a thought. Here are four “buys” that you should should highly consider switching to “rents.”
The blog’s suggestions are in bold, with my two cents following each:
*Tools. Do you really need a chainsaw constantly on standby? Unless your last name is Voorhees, probably not.
*Evening gowns/prom dresses. If you can’t wear it to Target it doesn’t belong in your closet.
*Textbooks. You’ll use them for four months, max. And by “use” I mean “leave under your bed all semester then frantically flip through the night before the final.”
*Coffins. Put on the dog and pony show with something classy at the wake if you must, then downgrade when it’s time for the dirt nap.
Blu-rays and DVDs also definitely belong on this list, in the age of on demand, Netflix and web browser streaming.
What stuff do you think is better off rented than bought?
Rent vs. Buy: Tools, Textbooks, Caskets? [Budgets Are Sexy]
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In Philly we have Philly Car Share or Zip Car you rent the cars for a few hours or over night its pretty cheap and free gas and insurance.
For some of those, second hand rocks too.
I bought most books in high school second hand – much much cheaper (and most I even sold after). Usually there are very little differences if the book was printed in year X or X-1.
For evening and wedding wear, check shopgoodwill and your local Goodwill and Salvation Army etc second hand places. If you can make some changes to the clothes yourself, even better choice. When I’ll need either, I rather pick something from one of the charity stores (when I find something awesome), and after I don’t need or like it any more, I can always return it back there.
You may have to search for a bit longer time in advance, but you’ll probably spend much less than when renting a gown.
There was a whole episode of Six Feet Under about how you can’t legally re-use a casket. Once a dead body is in there it needs to be buried or destroyed.
…actually, I would tend to disagree on the Blurays and DVDs. Depending on the content, you might want to own it permanently. It may be dirt cheap to begin with. It could be something somewhat obscure and difficult to rent. It could also be something worth it’s asking price if you are sure you’re going to watch it again (ever).
Netflix is great for sampling stuff and seeing if it’s worthwhile.