Renting has become the style these days.
In the 1980s movie Little Shop of Horrors, the protagonist Audrey fantasizes about owning a house of her very own. She doesn’t ask for much: just a simple one story place with a washer, dryer, and bedding will do.
And while this moment in the film is intended to satirize the American Dream by underlining how mundane Audrey’s ambitions are, the scene in question now resonates on a serious level for millennials and Gen Z.
Nowadays, owning a home and having your own washing machine isn’t just a funny dream for suburbanites. It used to be normal for adults to have their own place, but now it’s becoming more and more uncommon.
Buying vs. Renting
Photo Cred: Christina Radevic (Unsplash)
While many millennials have managed to buy homes, a significant number of adults aged 28-43 find themselves stuck in a cycle of renting and lease renewals. Whether by choice or circumstance, more people in this age group are opting to rent rather than buy.
But this trend isn’t limited to homes. More and more young adults are choosing to rent a wide range of items, from clothing and handbags to shoes, decor, exercise equipment, and a bunch of other stuff.
While there’s always a sentimental attachment to owning things – like Audrey’s Little Shop of Horrors dream home – renting can be a terrific way to save money.
Plus, you’ll never have to worry about buyer’s remorse.
So what exactly are young adults choosing to rent these days? And what kind of gear can you rent?
Millennials and Gen Z are using clothes rental services
I was out and about in New York City, when I decided to meet up with my friend Sam at a museum. And although I was supposed to be looking at all the sculptures and art work, all I could truly focus on was her new dress. I couldn’t stop complimenting her gorgeous outfit. It was flowy, glamorous, and beautiful, making her appear as though she’d just walked straight out of the glossy pages of Vogue magazine.
“Thanks so much!” she said, after I complimented her dress for the bazillionth time. “I’m actually renting it from this clothing rental app.”
Um, excuse me. Clothing rental app? How had I never heard of such an utterly brilliant idea? As someone who is practically a professional at buying a sh**ton of clothing that I never wear, I’m desperate to find a way to satisfy my shopping addiction without feeling a serious dose of buyers remorse that comes along with it.
Since I’ve spent a lot of money on clothes in my closet that I rarely wear, I know I’m a perfect candidate for clothing rental apps.
My friend Sam initially downloaded the app because she was heading to Paris for the week. Basically, she wanted to get a bunch of nice designer clothes for her once-in-a-lifetime vacation – outfits that she knew she’d never wear in her daily life.
Sam used an app called blank, but there are so many others that are just as fashionable and affordable – like Rent the Runway, Nuuly, Fashionpass, and GwynnieBee.
Young adults are renting designer hand bags instead of buying
Photo credit: Kristina Petrick
So if you’re anything like me, you consider a good ol’ hand bag is the best way to complete an outfit. In fact, your purse/mini backpack/hand bag has the power of making or breaking your entire aesthetic. So which will you choose?? There is so much pressure!
Because I’m constantly changing up my look depending on my mood, I’m the ideal candidate for bag renting services. That way, I don’t have to stick to one “signature” bag that only caters to a very specific aesthetic.
My favorite handbag services include Vivrelle, Luxe Bag Rental, Rent the Runway (handbag section), and Bag Borrow & Steal.
Why buy the shoes when you can rent ‘em?
Photo Credit: Paulina Milde-Jachowska (Unsplash)
You know those sleek Italian stilettos you’ve been eyeing that are so sparkly they’d put Dorothy’s ruby slippers to shame? There you stand, your nose smooshed against the shoe boutique window pane, as you drool over that shimmering, sparkly pair.
The emotional side of you wants nothing more than to slap down your card, and make the purchase. Yet the logical side of you knows you’ll rarely wear those shoes in your practical, day-to-day life.
Here’s yet one more clear indicator that you should be renting rather than buying. That way, you can experience the sheer joy of clinking around in those shoes, without having to worry about decimating your wallet. (Renting clothes/shoes/etc. is generally far less expensive than buying outright.)
Hot Tip: Try By Rotation to rent some of the trendiest designer shoes.
Renting exercise equipment might just be the wisest choice of all.
Photo Credit: Nexa Black (Unsplash)
I’m sure every single one of us has had the same exact experience: that moment when you finally bite the bullet and go for that $3 thousand dollar treadmill. This is only to see it banished to the basement where it sits collecting dust and cobwebs for the next decade – completely unused.
And didn’t you swear to yourself that you were gonna use that damn machine each and every day?
No worries – we’ve all been there. It happens! But fortunately, there are solutions to this dilemma – there are exercise equipment rental services! You can rent everything from Peloton bikes to treadmills and bikes.
Check out the Peloton Bike Rental Program for a killer deal.
