Did You Know You Can Rent That?

A Private Island
Private islands are the classic retreat of the uber-wealthy, but you don’t have to be a multimillionaire to rent a secluded oasis and truly get away from it all. Gather up eight friends and head to Melody Key island in the Florida Keys for around $170 per person, per night. Or venture to Panama’s Urraca Private Island for just $175 per night, including breakfast. If your style is more rugged than tropical, check out Norway’s Båtholmen, located in the archipelago of Hvaler, where rates start at a mere $70 per person. Enjoy all of the privacy with none of the maintenance!

Designer Clothing
If the hottest fashion labels give you sticker shock, cheer up—you can lease a Gucci gown or Versace vest for a fraction of the purchase price. Rent the Runway is a closet in the cloud that lets you choose from 15,000 styles by more than 500 designers. A fee of just $89 to $159 a month lets you rent thousands of dollars worth of clothing. Or pick out a fabulous dress for that special occasion—it’s around $100 to rent a $600 gown. Items are shipped to your home for free, and when you’re ready to refresh your look, simply pop yesterday’s fashion statement in the self-addressed envelope and send it back—no dry cleaning required.

Pricey Kids’ Toys
The average American kid rakes in about $500 worth of new toys every year—many of which are quickly relegated to the “meh” pile. Instead of teaching your child to live in a throwaway society, turn playtime into a teachable moment by joining a toy-share service. The Toy Library allows you to choose from high-end educational and STEM toys, including LEGO, LeapFrog, K’NEX and Nerf. For $200 a year, you can rent two toys a month and exchange them whenever you hear, “Mom, I’m bored!”

Luxury Watches
It’s true what they say: Time is money. So why waste your hard-earned cash buying an expensive timepiece that you’ll only occasionally wrap around your wrist? Instead of spending $16,000 on a new Rolex Cellini, sport it for just $180 a day through Borrowed Time Watches. Time-sharing never looked better.

Fine Jewelry
You don’t have to spend a fortune on bling to look like a million bucks. Enroll in one of the many accessory-borrowing sites and rotate your collection of fine and costume jewelry whenever you fancy. Need a diamond for that special occasion? Rent it for a fraction of the price. Fine jewelry rental sites, such as Switch, Flont or Red Carpet Rocks, provide borrowing plans to fit any budget.

Designer Bags
Do you long for Louis Vuitton or pine for Prada? Indulge in the latest handbag without emptying your wallet. Sites like Bag Borrow or Steal and Bag Romance provide an endless selection of designer bags for a fraction of the retail price. A gold Gucci tote, for example, would cost you $970 to buy, but just $130 to rent for a week.

Your Own Castle
Want a moat and a drawbridge without the hassle of cleaning 14 bedrooms? Start polishing your crown. Live like a king or queen (for a week, at least) by booking a castle through the Castle Rental Network. Receive the keys to stately French chateaus, sprawling Irish manor houses, turreted Scottish castles and more for prices that start at $1,700 a week (and go way up). And don’t forget about Airbnb; while the home-sharing service may offer fewer royal pedigrees, you can still find luxury abodes at reasonable rates.

Cute Farm Animals
Living out your Old MacDonald dreams typically means a long-term commitment—and some serious upfront cash. But thanks to Rent the Chicken, you can enjoy farm-fresh eggs without buying the farm. Everything you need to raise your new flock—including the coop, chicken feed and instruction manual—starts at around $600. And when you grow tired of farm life, simply call the company and your chicks will be returned to their roost.

But why stop there? Goats may not lay eggs, but they’re an environmentally friendly way to mow your lawn. Numerous goat rental services can deliver the hungry herbivores, fencing and other supplies straight to your home. Goats really do eat anything—and once their job is done, the herd is whisked back to its home base to await the next gig.