One of the most common ways to fall into the trap of overconsumption or a shopping addiction is to be “too girlie.” What does that mean? It certainly doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t care about fashion, clothing, shoes and your appearance. Every person needs to find their own dial position on the consumer and “stuff” scale. What it does mean is that you should think about what you could spend on and own versus what you don’t need to attach emotional value to and have forever and ever. One way to get a handle on that process is with some surprising designer items that you can simply rent.
Rent Your Wedding Dress: It’s Only One Day!
People put an enormous attachment on wedding dresses, but the reality of the situation is that in the vast majority of cases a wedding dress is worn once, then boxed and never looked at again. Increasingly, both wedding dresses and bridesmaids gowns (because who really wants to own those?) are available for rental. We found at least a dozen sites on the internet that come highly rated and offer wedding dress and bridesmaid gown rentals. At the end of the day, though, we think we liked Rent a Wedding Dress the best. They not only provide a marketplace where people who don’t want to buy a dress could rent one but also where people could rent out the wedding dresses that they owned. That means that if you have a wedding dress and are looking for some extra pocket money, this is a great solution for you!
Designer Handbags and Shoes: Spend Less, Look Just as Glamorous
For many people, the idea that you could rent a designer handbag, shoes or even jewelry first became a known fact when Jennifer Hudson’s character used a rented designer handbag in the first Sex and the City movie. Since then, websites have popped up all over that offer the ability to rent designer goods rather than buy them, for those who care about labels and brands. Rent the Runway, Lending Luxury, Girl Meets Dress and Bag Borrow or Steal are among the most popular of these sites.
Getting Over the Mindset of Renting
Even in the Sex and the City movie, Carrie Bradshaw eventually buys a designer handbag for her assistant so that she won’t have to rent one anymore. Particularly in America, women are taught to assign emotional, mental and even social value to their clothing, shoes and jewelry. Thinking of Sex and the City as an example, just reflect on all of the shots of Carrie Bradshaw’s closet and how many people ooohed and aahhed about it. The idea of renting an item is a hard jump for many women to make. The notion that you’re somehow “less” because you rent expensive goods rather than buy them needs a fundamental change in thinking for lots of women. But the reality is that it makes great sense. Not only is renting easier on the planet and the pocket book, but it also will help you let go of consumer addiction and find the satisfaction of enough.
Have you rented designer goods? Share your experience or your opinion by commenting below or liking us on Facebookto join the conversation.
Need more assistance in learning to let go of the consumer media’s impact on your life, take control of your finances and find the satisfaction of enough for today? The Get Satisfied Interactive Handbook is a 30-minute web course that walks you through a series of specific questions and then presents a personalized how-to plan for becoming a postconsumer. Launch your evaluation for free right now.
Photo via Flickr Creative Commons: independentman
