If you don't want to be burdened by the ownership of stuff that costs money, takes up space and wastes limited resources, consider renting instead of buying.. Movie rentals, tux rentals, car rentals, house rentals, they all have been in vogue for quite some time.

Renting has typically been synonymous with the less affluent that can’t buy something outright, so instead pays a fee for the benefit of using it. But in a world of finite natural resources, renting and not having the trouble of owning and then dealing with the disposal or storage of goods is a compelling proposition.

People have rented cars and tuxedos for decades, and higher-end goods (yachts, for example) have long been available via "fractional ownership" or "timeshare", which lets a group of people share a single asset. But lately, companies have begun experimenting with new ways to offer limited access to goods for a membership fee. The result: a Netflix approach to merchandising. From handbags to ski chalets to baby clothes, companies are rolling out plans that allow members to enjoy products they probably can't afford or don't want to buy.

Consider Bag, Borrow or Steal, which has devised a one of a kind idea in purse rental. You can either sign up for Diva, Princess, or Trendsetter status; Diva being the most expensive bags. Within your status (determined by the price you pay for your monthly fee) you can rent a bag for as long as you want. And when you decide you need a change, send the bag back and choose a new one.

Mike Smith, the CEO of Bag Borrow or Steal, said renting a purse is the ideal solution for purse-aholics or the woman who needs a bag for a particular fashion statement or special occasion, but is reluctant to buy.
“Our average customer has 25 handbags that they own, so they almost feel guilty about buying another one,” Smith said. “A number of them talk about having to justify to their husbands buying another one when they’ve got 25 perfectly good handbags in their closet.”
"Her age ranges anywhere from 17 to 70, but she's most likely in her 30s — 33 to be precise. She can live anywhere in the nation, but most renters are on the East or West coasts. And she’s living with a male — husband or boyfriend — and together they have a combined income of about $100,000".

Why would we care about this green lifestyle? Renting or leasing can not only make businesses a lot of money; they can also force them to adopt greener business practices. This schema makes reuse and recycling not just nice ideas for the environment; rather, they become critical to a company’s financial success.

From a consumer point of view, less purchasing of limited use goods not only saves money, but also resources and energy, reducing wastes as well.