How rental ‘libraries of things’ have become the new way to save money
My solution has been to rent my daughter Stella’s wardrobe. Warm coats, swimming costumes, sleepsuits, sandals – all can be borrowed for a monthly subscription from any number of services such as Bundlee, Lullaloop and thelittleloop, amongst others.
Through Or Collective, I pay £36 a month for 10 items, which I can keep until Stella outgrows them, the season shifts or I just fancy a change. The clothes turn up in the post and some are brand-new with tags.
Clothes rental for children is one of the latest chapters in how “libraries of things” are becoming an increasingly common way to save money, space and waste. The theory is simple: instead of buying a household item or a piece of clothing or some equipment you might use once or twice, you take it out and return it.
The London-based Library of Things opened three new locations across the city this year and are planning two more. Co-founder Rebecca Trevalyan says their mission is to make “borrowing better than buying”.
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