Renting rich

So you don’t have the funds for the fanciest trinkets on the market. Fear not. Cinderella only needed one night of luxury to put her ever-after in order. Here are a couple ways to rent a short-term fix of high life and get around the pesky business of owning anything.

Handbags
Procuring the perfect handbag for every outfit can seriously stretch your “essentials” budget, especially when the top shelf in the boutique gets a new squatter every couple of weeks. So free up some closet space. Minnesota-based web retailer From Bags to Riches offers the latest Chanels, Guccis and Pradas for a fraction of the retail price. The only catch is, you’ll have to send them back. (Service to Canada is set to begin in late 2008.)

Gucci Aviatrix Large
Boston Bag
Retail: US$2,390 at Gucci
Rental: US$299.95 a month at From Bags to Riches
frombagstoriches.com

Cars
When you’re out on the town, people don’t see where you live; they see what you drive. So who cares if your bachelor suite is cold, cluttered and cramped when you show up in 250 horses of shiny metal and chrome? Richmond’s VIP Rent a Car can set you up temporarily with a Dodge Viper, Plymouth Prowler or a range of Mercedes Benz and Porsche models for considerably less than a small fortune.

2002 Porsche Boxster
Retail: $46,000 to $65,000, depending on options
Rental: A weekend of light driving will cost about $735 with VIP Rent a Car.
viprentacar.ca; 604-274-2369

Art
What says luxury more convincingly than an irreplaceable piece of art hung just so in the foyer? Of course, the problem with all things “priceless” is the price. Here’s where the Vancouver Art Gallery’s Art Rental and Sales department can help. Companies that like to regularly switch the decor at their offices rent from the gallery, as do developers sprucing up their display suites. So why not you?

Martha Sturdy’s Wall
Sculpture 272
Retail: $10,000 from the
Vancouver Art Gallery
Rental: $175 a month from the Vancouver Art Gallery
artrentalandsalesvancouver.com; 604-662-4716

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