12 weird things you can rent (BLOG)

Most of us have rented a car, a DVD or an apartment. But what about other things you need or want -- like a dog to play with or a grandma to bake with? Yes, you can rent those, too. We use Bing to help with the rental details and uses for each:

Paparazzi

Who are the paparazzi following these days? It could be you. (Here's where you can hire paparazzi.) For the ultimate celebrity experience, just cough up $500 or so. You'll get a half-hour of paparazzi, plus your own gossip magazine cover with you as a star. You're already humming Lady Gaga, aren't you? (Listen to some of her songs and see pictures of her wild clothes.)

A village
A hotel director in Austria had this idea in the 1990s: If corporations were willing to rent entire hotels for conventions, why not rent them a whole village? The idea was so popular that 62-square-mile Liechtenstein collaborated with a rent-a-village company to rent out the entire country. That practice has since ended, much to Snoop Dogg's dismay. But there are 10 villages available for rent across Austria, Germany and Switzerland.

A goatFor at least two years, the National Park Service has hired goats to clear brush at a large military site near this island. The insatiable eaters cost less than the manpower and equipment that would otherwise be needed, and they leave behind something useful (find out what that is). If you've got an overgrown backyard, bring on the goats.

A celebrityDo you ever daydream about being best buds with Mariah Carey (listen to her music) or getting personal advice from Dr. Phil? (Watch him offer some.) You can rub elbows with a star, at least for a few hours, by paying an exorbitant fee to rent a celebrity (such as actress Sharon Stone, above). (Here are some sites that offer the service.) Who wouldn't drop $1 million for a private performance by Usher? (Find out how you could hire Usher.)

A kiltWhether you want to wear it to a wedding, the prom or to your boss's house for dinner, you can find the perfect tartan (what's that?) through a number of kilt-rental companies (find one). You may just fall in love with the breezy freedom and buy one of your own.

A casketFor those who want to save money on a funeral, many funeral homes now offer a rent-a-casket option. The casket (how are caskets made?) contains a simple inner container that is removed after the funeral service. The deceased is buried in the container, and the casket is then reused for multiple services.

A petOwning a pet has been shown to help ward off depression, lower blood pressure and boost immunity (see other ways pets improve your health). But not everyone is cut out to be a full-time pet owner, which is why some companies will rent out canines and felines for a few hours or a day at a time (here's where you can do that). Take a walk and play some fetch, but you won't have the hassle of finding a pet sitter when you go away for the weekend.

A grandmaA Los Angeles company that's working on franchises across the U.S. hires out senior women for tasks such as child care, housecleaning, cooking and pet sitting (find out more). One benefit of having a grandma watch your kids: She probably won't spend the whole time chatting with friends on the phone or surfing her social networks. And maybe you can get her to knit you a sweater (or show you how to knit one yourself).

A BreathalyzerYou can buy breath-alcohol testing key chains (shop for them online), and some bars have installed testers that allow customers to make sure they're OK to drive. Now, you can rent one of the devices (find out where) for a private event, such as a party at your house.

A status symbolFancy jewelry, fast cars and fine art represent wealth and status. If you want to feel like a million bucks for an evening, you can rent a diamond necklace, a Bentley or even a painting or sculpture.

A friendIf you just moved to a new city and don't know anyone yet, just rent a friend (here's how). Your hired friend can show you around, accompany you to a social event, introduce you to people or teach you a new hobby. Yes, even friendship has its price.

A pilgrimFor $2,500, a Portuguese computer expert will go on a pilgrimage for you. Carlos Gil revived a 700-year-old tradition by hiring himself out for the one-week, 100-mile walk from his home in Cascais to the shrine to the Virgin Mary at Fatima (here's what you'd see there). He also walks back, which takes another week.




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