By Melody Warnick
The gigantic coffeemaker you break out just for parties. The tent that sees nature once a summer.
Get hardly-used items to earn their keep with new sites that help you rent out just about anything.
Money you don't have to work for? Sounds good.
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RENTALIC.COM
How it works: You post an item you want to rent out; when borrowers pick it up, they pay you through a code you enter online. The rental fee, plus an optional security deposit, goes straight to your bank account via PayPal, so no cash is exchanged.
Success story: "I have a juicer that was collecting dust, so I posted it and a woman rented it for her kid's birthday party," says Mona Tawakali, 30, of Walnut Creek, CA . "I got it back in great condition, and that $10 goes to my shoe fund!"
Cost: 5% of your asking price
Recent posts: A NordicTrack Mini Stepper exercise machine for $10/month; a Vitamix blender for $8/day; a jogging stroller for $5/day
Related: 3 Women Who've Learned to be Happy Living on Less Money
ZAARLY.COM
How it works: This site is request-only, so browse to see if someone near you needs an item you own and how much they're willing to pay to borrow it.
Success story: "I panicked when my projector died on a business trip," says Stephanie Reaume, 27, of Seattle. "I asked for it on Zaarly, and a woman in the area rented me hers for $100. It was a lifesaver!"
Cost: 10% of your asking price
Recent posts: A set of golf clubs for $15/day; an air mattress for $50/month; an iPad 2 for $40/day
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SNAPGOODS.COM
How it works: Use this tech-centric online community to loan out your gadgets. If an item comes back damaged, SnapGoods will repair or replace it at no charge to you.
Success story: "I desperately needed a waffle iron for a party, but no one I knew had one," says Emily Cavalier of Brooklyn, NY. "A friend suggested SnapGoods. I thought it was a crazy idea, but as luck would have it, I found a guy renting one for $10."
Cost: Nothing. Borrowers pay a 7 to 10 percent fee.
Recent posts: An Amazon Kindle 2 for $5/day; an electric guitar for $35/day; a Canon SLR camera for $29/day
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Permissions: Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.
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