Could you save money in France by renting children’s toys?

Renting toys rather than buying them can be a great way to save money, reduce your impact on the environment, keep your home decluttered – and entertain your children and grandchildren.

Fortunately, more and more French companies are offering this service.

Perhaps you spent a lot on Christmas presents, only for young family members to lose interest by Boxing Day. Or maybe grandchildren are visiting and you fear they will be bored.

Renting can help.

Start-up Lib&Lou, for example, allows you to rent four toys for €20 per month, or 10 toys for €30 a month.

You keep them for as long as you want, and can send them back and request different ones once you are finished.

700 different toy options available

It offers a selection of 700 different options, many of them educational, including board games, puzzles and Montessori activities.

Delivery is free if you choose to collect them at a point relais, as are returns if you keep the toys for at least a month.

You can also cancel whenever, meaning it is possible to rent toys for a specific period without being locked into a long-term contract.

Environmentally friendly

There is also an environmental component: 75,000 tonnes of toys are thrown away in France each year, according to the company, while seven toys out of 10 are no longer used six months after being bought.

Petite Marelle, meanwhile, offers five toys for €19.50 per month.

Both companies offer the possibility to buy and keep the toys that prove most popular at home.

Another option is to sign up to a ludothèque (toy library). Many towns have these, allowing you to borrow toys, for free or for a small fee. To see if there is one near you, consult alf-ludotheques.org.

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