Rent-A-Center

Households on a budget lease their home furnishings, appliances and consumer electronics from this rental emporium.

by Gina Goff

In Short
Nesters who aren't yet ready to pony up for big-ticket household merchandise head to this rental facility for domestic goods ranging from stylish living-room sets and state-o-the-art refrigerators to home-entertainment "necessities" such as flat-screen TVs, gaming systems and laptop computers. Customers can choose to pay monthly and return the equipment at any time--or they can opt for the rent-to-buy option, where ownership is gained at the conclusion of an agreed-upon rental period.