You don’t have to be a tool to borrow one. Before dropping some green on an item you may only use once or twice – consider borrowing it from a service like the Tool Library. This particular tool lending library is located by South Street Seaport in New York City. It looks like it was set up initially to serve downtown do-it-your-selfers, but if you reside elsewhere it seems guy in charge Josh makes exceptions, as long as you’re cool about things.

In addition to building and construction tools, the site lists bike and bike accessories; baby gear; cooking stuff; craft & artist supplies; glue guns, carpet steamers, and lots of other useful household items. So before you go buying that ladder or paper cutter, poke around the site and see what’s available.

Another plus for apartment dwellers – you won’t have to worry about how/where to store that only gonna use it once thing. Already own such an item and want to put it back in the use-stream? You may be able to make a donation to the library. Just contact Josh to test the waters. Wikipedia has an ongoing list of Tool Libraries located throughout the world.