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It's typical for retailers to think of most customers as women, but when it comes to spending, it's the guys doling out more. And with some of the hottest holiday goods considered typically male, this female-focused marketing seems a bit out of date or misplaced. There's a real trend today of...

Say the phrase "owning vs. renting," and you're likely to find yourself in a debate between the merits of a mortgage and a landlord. But that's thinking small -- these days, almost anything you can buy, you can also rent. This particularly makes sense when you're talking big-ticket party or home-improvement equipment, whether it's a big-screen TV, a steam carpet cleaner or a rototiller for your garden.