Paying for a Cable Box

For many, many, MANY a year, I have had some form of TV cable.  This most usually comes with some form of rental box that you attach to your TV set, also knows as the digital cable box.

I was chatting with Steve and he mentioned how we purchased an HD-PVR for $250 the other day on Boxing Day because someone pointed out that the thing costs $20 a month to rent anyhow, so within a year, you would have paid it off.

This got me thinking about the rental fee I pay for my cable box.  Granted, for years, I just thought that renting the thing would be less of a hassle if it should break.

But it hasn’t ever broken on me.  This has been for the past three years of living here.

At $4.50 a month to rent it, I have essentially paid $81 so far for this piece of machinery.

I can pick one up at Future Shop for $50.

So ask yourself this, what’s worthwhile to you?  Is it the peace of mind you purchase in knowing that if your rental digital box breaks down, you can have it replaced without any additional cost (other than the monthly fee you already pay) or is it more worthwhile to save some cash?