A $700 TV for $25 a Week Sounds Cheap — Until You Calculate the Final Price

A $700 TV for only $25 a week can sound surprisingly affordable, especially when the alternative is handing over hundreds of dollars at once. That small payment may fit comfortably beside groceries, gas, and other weekly expenses, which is exactly why rent-to-own shopping can be appealing.

But focusing on the payment instead of the total cost can hide how expensive a rent-to-own TV may become. A manageable weekly bill can continue for well over a year. Before signing, shoppers should calculate what all those payments could ultimately cost.

The $25 Payment Can Hide A Much Bigger Number

Consider a simple example: a $700 television offered at $25 per week for 78 weeks would add up to $1,950 if those were the full payment terms. That is $1,250 more than the original $700 price, or nearly 2.8 times as much. This payment structure is realistic because Aaron’s current 75-inch TV listings include models advertised at $24.25 or $25.40 per week with ownership after 78 weeks.

The lesson with a rent-to-own TV is that the weekly number tells you little about affordability until you know how long you will be paying. Shoppers should ask for the cash price, number of payments, total cost of ownership, taxes, applicable fees, and early-purchase terms before signing.

Current Prices Show How Quickly Costs Add Up

The current TV market provides plenty of examples of why doing the math matters. Aaron’s lists a 50-inch Element 4K television for $9.24 per week over 78 weeks, while some 75-inch models are listed at $24.25 per week over the same period. At $24.25 for 78 weekly payments, the scheduled payments add up to $1,891.50, illustrating how a seemingly modest payment can become a substantial household expense. Aaron’s TV listings also show some larger televisions with 104-week ownership schedules, meaning a shopper could be making payments for two years. When considering a rent-to-own TV, compare the full ownership cost with the cash price and current retail prices for similar models, not simply with what you can afford this week.

Rent-To-Own Is Not The Same As A Traditional Loan

One easily missed detail is that a rent-to-own agreement is generally structured differently from conventional financing. According to Aaron’s current FAQ, its lease-to-own arrangement is a rental transaction rather than a loan, credit, or financing agreement, and the company says customers do not acquire ownership unless they complete the required payments or use an early-purchase option. Aaron’s also explains that its total ownership cost includes a “cost of lease services” in addition to the merchandise’s retail price.

That matters because shoppers may see no traditional interest charge and mistakenly assume they are avoiding the extra costs associated with borrowing. The better question is not “What is the interest rate?” but “How much more will I pay compared with buying this television outright?”

Paying Early Can Change The Math Dramatically

The full-term price is not necessarily what every rent-to-own customer must pay, because early-purchase programs can substantially change the outcome. Aaron’s says agreements longer than six months generally have a Same As Cash period of 120 days, although the period varies by location and is 90 days in California.

Rent-A-Center likewise says its Same As Cash option lets qualifying customers purchase an item during the applicable period by paying the difference between what they have already paid and the cash price, plus tax. Rent-A-Center says its period is typically six months depending on the product, but terms can vary by state and some franchised locations may not offer the option. Anyone planning to use an early-purchase provision should get the exact deadline and payoff amount in writing rather than assuming they will remember or automatically qualify.

The Weekly Price Is Only The Beginning

A rent-to-own TV can solve an immediate cash-flow problem, but convenience should not be confused with a low total price. Current offers show that payment schedules can stretch to 78 or even 104 weeks, while company disclosures make clear that ownership does not occur until the required purchase terms are completed. For some families, that flexibility may justify the premium, while others could save significantly by waiting, choosing a cheaper television, or completing an available Same As Cash option. The smartest comparison is not $25 this week versus $700 today; it is the complete cost of the rent-to-own agreement versus every realistic alternative available to you.

Would seeing that $25 weekly payment turn into nearly $2,000 change your decision, or is the flexibility worth paying more for? Share your thoughts and rent-to-own experiences in the comments.

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Evan Morgan

Evan Morgan has been a full-time freelance writer and editor for 10+ years. When not working, he enjoys catching the latest true crime documentary or getting lost in a good book.