The Raison Band Instruments Company 3-valve Euphonium is one of those incredibly inexpensive items from India that are available on eBay. Local band store experts tell me the valves will probably not last more than 6 months. But if you pay around US $150 for the horn, you've saved money over renting, and after 6 months can almost literally toss it away (or use it as a wall decoration) just at the point you'd want to consider a 'serious' instrument.