How Much Should I Be Spending On An Engagement Ring?

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[DanielIles]

*“They say 3 years salary”*
-Michael Scott

[hirambright]

They say you spend two months salary on an engagement ring. I chose the two months I was unemployed lol.

[cvgdwrq]

I bought my wife’s ring for about $1, 200. I made about $70, 000 a year at the time. It’s about 3/4 of a karat. I told her the plan is to buy a larger ring at our 10 or 15 or 20 year anniversary (we’re at 15 years now). My wife said “no way, you gave me this one and I love this one”. She still feels that way today even when she’s around other women with like 3 karat diamonds on their finger. I’ll never let her go!

[bigpicturethinking]

Brace yourselves for the comments full of people saying their ring is a piece of thread and they have been happily married for 80 years.

[morganapendragon]

My husband’s dad gave him the advice that if you can’t pay cash for it, don’t get it. I’ll never understand why people go into debt for a ring...it’s not worth it!

[bencorwin]

Dave's advice is so uniquely spot on and slices through all of the societal advice that leaves you dead broke. I've always been told 3 months pay, which is criminal. Save up for a house!

[tdxfgzl]

My cousin's wife makes 415k. He makes 380k. He paid 2k for the ring. It's worked out great.

[roudiamondgh]

To the ladies out there. Do not pressure a man to buy you an expensive ring. When you two get married his debt (the ring) becomes your debt. Therefore you will be paying for your own ring. Let him get you what he can afford or is comfortable with paying. It's just jewelry.

[clericstorm]

I knew my wife was my soul mate when she said she considers expensive jewlry and and expensive wedding a waste of money. She said to just save the money. We have been married 13 years and are on the cusp of $1 million net worth.

[sherrieludwig]

Ask HER what she wants in a ring. When my now husband popped the question, he asked me to go ring shopping with him. He had just bought me a pretty turquoise Navaho ring. I said let's call that the engagement ring. We had matching plain sterling silver wedding rings. We are closing in on 45 years. She might prefer a ruby, or not really care.

[lampmatt]

Dang I'd love to invent a pointless luxury item and then convince literally everyone that they *must* spend 2-3 months' income on it.

[danielb]

Just bought my girlfriend of 4 years a diamond ring for $2000. I’m 23 and currently making $70, 000. Hearing Dave say this gave me a sigh of relief because I’ve never spent that much on a person but she deserves it all!!

[kyleavanstyn]

My engagement ring was $137 and I love it and cannot think of a more precious thing! My husband gets embarrassed when I tell people the price but I don’t think there could be anything more perfect. And I don’t think I would want to upgrade anytime soon. Maybe have a necklace that goes with it but we are both proud that we were able to cashflow our wedding and honeymoon while paying extra on his home.

[mirandaholley]

The wedding ring does not make the marriage!

[MrSmallANDLoud]

Engagement rings are artificially inflated in price, as they control the supply stream.
waste of money.

[miketheyunggod]

The ring is a symbol of your love; not a symbol of your wealth.

[RebeccaDawson]

When I got married, my engagement ring was $200. It’s made with gold and had 7 tiny diamonds. I wear it till today. 10 years from then, we are doing better and my husband wants to upgrade my ring. We’ll spend $8000. He desires to do this and I’m happy to allow him to. Point being, you don’t have to begin a marriage with an expensive ring. Work together to build financial freedom and then, if you like, buy some nice things for yourself and the person you love.

[colin]

The 3 months salary thing is literally nothing but a marketing campaign from a diamond company. It's proof that if you say something over and over and over that people think it's true.

[EyeAmCoa]

My wedding ring cost $138 on sale at JC Penny’s!! We were broke and in love! Fast forward 15yrs and I have the same ring! I could have upgraded it ONE MILLION TIMES by now but 1. I love it cuz it reminds me of where we were and 2. Diamonds are man made in a lab and are pushed on the masses as a precious stone when it is not!! We need to wake up people! Everything is a 💰grab!!!

[ambassador.to.Christ]

"Diamonds are intrinsically worthless" - DeBeers Chairman Nicky Oppenheimer 1999